WELCOME TO BHUTAN-THE LAND OF THUNDER DRAGON

Thunder Land Tours & TravelsThimphu; Bhutan

Bhutan Map

Location of Bhutan

Brief History of Bhutan

The first traces of the history dates back well beyond 2000 BC, but the first period of the Bhutan ancient history is steeped in mythology and it remains obscure.

According to the Bhutanese history, the birth of the country has its origins in the 7th century. It is not clear if the Bhutan was at least partially under the regime of the Tibetan kingdom or that of

Kamarupa from the 7th to the 9th century. Shrouded for centuries in the misty serenity of the great Himalayas, the Land of the Thunder Dragon or

Bhutan, as now known to the rest of the world, developed its own distinct civilization. This deeply spiritual land is home to a unique identity, derived essentially from a fertile religious and

cultural heritage. Bhutan brims with myth and legend. As a befitting testimony, a great Buddhist heritage: Space and regal mountains. An ambience of near sacred tranquility permeates the land, fostering an environment of spiritual affluence that has shaped the foundation of that rarity that we know as Bhutanese life.

In the 12th century was founded the Drukpa Kagyu school, the dominant school of Buddhism in Bhutan. The consolidation of Bhutan occurred in 1616, when Ngawanag Namgyal, known as the Shabdrung Rinpoche (1594-1651), defeated three consecutive Tibetan invasions in 1629, 1631 and 1639. He "overcame the influence" of the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism

Bhutan’s EarliestDocumented history dates back to Kichu lhakhang in Paro and Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang built by King Songtsen Goenbo of Tibet in the 7th century. Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) visited a century later and spread the Buddhist faith throughout Bhutan.  He established several sacred religious sites, notably Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) monastery in Paro and the Kurjey lhakhang in Bumthang which are few reverend ones.

The Naked Dance of Jampa Lhakhang Drub

It is almost at midnight. The temperature goes to 2 or minus 2 -4 degree Celsius. A large gathering of devotees wait in anticipation huddled near Jampa lhakhang in Bumthang, their eyes on the monastery’s main door.

Exactly at midnight, a group of men rush out from the door, swirling and twirling in the air, , to the rhythmic accompaniment of traditional mask dance drums and cymbals. Except for their faces, which are covered by a white cloth, the men are all naked. They are known as the sacred naked dancers or Ter-cham of Jampa lhakhang Tshechu,(festival of mask & dances)

Guru Rinpoche Who brought Buddhism in BhutanGuru’s visit was the historic milestone in Bhutan First visit in Bumthang invited by King Sindharaja to cure him from his illness. Hereafter he started mediating in caves around Bhutan. Today he is worshiped by all Buddhist in Bhutan.

The tiger nest monastery in Bhutan" clinging to a black rock face, 800 meters above the valley floor, nestles Tiger nest monastery, one of the holiest sites of Himalayan Buddhism. It is believed that Guru was meditated in this cave in 7th century by flying in the back of tigress. This how TIGER NEST the name given.

Monks who ruled Bhutan & spread BuddhismNgawang Namgyal was a Tibetan Buddhist lama and the unifier of Bhutan as a nation-state. In addition to unifying the various warring fiefdoms for the first time in the 1630s, he also sought to create a distinct Bhutanese Cultural identity identity separate from the Tibetan culture from which it was derived

Phajo Drukgum Zigpo(1184-1251)

Longchen Rabjam (1308 -1364)

Thangtong Gyalpo(1385-1509)

Pema Lingpa  (1450–1521)

He was born in Chel, Tang, Bumtang to Dhondup Zangpo and Pema Drolma

First King Ugyen Wangchuck:Born in 1862: ruled 1907-1926Father : Jigme Namgyel (descendent of Pema Lingpa)Mother : Ashi Pema Choki

The third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Born in 2 May 1928 at Thruepang palace in Trongsa. Open the doors of Bhutan to outside world.Ruled 1952-1972

The king of Bhutan & it’s Hereditary

Fourth King Jigme Singye WangchuckBorn in 11 November 1955 at Dechencholing PalaceMother : Ashi Kesang Wangmo WangchuckHe is the author of Gross National Hapiness (GNH)Ruled from 1974-2006Handed over responsibility to his son in 2006.

Born 21 February 1980) is the fifth and current reigning  or "Dragon King" of the Kingdom of Bhutan. After his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne in his favor, he became King on 9 December 2008. 2008, an auspicious year that marked 100 years of monarchy.Married in 2011 to Jetsun Pema.

Architecture of BhutanThis was primarily due to rapid economic growth and modernization which has resulted in a gradual erosion of traditional ways and values of life which one day may lead to the disappearance of Bhutan's unique architecture, especially in the growing urban towns.

These groups of houses are in the northern Himalaya where yak headers lived. They totally depend on this animal and raises them in a group of 50 – all most 200. This animal is the main source of income for them. Like: cheese milk, butter and meat.

"The tiger nest monastery in Bhutan" clinging to a black rock face, 800 meters above the valley floor, nestles Tiger nest monastery, one of the holiest sites of Himalayan Buddhism. Such is the sense of peace and serenity as the quiet approach path winds through lush meadow, oak and rhododendron forest, past quaint hamlets, fluttering prayer flags and rotating prayer wheels, and along the precipitous cliff, it is difficult to believe that Bhutan's only airport is barely kilometers away. Taktsang, the tiger's lair, acquires its name from the legend of its foundation, when in the 8th Century Guru Rinpoche, widely revered as the second Buddha, arrived from Eastern Bhutan flying across the mountains on the back of a tigress.

Bhutanese CuisinBhutanese cuisine employs a lot of red rice (like brown rice in texture, but with a nutty taste, the only variety of rice that grows at high altitudes), buckwheat and increasingly maize. Buckwheat is eaten mainly in Bumthang, maize in the Eastern districts and rice elsewhere. The diet in the hills also includes chicken, yak meat, dried beef, pork, pork fat, and lamb. Soups and stews of meat, rice, ferns, lentils, and dried vegetables, spiced

with chili peppers and cheese, are a favorite meal during the cold seasons. Zow shungo is a rice dish mixed with leftover vegetables. Ema datshi, is a spicy dish made with large, mainly green chilies in a cheesy sauce, (similar to chili con queso), might be called the national for its ubiquity and the pride that Bhutanese have for it.

Trekking in BhutanTrekking in Bhutan has some of the best trekking in the world, with breathtaking scenery, a rich Buddhist culture, friendly people, and few other visitors. The difficulties with trekking here, aside from the high cost are the weather. Unlike Nepal and Ladakh, the windows for good high-altitude trekking in trekking in Bhutan are short: Trek are mainly done in April to May & September to October only.

Although the official season extends longer, you have the best chances of clear weather and little snow in the second half of April or the first three weeks of October.

Rafting & Adventure

Contact Details Thunder Land Tours & TravelsEmail: landthunder360@gmail.com/bhutanthunder360@gmail.comWebsite: www.thunderlandtours.comThimphu; Bhutan

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