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Bhutan's Tourist Destination |
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Bhutan Information |
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| Promoting
white water sports: Canoeing, rafting and kayaking |
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Of
the hundreds of tourists that visit Bhutan every year a handful come to
kayak and raft in the Bhutanese rivers. Unofficial records indicate that
between 20-50 tourists come for the river adventure which is packaged together
with trekking and sight seeing in spring and in autumn seasons when the
rivers are stable. A relatively new adventure sport in Bhutan which the
department of tourism has been promoting and exploring since 1997, Bhutanese
river systems provide a huge potential for canoeing, rafting and kayaking according to tourism officials.
A
survey of Bhutanese rivers done with the help of professionals from other
countries found that each valley has a river and some sections are ratable
and most can be kayaked. Sections of the Pochu and Mochu rivers in Punakha,
the Dangchu in Wangdue the Mangdechu in Trongsa the Chamkarchu, Durchu
and the Tangchu in Bumthang and Tangmachu in Lhuentse can be rafted and
kayaked.
One
private tour company, Lotus Adventure run by Sonam Tobgay has been instrumental
in promoting and pioneering white water sport in Bhutan. But numbers have
remained small from the lack of advertising funds and the highly specialised
nature of the sport according to Sonam Tobgay. "World class equipment is
expensive and the safety is paramount."
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| Motor cycling in Bhutan |
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| Taktshang
Monastery |
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| Guru
Pema Jungney statue installed in Taktshang |
A
gilded statue of Guru Pema Jungney became the first nangten (religious
treasure) to be installed in the recently completed Guru Tshengyed Lhakhang
of the Taktsang monastery. The statue, three - foot tall and weighning
about 100 kilogrammes, was offered to the Taktshang monastery by Her Majesty
the Queen Mother, Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuck. |
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The
statue was installed and consecrated on February 27, 2002 coinciding with
the auspicious 15th day of the second month of the Bhutanese calendar.
So
far the outer structure of six lhakhangs - Dubkhang, Guru Sungjoen Lhakhang,
Guru Tshengyed Lhakhang, Dorji Drolo Lhakhang, Tsepamed Lhakhang and Nebi
lhakhang (dedicated to the local deity Taktshang Singye Samdrup) - had
been completed and three sertogs (gilded tops) had been installed. Meanwhile,
the fabrication work of the seventh lhakhang, the Chorten Lhakhang, is
underway.
The
masonry work and the installation of the fabricated woodwork for the lhakhang
is expected to begin in March. The Kuenrey (common hall), a common kitchen
and toilets will be constructed within the next few months.About 140 people,
excluding skilled craftsmen picked from 18 dzongkhags, are engaged in the
reconstruction of the monastery which was destroyed by fire in 1998. The
reconstruction of Taktshang monastery began in April,
2000.
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| Thrumshingla
National Park |
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| Rhododendron
garden opened |
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A
rhododendron garden has opened at the Thrumshingla National Park. The park
commemorate the International Year of Mountains 2002. |
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The
Thrumshingla National Park is situated between Jakar und Mongar.
According
to the ministry of agriculture the garden, to be formally known as "In
Situ Rhododendron Garden", will "showcase" Bhutan's rhododendron diversity
in their natural habitat. The development of the garden, 22 hectares in
area and containing 22 different species of rhododendron, is part of a
series of activities being undertaken by the royal government to commemorate
the international year of mountains. Out of 46 known species of rhododendrons
in Bhutan four- R. kesangiae, R. pogonophyllum, R. bhutanense and R. flinckii
- are endemic to the kingdom. Among its numerous ethno-botanical value,
rhododendrons are used to make incense, traditional medicines (to treat
dysentery, rheumatism, diarrhoea and sciatica), for carving (traditional
wooden containers), as natural insecticide and to make agricultural implements.
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| Phuentsholing: Mani dungkhor and chorten |
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A
Mani dungkhor built in memory of Gongzim Raja Sonam Tobgay Dorji and a
chorten built in memory of the Late Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Jigme
Palden Dorji.
The
holy site was consecrated by the former Yanbi Lopon in Phuentsholing. The
Mani dungkhor and chorten was built by Dasho Lhendup Dorji.
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