Discover Bhutan

Treks in Bhutan

Culture

In many ways, Bhutan seems to teeter between contemporary and medieval: monks transcribe ancient Buddhist texts into laptop computers, traditionally-dressed archers use alloy steel bows and arrows, and video rental shops do a brisk trade while there is no television. Bhutan has been described as 'a living museum' because its ancient dzongs and temples are still the focus of modern life. Although it is the last Buddhist Himalayan state you won't find a nation of saintly, ascetic, other-worldly monks, but a vibrant, fun-loving and well-educated population. Every aspect of life in the kingdom is guided by the ethics of its official religion, Drukpa Kagyu Buddhism, and without a rudimentary understanding of this you'll never get a handle on Bhutan.

All Bhutanese art, dance, drama and music is steeped in Buddhism: paintings are not produced for tourists, but for religious purposes; festivals are not quaint revivals, but living manifestations of a national faith; and almost all art, music and dance represents the struggle between good and evil. These traditions can be seen in all their glory at Bhutan's spectacular religious festivals called tsechus.

Food

Spicy chilies (ema) and cheese (datse) blended with a wide variety of fresh vegetables are a daily staple of the Bhutanese diet. Emadatse is the national dish of Bhutan. Red and or white rice is served at all meals. Meats, poultry and fish are also found on many Bhutanese menus along Tibetan momos and noodle dishes. Bhutan's professional chefs temper their natural tendency to over spice dishes by preparing food more suitable to western taste ranging from Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Tibetan and Indian.

Archery

Archery is the much loved national sport of Bhutan. Each village has its own archery range, and it is impossible to imagine any festival taking place without a high-spirited competition. Contests take place year round. The distance between the two targets is about 120 meters. The targets are made of wood splashed with colorful patterns. Inter-village rivalry is common throughout the kingdom and this rivalry is no more fiercely expressed than during annual archery tournaments. They are generally held during Losar (Bhutanese New Year coinciding with February or March of the calender) but smaller competitions are held throughout the year.

The tournament's excitement begins the night before the contest. Teams employ astrologers to assist in the selection process and to cast spells on the opposition. Each team spends the night prior to the match together in an age-old tradition of sleeping
in the barn or the forest, depending on the outcome of the astrologers calculations. Apart from improving team spirit, it is thought that a man should not spend the night before the tournament with his wife as his concentration may begin to waiver the following day. The tournament itself begins with initiation ceremonies and a traditional breakfast. Alcohol flows from early in the day and spirits are always high. As the day passes and the alcohol takes effect, the party becomes more and more raucous. Opponents whisper obscenities into their adversaries' ears and dance diversionary dances in front of the target. Women from each village participate in the fun by singing for their team and jeering at the opposing team.

Weaving

In the high eastern mountain villages you will come across women moving back and forth in the open-air with wooden slats strapped to their lower backs. They are Bhutan's weavers who ply their trade on the open mountainside or field singing gently as they rock back and forth.Yarns and thread are dyed (vegetable dye) and dried for a week before being woven into traditional gho and kira. These are long flowing garments which have become the obligatory national dress of the kingdom. Weavers produce silk on cotton, fine wool on cotton and silk on silk textiles: the finest weavers are usually found in the most remote of the eastern villages. This art form is passed from generation to generation. Since the crops grown are just enough to feed the village in a good year. These hand-loomed textiles are the only way for the village to get money for supplies. A complete kira is made up from 3 pieces, the process takes between six months to one year to complete. The Bhutanese culture prizes these textiles so highly that they are considered part of a family's wealth and our used as currency. Truly an amazing art form, found only in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

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