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'Visit to Bhutan'
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Bhutan is an ancient kingdom secluded high in the Himalayas with unique customs and people with deeply held beliefs. It is a landlocked country, located between Tibet, China, India. It is believed that the word Bhutan is derived from the Sanskrit word ?Bhotant? which means ?the end of Tibet? or from ?Bhu-uttan? meaning ?high land?. But historically the Bhutanese have referred to their country as Drul Yul, meaning ?the Land of the Thunder Dragon?.Bhutan covers 47,000 square kilometers area and is known as the "Switzerland of Asia". Bhutan is a botanical paradise. One of the ancient names given to Bhutan was 'Southern Valleys of Medicinal Herbs'.There are three main ethnic groups - the Ngalongs in the western and central regions are the descendants of Tibetan immigrants who arrived in Bhutan from the 9th century. The Sharchops who live in the east of the country, are recognized as the original inhabitants of Bhutan. The third group is known as Lhotshampas. They represent the Nepali speaking ethnic group. Others are Indians, Tibetans, Sikkimese, Sherpas.The official language of Bhutan is Dzonghka.The National animal is the Takin, an extremely rare bovid of the ovine-caprine family.The National Bird is the Raven. The National flower is the Blue Poppy.The National sport is Archery. The State religion is Drukpa Kagyupa a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. Bhutan is the only country in the world to have adopted Mahayana Buddhism in its Tantric form as its official religion.Bhutan represents a Constitutional monarchy. The Wangchuk hereditary monarchy has wielded power since 1907. But Bhutan looks set to make the switch to a parliamentary democracy. The king says he will relinquish power in 2008, ushering in democratic elections and the ascendancy of the crown prince, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to the throne. A draft constitution envisages a two-chamber parliament. I started my journey to Bhutan at Paro airport
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Showing 1 - 5 of 14 images in 3 page(s)
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Airport
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| I started my journey to Bhutan at The Kingdom’s only airport Paro located 6 km away from Paro at a height of 2,236 m (7,335 ft.). The gateway to all the kingdom's treasures is the quaint valley of Paro. This photograph shows the layout of the Paro Airport one of the highest civilian airport located in the beautiful and steep valley. |
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Hon'ble PM with Tea Cup
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| Since I am a Tea producer I take and collect photographs of celebrities of the world having Tea. The latest addition is His Excellency Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup, Prime Minister of Royal Kingdom of Bhutan during my recent trip to Bhutan. He was very kind and sporting . |
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Dochu La
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| The road from Thimphu to Punakha goes northeast and one of the highlights of the journey is at Dochu La Pass, the highest point between Thimpu and Paro at 10,000 feet. It provides a spectacular view of the Himalayas to the north when the sky is clear(rarely). On top of the pass are 108 chortens (Tibetan and Bhutanese name for Stupa), honoring those who were recently killed by insurgents. Chortens are Tibetan Buddhist reliquaries, memorials to the teachings of the Buddha. Sometimes actual relics of the Buddha or revered monks are inserted into the dome of the stupa, but whether or not there are relics inside, the stupas mark the landscape with reminders of the Buddha's teachings.This photograph is of the Chortens in Dochu La taken early in the morning when it was below zero degrees celcius in temperature and extremely misty and cloudy |
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Flea market
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| During my recent trip to Bhutan I found these two had good argument and finally came to a great bargain which included partly barter and partly payment |
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Dzong at Paro
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| Dzongs are ancient fortress-monarteries that now serve as the civil and monastic administration headquarters of each district.The Dzong architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monk housing.Dzongs were frequently built on a hilltop or mountain spur. If the dzong is built on the side of a valley wall, a smaller dzong is typically built directly uphill from the main dzong with the purpose of keeping the slope clear of attackers who might otherwise shoot downward into the courtyard of the main dzong below.This photograph is of the Rinpung Dzong at Paro |
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Showing 1 - 5 of 14 images in 3 page(s)
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