Type of leisure programmes

Festivals

Festivals in Bhutan are deemed as a joyous affair and a social occasion. The Bhutanese dress up in their finest clothes and jewellery. Bhutanese try to attend a festival at least once in their lifetime and for some, they consider it a blessing to be able to attend festivals and watch dances. Festivals are usually held in dzongs (fortresses) or monasteries. The Bhutaneses’ deep faith and devotion make festivals a special occasion.

The most common festival in Bhutan is the Tsechu, ('Tse' means 'date' and 'Chu' means 'ten'; i.e. '10th day'). Tsechus are religious festivals that are held every year in all districts, on auspicious days and months in the Bhutanese calendar, and last up to four days. This festival is in honour of Guru Rinpoche the saint who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8^th century. Tsechus are a rich form of the oral history tradition where the Bhutanese pass on values, mythology and spiritual beliefs through the dance dramas.

The main highlight of the Tsechus is the performance of special masked dances by monks. These dances are inspirations of enlightened beings in history. The Bhutanese believe that it is essential to watch these dances to gain enlightenment. Apart from masked dances by monks, community dancers also participate in the local festivals. Besides the performances, a throngdrol, a religious picture that is usually embroidered rather than painted, is unfurled on the last day of the festival before sunrise and rolled back up before direct sunlight touches it. It is believed that sins are liberated simply by viewing it.

Two of the largest festivals are the Thimphu Tsechu and Paro Tsechu. The Thimphu Tsechu is a popular tourist attraction as it is held in the capital of Bhutan. The Paro Tsechu, considered as one of the most colourful festival, is held in Paro district usually in Spring.

Sports

Bhutan’s national sport is archery (Dha).  Archery became the national sport in 1971 and has its roots in Bhutanese identity itself.  As the Gods were depicted to be holding bows and arrows that were said to ward off evil, archery is considered an auspicious sport with a divine mandate.

Nearly all the villages have an archery range and outside each Dzong has a space set aside for a field of target (bha cho). The distance is 140 metre. The traditional equipment that Bhutanese uses are hand-carved bamboo bows. Village teams compete against one another in a rowdy manner. Archers are allowed to use any means to distract their opponents, including standing near the target to yell back at how good an archer’s aim was.

Environment

The raw and natural beauty of Bhutan’s environment is stunning and captivating. Bhutan’s environment is as diverse as its culture, because of its location, great geographical and climatic variatoions. It is the top ten global hotspots, boasting a rich and varied biodiversity.  Bhutan ranks top ten percent of highest species density in the world. About 35% of the country’s area is under protection and conservation, 72% of the land is still forested, and about 26.23% of the country’s area is designated as national parks. Because Bhutan does not suffer from deforestation and the government has preserved the environment, Bhutan has managed to provide shelter to animals and plants.

Bhutan is well known for its flora and fauna and bird watching. Bhutan is a bird watching paradise and has 675 species of birds. This includes the endangered Black-Necked Crane that winters in Bhutan. Bhutan’s flora and fauna offers about 7000 plants, 300 species of medicinal plants, 50 species of rhododendron and 600 species of orchid.

The Blue Poppy, Bhutan’s national flower, is synonymous with Bhutan that is known for its rare and special hybrids. The Blue Poppy grows in high altitudes.

 

Trekking and Adventure

Trekking in Bhutan is different from other countries as it is not as crowded. It ranges from a simple 3 day trek to a legendary 25 day trek known as the Snowman Trek. The Snowman Trek is labelled as the world’s toughest trek as it goes over 12 mountains, all above 4500 metre.

The trails leads walkers past remote and ancient monasteries, lush forests and panoramic mountains, villages, grasslands and pastures for livestock. Bhutan’s treks are also famous for the majestic views of the Himalayan peaks that provide a sense of awe and wonder and a point of contemplation for trekkers along the way. 

The different adventures that Bhutan offers are fishing, hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, rafting and kayaking.