National_Geographic_Traveller_India-May_2018

BHUTAN

MAY 2018 | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER INDIA 129

BHUTAN’S

K INGDOM

OF BLISS

STRADDLING PAST AND FUTURE, THE SMALL BUT

PROUD NATION IS A MELANGE OF SURPRISING URBAN

SPACES, STEADFAST BELIEFS AND MYSTIC LORE

BY RUMELA BASU

During Paro’s biggest

annual festival, the Paro

Tsechu, masked dancers

and monks perform

ceremonial dances in

the central courtyard of

Paro Dzong. PAULA BRONSTEIN/ STAFF/GETTY IMAGES NEWS/GETTY IMAGES