Bhutan: A World Of Its Own

With its majestic monasteries, red-robed monks, charming rural villages, and vibrant festivals, the Kingdom of Bhutan is a Himalayan paradise that promises an enriching travel experience like no other

- Lester V. Ledesma

If I didn't know any better, I'd say this is a movie set. I am standing inside a dimly lit hallway, watching a scene that seems incongruous with this day and age. On a nearby wall, Buddhist prayer wheels spin to an endless stream of worshippers. Shaven-headed monks stand at a doorway, their saffron robes contrasting against the dark wooden panels of this centuries-old temple.

The scent of incense hangs heavy in the air, and I watch as devotees bow to a gilded statue of the Buddha. Prayers are offered; mantras are recited.

Outside, life unfolds against a stunning backdrop of terraced rice fields and distant mountains. The setting is exotic in every sense of the word.

I've barely spent two hours in Bhutan, and already I am taken in by its unspoiled character. Located on a tiny stretch of land between India and China, this is a kingdom that has taken a novel approach to progress. We've heard about its deeply rooted Buddhist faith, and the cautious way this nation has opened itself to modernity.

Despite the arrival of TV and the Internet in 1999, days and nights here still hum to the rhythm of the seasons. And its people are said to be among the happiest in the world.

A LIVING CULTURE