The kingdom of Bhutan is a small landlocked country nestled in the heart of the Himalayas. Almost three fourths of this land is still under forest cover. With Buddhism as the predominant religion since the 7th century, which holds that all forms of life are sacred and precious, the Bhutanese have lived in harmony with nature.

Since 1974 the kingdom has allowed only limited access to the outside world in a bid to maintain its traditions, culture and habitat; thereby following the path of sustainable tourism. The fortunate few who have visited this hidden Shangri-La remain in awe of its Himalayan panorama, rich flora and fauna, its strategic fortresses, its spectacular monasteries and welcoming people.

Festivals (Tshechus) take place year round to honour Guru Padsambhava with dances performed by monks as well as laymen. Guru Padsambhava 'one who was born from lotus flower' was an Indian saint who contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan region. Festival dates depend upon lunar calendar so the date varies every year.

Visitors can reach Bhutan by land from India or by air from India and Nepal. Hotels are mostly local run lodges or small modern constructions. Relatively new entrants bringing luxury accommodation are the Aman hotels and the Taj hotels.

At Indian Routes, we can arrange an in-depth tour of Bhutan to coincide with a major festival; as an extension to a north-east India (Sikkim & Darjeeling) tour or in combination with Nepal.

The ideal time to visit is September till November & February to May.