I spent two nights at Hotel Ananda. On both of these nights, I arrived at the hotel late in the evening, after work. When I got there, Pema, the owner’s daughter, who currently looks after the property, made me feel at home. Over dinner, she shared about her recent projects, which includes being a manager...Read More
I’ve been wanting to write about Giku-na for a while now. However, that didn’t happen until I tried their beef tacos, vegetable pad thai, and bagel with cream cheese and “chilli jam,” for lunch. I also love their “Summertime Mint” drink, made from freshly plucked backyard mints. Their cafe is one of the few places...Read More
Some of the best months to visit Bhutan are the fall season—September through November. This period features festivals such as the Thimphu Tshechu, Bhutan’s most coveted cultural festival, and the Royal Highland Festival, which honors and showcases Bhutan’s nomadic culture. It is also ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking and trekking. Matsutake Mushroom Festival...Read More
I recently interviewed Karma Thinley, a certified French-speaking Bhutanese guide. During the interview, I learnt that Karma had gone to France nearly two decades ago. I didn’t realize that language guides existed as early as 2007. Tashi Wangmo: What are the qualifications to become a French-speaking guide? Karma Thinley: As long as you can speak...Read More
Have you ever wondered about the human equivalent of a traffic light? In Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital and the country’s most populated city, there are no traffic lights. Instead, young police personnel direct the flow of vehicles. My fascination with Thimphu’s traffic square began sometime last year, after I joined Little Bhutan as a blogger. Walking...Read More
My first memory of the water bowl offering dates back to childhood, when I watched my grandmother enter and exit our altar room. Early each morning, at the break of dawn, she filled the bowls. By evening, when she emptied them, it marked the end of the day. We always poured the water outside, over...Read More
In Buddhism, there are many gods. This article will talk about some of the Buddhist gods—Bodhisattvas and Buddhas—you’ll see in temples and homes across Bhutan, and what they symbolize. ZambalaZambala is the god of wealth. A manifestation of Chenrizig, the Buddha of Compassion, there are five different Zambalas. For instance, the Yellow Zambala holds a...Read More
I recently came to know the story of the phallus and how it came to be widespread in Bhutanese society. The story is different and probably older than that of Lam Drukpa Kinley’s. It involves two gods. The Story of the Phallus There were two gods: Lha Uma and Lha Wangchu. At the time, Lha...Read More
When planning a trip to Bhutan, it’s important to carefully consider how many days you intend to spend there. Cost Factor Bhutan is a comparatively expensive country to visit. The Bhutanese government charges visitors USD 100 daily– termed as the Sustainable Developmental Fee (SDF). The SDF excludes costs for flight tickets, hotel, food, and a...Read More
On a quiet Sunday afternoon, I spent my time talking to Passang Tobgay, at VAST. VAST is Bhutan’s first and major art studio and center. For nearly a month now, Passang’s solo exhibition Long For The Pure Land, has been on display, for free. Passang trained at the Zorig Chusum and recently returned from the...Read More
