From Hindustan to Bhutan

                              From the flatlands to the mountains
                              From Hinduism to Buddhism
                              From pollution to fresh air
                              From mayhem to tranquility

Bhutan is landlocked between China and India and was isolated until 50 years ago when the first road was built. Consequently tourism is in its infancy with only 100,000 visitors per year, which makes quite a change from the masses we encountered in India.
The capital Thimphu seems to house most of the museums, government administration buildings including the Tashichho Dzong fortress and military headquarters. The Royal Family is very progressive and they continue to put a lot of effort and funding into infrastructure, education, folk heritage preservation and conservation.
The tagline for all is not the measure of GDP but GNH, Gross National Happiness which is taught in schools, where daily meditation and the playing of soothing traditional music is encouraged.
A short way out of town and clearly visible up on the mountain a new Buddha has been constructed. The complex is not yet complete but the $20 million statue, one of the world's largest, is in place.

The National Textile Museum houses a beautiful collection of clothing and tapestries with a weaving school attached. The detail in some of these hand loomed pieces, which can take 3 years to complete, is extraordinary.
A Royal weaver at work:

The National Animal is a Takin, a rather odd looking creature with the head, horns and hair of a goat but the body of a cow, it roams the eastern Himalayas.

The National Sport is archery but a different version to the Olympic Games. The field is very long at 130 metres and the target is a small white board with painted rings about the size of a dinner plate, there is an earth mound stacked with hay as a backdrop. The archers line up at each end and chant encouragement to their team mates at the opposite end. They then crouch down with their heads next to the target, the arrow is shot from a bamboo bow, god knows how they see it, and they duck or jump out of the way when it arrives!! Apparently there are occasional injuries.
If the arrow hits the target the whole team lines up between the flags, then they sing and do a little dance not dissimilar to RunDMC and Steven Tyler in 'Walk this Way'.

Note the traditional dress or gho which wraps around the body down to the knee, tied at the waist with folded white cuffs on the sleeves, underneath it they wear a leotard and long socks.
A very entertaining day all around.