BHUTAN - The land of the peaceful dragon

Foreign Shores

BHUTAN - The land of the peaceful dragon

Faizul Khan Tanim explains why the Himalayan kingdom is called the land of the peaceful dragon

Bhutan most probably got its name – land of the peaceful dragon – for its absolute tranquil atmosphere, snaky roads, narrow rivers, serpentine incorporations in their dance moves wearing dragon masks and the use of red hot chilli aplenty in most of their food items in case one needs to blow fire like a dragon. This unspoiled land is inspiring, green, mountainous, with an abundance of pine trees and ample fresh breeze, prayer flags adorning the mountain sky line and all that jazz. In Bhutan, the traditional Bhutanese attire of long robes in bright red and orange will catch your sight - Gho for men and Kira for women.

How to get there

If you are an avid adventurer, a nature and landscape person, it is always wise to take a joy ride to experience the awe-inspiring panorama. The Dhaka-Shiliguri A/C bus service will take you to the Burimari border in Lalmonirhat in an almost 10 to 12-hour drive. In that case you will require a double entry Indian visa to get in and also out of Bhutan and come back to Shiliguri for the return trip back to Dhaka.

Once you cross the border, it will take you straight to Shiliguri and those willing to visit Bhutan are advised to take the taxi till Moynaguri - a place in India from where buses leave for Jaigaon - India-Bhutan border. An almost dull three hours drive till you reach the sights of the refreshing green leaves of tea plantations which will bring you back to life.

Once you reach Jaigaon, it is a quiet little place with the adjacent view of the hilly green side of Bhutan called Phuentsholing, which has to be crossed through the majestic Royal Bhutan Gate. And in order to do that, you will need a port entry visa for Bhutan from the Jaigaon office.

Otherwise, a more convenient and comfortable way is to use the services of DRUK Air with a direct flight from Dhaka to Paro which will cost around Tk.17,500.

Where to go

I have travelled to three of Bhutan’s amazing tourist spots – Phuentsholing, Thimphu and Paro.

Phuentsholing is a small town with absolutely clear water streams running all over this small town. The journey from Phuentsholing to Thimphu is an almost interesting six hours refreshing drive. Mountains as high as 8300 feet, clouds roaming in front of you as you cruise on roads between big trees – you will reach the epitome of magnificence.

Thimphu is the capital of modern Bhutan, a small town and a valley with houses of aesthetic designs, neat roads, and sights of sudden ice peaks as if it’s a pearl centred in a cup of decorated shells. A two-hour drive by taxi from Thimphu will bring you to the relatively less hilly valley of Paro, where the only airport of the country is situated, because of lack of plain land in the rest of the kingdom.

What to eat

Interestingly, traditional Bhutanese food always features spicy red or green chillies. Chilly, cheese and meat being the main ingredients, the dish Ema Datshi is certainly one of the hottest, spiciest, and mouth-watering. Small steamed dumplings called Momos are also the favourites of the locals especially during their winter. Be it over chitchats or part of a proper meal, you can always say yes to these dumplings that are affectionately filled with the goodness of meat or cheese, and either fried or steamed. You will need to open your mouth wide and gulp the entire delicacy.

A Tibetan dish, Thukpa (noodles), that may be fried or served as a soup, is a local delicacy. Their normal diet of rice and curry are very familiar to our taste buds but with a major difference in ingredient of hot chilly paste which gives the food a totally different whiff. They are also major cheese eaters and you will find the locals carrying little cubes of cheese for instant energy as they climb the hills.