Bhutan is a little kingdom deeply hidden in the eastern Himalayas with an area of about 47,000sq.km. It is bordered with Chinese Tibet and North Eastern India. The country has very high mountains, fertile valleys, and thick forests. Bhutan has been ruled by hereditary monarchy since 1907. The present monarch King Jigme Singye Wangchuk was crowned in 1974 and has taken the kingdom from virtual isolation to the new millennium of prosperous modernization. The process is still on but not at the cost of the country's rich tradition and heritage. The present population of Bhutan is about 2.1 million, comprisined of three ethnic groups - the Sarchops in the east, the Ngalongs in the west and the Lhotshampas in the south. The country is subdivided into 20 administrative districts under a decentralized system of governance.
Tibet can be divided into three major geographic regions, from north to south: the high Himalaya of the north, the hills and valleys of the center, and the foothills and plains of the south. The climate varies greatly here depending on the elevation. In the south a warm tropical exists and at the other extreme, in the high Himalayan regions, there is perpetual snow. Temperatures in the far south range from 15ºC in winter to 30ºC in summer. In Paro the range is from -5ºC in January to 30ºC in July, with 800mm of rain. In the high mountain regions the average temperature is 0ºC in winter and may reach 10ºC in summer, with an average of 350mm of rain.
Bhutan is the last bastion of Mahayana Buddhism. Legend says that the famous Buddhist saint Guru Padmasambhava brought this religion to Bhutan in the middle of the 8th century A.D. riding upon a flying tigress the guru alighted in Taktshang in Paro. The Taktshang monastery is of great importance even today to the practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism. In modern Bhutan, the spiritual system continues to thrive with the Je Khenpo (chief Abot) in charge of the monastic school.
Trek in Bhutan: The mystery, beauty, and power of the mountains can be best felt by traversing them on foot. Whether you take a two-night trek around the Bumthang valley, walk for three days from Thimphu to Paro or take a weeklong trek to the base of Mt. Chomalhari, the views, villages, people and experiences will be unparalleled to anything you have done in the past. Adventure Trans Himalayan specializes in organizing trekking tours in Bhutan. All trekkers are accompanied by well trained guides, a cook, and at least one horseman. Provisions and luggage are carried by mountain horses.
Treks in Bhutan vary from short scenic three day walks across low altitudes to the three week long trek that cover more than 350 kilometers and climb three of the land's highest passes. Inexperienced trekkers are recommended to do the trek from Thimphu to Paro or vice versa. Trekking in Himalayas requires good physical condition. Walking becomes difficult in places of high altitudes. All trekkers are required to strictly follow rules to protect the country's environment.
THE DRAGON KINGDOM WELCOMES YOU ALL Bhutan is often revered to as the "Land of the Peaceful Dragon" and is still regarded as one of the last "Shangrilas" in the Himalayan region because of its remoteness, its spectacular mountain terrain, varied flora and fauna and its unique ancient Buddhist monasteries. It is located in a relatively unexplored pocket of Asia, and allows only a limited number of discerning travelers in order to protect its fragile environment and culture.
Bhutan, a purely Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom, is unsurpassed in its scenic majesty and vibrant culture. This kingdom shares with Nepal the world's greatest concentration of mountains and living heritage of Buddhism. The fifty minutes flight from Kathmandu to Paro can truly be described as a flight into fantasy. During the flight, a first hand close up view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga and other famous peaks become a reality. Biweekly flights between these two kingdoms have made travel easier to the long isolated Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan.
It can also be accessed by air from Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, and Bangkok.
Adventure Trans Himalayan Treks & Expeditions Inc.works in an intimate relationship with the best local tour operator in Bhutan. With its wonderful unspoiled environment, friendly people and Buddhist stupas, chortens and prayer flags abounding, Bhutan really is an idyllic place to visit.
