Welcome to the last Shangri-La!

In the lofty heights of the mighty Himalayas, a kingdom in the clouds perched on rugged mountains, with dense forested valleys and roaring waterfalls, rapids and swift rivers; it is a land blessed with unsurpassed beauty and peace in today’s world overtaken by chaos and materialism.

Despite globalization, Bhutan, or Druk Yul as it is known to its people, the last bastion of the Himalayan Buddhism, has still maintained its rich, unique culture and traditions and pristine environment with varied flora and fauna. A top tourist destination, it is a country where the philosophy of Gross National Happiness, based on Buddhism, is the guiding principle that govern all our development activities. To the Bhutanese, pursuit of happiness is more important than GDP.
Bhutan emerged out of its self-imposed isolationism in 1960, when the first five-year development plan was introduced, with emphasis on development of telecommunications, hydro-power plants, and setting up free healthcare and schools and other institutions of learning. The country has just launched the 10th five-year plan (2008). The first democratically elected government is in the saddle, under the benevolent guidance of the fifth Druk Gyalpo, King Jigme Khesar.
(Tourism, as an industry was started only after June, 1974, at the time of the coronation of the fourth Durk Gyalpo, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The emphasis then was ‘high quality, low volume’. However the number of tourists since then has been steadily rising. Last year (2007), more than 21, 000 of them visited Bhutan, and 2008 may see a peak with 30,000 or so, with many of them coming to Bhutan to observe the coronation and centenary (hundred years of monarchy) celebrations.)
Television, along with Internet, was introduced almost 80 years after it was first broadcast in the United States, in 1999 during the Silver Jubilee celebrations marking the 25th year of King Jigme Singye’s rule. All the amenities, available in any other developing countries, are available.
Bhutan has come a long way, though, since the opening of its borders, yet it is as steeped in its rich culture and tradition as in the past. For, culture and tradition and religion is a way of life for the Bhutanese.
It is this way of life, or rather philosophy, which enables us to welcome foreigners, not as camera-toting tourists, but honored guests, making your trip to Druk Yul a memorable experience rather than just a vacation to some far away place.