Bhutan is no ordinary place. It is the last great Himalayan kingdom, shrouded in mystery and magic, where a traditional Buddhist culture carefully embraces global developments.
Bhutan is certainly getting lots of attention this year. Lonely Planet has just announced that Bhutan is the top of its list of must-see countries for 2020. But only 65,000 visas are granted each year.
And less than 1 million people have ever been to Bhutan!
There are many reasons why Bhutan is such an appealing travel destination. For one, the majority of the country is covered in stunning natural landscapes – unspoiled pine forests and the towering Himalayan Mountains. It’s also the first carbon-negative country in the world, meaning it reduces more carbon in the atmosphere through various offsetting measures than it produces as a nation each year. By 2020, the aim is for all agricultural products within the country to be completely organic.
Another unique thing about this Buddhist kingdom is their philosophy of happiness, which is not only a way of life but a part of government policy. Bhutan is the only country in the world that ranks Gyalyong Gakid Palzom, or Gross National Happiness (GNH), above Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Bhutan is truly a precious gem of a country ... unique in all the world. As the only pure
Buddhist country, it embodies the essence of compassion towards all life. It has a stunning, pristine, diverse landscape ... ranging from lush sub-tropical plains in the south to the sub-alpine Himalayan mountains in the north, where there are peaks higher than 23,000 feet. It is a modern day Garden of Eden with 72 percent of Bhutan under forest cover.
Everything about Bhutan is majestic ....the 1000 year old buddhist temples, the second largest Buddha statue in the world, unique animals and, most of all, happy people!