Spirit of the Dragon

With a profoundly rich culture, diverse geography and an ancient style of architecture, one needs to engage with Bhutan in different ways to capture its many facets. The National Institute for Zorig Chusum in Thimphu, where students master 13 crafts central to Bhutanese heritage, is a wonderful place to soak up the creative arts. Like India, Bhutan too is known for lovingly preserving its rural traditions, and the capital’s Folk Heritage Museum, set up in a traditional 19th-century home, offers a fascinating glimpse into them. Just a kilometre away from Thimphu, the Jungshi Paper Factory gives visitors the chance to craft the traditional Bhutanese paper Deh-sho, made from the bark of Daphne and Dhekap trees.

Bhutan’s imposing dzongs are an important part of its history and architecture. Apart from their military significance, these fortresses have also served as centres of monastic and administrative activity. The Punakha Dzong, situated at the junction of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers, is a well-known and breathtaking sight to behold.

Equally magnificent is the Taktshang Goemba, precariously perched on the cliffs of Paro valley. According to legend, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, as it is more popularly known, is where the Buddhist master Guru Rinpoche is said to have arrived on a flying tigress, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan during the 7th century.