Bhutan

dance

Dancers, wearing long brocade robes and ornate black hats, perform this dance. The dancers' who represent the Ging wear shorter robes with masks. This dance is performed to purify the ground and to chase away evil influences.

hills · river

Having started from Paro, we drive towards Thimphu, and along a residential colony for hydro-power staff.

hills · farmland

The descent into Paro airport in Bhutan is a precipitous affair for any pilot - he or she has to suddenly negotiate a steep descent into the relatively narrow valley, dropping altitude rapidly after crossing the steep ridges before.

The healthy and cheerful stray dogs of Paro, Bhutan play among themselves and inter-mingle with tourists who pass by. This pooch has a funny tail that looks like its sort of dread-locked.

sport

Young Bhutanese lads practice their national sport, archery in Paro. They aim the target using their traditional bamboo archery set. Archery, the national sport of Bhutan, is a common feature of everyday life.

Made of wood and stone, the traditional architecture of Bhutan is truly fascinating and uses ideal materials for cold and rainy weather.

Bhutan is recognized as men-jong the 'Land of Medicinal Plants' 90% of species stem from collection are from the forest of Bhutan.

Road trip to Chime Lhakhang crossing Indian oil petrolpump and Punakha. Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Lhakhang or Monastery or temple, is a Buddhist monastery in Punakha District, Bhutan

hills · farmland

Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag (districts) comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted.

festival · temple

The festival takes place at Kurjey Temple, located at Kurjey in the Chokhor valley in Bumthang district. It is a 15 minute drive from Chamkhar town to arrive at the temple grounds.

temple · festival

During the Tsechu festival Bhutanese people offer obeisance in front of the Thongdrel seeking blessings. A Thongdrel (alt. throngdrel) is a large tapestry unveiled during tsechus (religious festivals) in Bhutan.

ceremony · village

Penises for sale! Two wooden human penis figurines for sale in Bhutan, on a shop shelf. Also see a Bhutanese basket, various wood-work bowls, shawls, scarves, deer antlers and other saleables at a shop in Thimphu.

livestock

A herd of Yaks seen on a village path in Bhutan. They look well-fed and happy, enjoying the winter sunshine. The ground is brown and bare due to the recently melted winter snow.

highway

Night driving on the signal free roads of Thimphu, the capital and largest city of Bhutan. Driving towards Paro on a congestion-free bypass road in Thimphu.

highway

Driving on the signal free roads of Thimphu, the capital and largest city of Bhutan. Driving towards Paro on a congestion-free bypass road in Thimphu.

hills

As viewed from Hotel Nak Sel, the tall and much venerated Chomolhari peak can be clearly seen from Ngoba valley in Paro. See the crevasses on the summit ridge in this clear telephoto lens video.

dance · ceremony

Dancers performing Pa-Cham, the Dance of the Heroes. This is a dance that commemorates the victory of Buddhism over sin and transports believers directly to the presence of Guru Rinpoche.

flowers · industry

Campanula medium, common name Canterbury Bells, also known as the bell flower, is an annual or biennial flowering plant of the genus Campanula, belonging to the family Campanulaceae.

hills · river

Paro hosts Bhutan's lone airport and the valley comprises a range of bucolic imagery including traditional Bhutanese homes, dzongs or fortified monasteries and green rice fields as far as the eyes can see.

architecture · highway

Drive past Willow trees along the Thimphu Chhu, after going through the center of Thimphu and out towards the outskirts before heading up towards Dochula.

The barren landscape seen while driving from Paro to Thimphu is in stark contrast to the colours and greenery of the rest of Bhutan.

Bhutan Post takes care of the postal system of Bhutan and was created on 1 October 1996. Bhutan has been a member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) since 1969 and in 1983 they joined the Asian-Pacific Postal Union.