2020-03-01_Wanderlust

wanderlust.co.uk March 2020 29

BHUTAN EXPLORE

Get there

There are no direct

lights from the UK. Fly

from London Heathrow

to New Delhi with Virgin

Atlantic from £582

return (virginatlantic.

com); the journey takes

around 9 hours. British

Airways (britishairways.

com) lies from New

Delhi to Paro from £523

return (drukair.com.bt);

the journey takes

around 2 hours.

60

Thepercentageofland

thatisrequiredbylaw

tobeunderforest

coveratalltimes.At

leastBhutancansee

theforestforthetrees.

$250

Thepricetravellers

mustpayperday

($200certainmonths,

withupto$40pp

supplementforsolo

travellersandcouples).

Thishelpstoprevent

overtourism,while

coveringtransport,

accommodation,food,

entryfeesandaguide

forkeysites.

1972

TheyearformerKing

JigmeSingye

Wangchuck,said:

“GrossNational

Happinessismore

importantthanGross

DomesticProduct.”Well,

ifhisMajestysaysso,

who are we to disagree?

THE NUMBERS

GogreeninBhutan...

IF YOU ONLY DO THREE THINGS

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

Perched on the cli side of the upper Paro valley, the

Tiger’s Nest monastery is the stu of legend. As the story

goes, in the 7th century the Second Buddha hitched

a ride on a lying tiger to meditate in a mountain cave,

ight demons and convert the locals to Buddhism.

Ten centuries later, it was turned into Paro Taktsang,

a monastery marking the site of his arrival. Hike two hours

from the valley loor, following hairpin twists and turns,

to stand 3,000m above sea level overlooking the valley.

Then explore the three temples and the Buddha’s cave.

TIGER’S NEST MONASTERY

TAKE A BOW

Pick up a bow and arrow and take

a shot at the country’s national

sport at an archery class in

Thimphu or Paro. If you’d rather stay

on the rowdy sidelines, head to

a bha cho (archery ield) in any town

or village to see how the locals do it.

SAY CHEESE

Forget cheese and wine – pair
Swiss gouda with Red Panda
beer on a tastebud-tickling tour
of the fuel-e• icient Swiss Farm
Project, Bhutan’s one and only
commercial cheese factory and
microbrewery. Bon appétit!

BLOOMING WONDERFUL

In winter, snows dusts the Dochula

Pass, but in spring, you’ll ind the

white stu– melts to reveal bursts of

white magnolia and scarlet

rhododendron littering the forest

loor. Budding botanists are sure to

be pleased with the scents on show.