Bhutan is mostly rural and most of its inhabitants make a living through agriculture. There are very few people in Bhutan. It is estimated that there are just 600,000 to possibly 2 million people living in a country which is roughly the size of Switzerland. In the Capital city of Thimphu there are no traffic lights. It is believed that the population growth is so low because the first born in a family is sent off to a monastery to become a Buddhist monk. And, since monks are known to provide for their parents well, some families send even more of their children.
 
Buddhism plays a large part in the lives of the Bhutanese. There is no separation of church and state, so the political centers also act as religious centers. Most of the small villages in Bhutan are organized around a Dzong, which is a combination of a monastery and government center for the village. There is a story known by most Bhutanese about how Guru Rinpoche descended from the heavens and brought Buddhism to the people. This event is said to have occurred at Taktsang, which is now a holy sight. There are also several Himalayan Mountains that are off limits because of ancient beliefs that gods are dwelling on these peaks.
 
The king of Bhutan has made moves to open up Bhutan to modernization, but he also does not want to compromise the values, beliefs and culture that they have. There is now a single television channel that broadcasts in Bhutan. The path to modernization is slow, but in Bhutan most people own their home, do not go hungry, and most importantly, are happy.
 
In Bhutan, equal rights exist between men and women. In 1989, a national dress code was started for all citizens. The men are required to wear a Gho, a robe resembling a dressing gown, and the women are required to wear a Kira, a sari-like garment worn over a blouse. While citizens still wear this formal clothing, some will wear a t-shirt and jeans underneath. In the past, citizens who did not comply with the dress code were subject to a fine. In present times, the dress code has become more relaxed, so now one can see people wearing both national and western dresses. But, it is still mandatory to wear national dress on all official duties.
 
Smoking is not allowed in most areas of Bhutan and the growing or sale of tobacco is prohibited. Visitors are allowed to bring tobacco in limited quantity for their own consumption by paying a 200% tax.

Cultural Crossroads Tours of Bhutan at a Glance

• Back Roads of Bhutan
  

  Cultural Crossroads invites you to participate in a special trip to unexplored Bhutan. The country is landlocked between the Himalayas, India and Tibetan. There are few developed Bhutan has been culturally preserved and is unaltered by the modern global culture that most other nations have influencing them. It is one of the most unique places to visit. It is the only country where Buddhism is the state religion and the country does not measure its success by Gross Domestic Product, but by Gross National Happiness. Bhutan is a small country with very fragile environment, so the government is serious and giving first priority to preserve the natural environment. Bhutan is set to become first nation in the world where the citizens have a constitutional obligation to preserve the environment. Bhutan constitution emphasizes the need for every citizen of the country to protect the environment, conserve its rich biodiversity and prevent ecological degradation including noise, visual and physical pollution through the adoption of environment friendly practices and ethos. Bhutan is committed to keep minimum of 60% of its forest cover forever.

  Cultural Crossroads makes sure our travelers carry out what they carry in, and how they can help conserve water and electricity, and other items in their hotel rooms. Combined with a well preserved ancient culture, this country is truly a fascinating and unique place to visit.

  We will visit many villages, meet with local elders/leaders and farmers and learn about the challenges they face, their daily activities, and ways to improve their living conditions. Our travelers will experience the HAA district, not yet explored by other tour operators. Cultural Crossroads participants will enjoy a special permit to enter the Tigers’s Nest monastery (Taktsang). We will also meet and interact with lamas and monks from the various monasteries and temples and have opportunities to meet with local artisans and crafts people. Traditional handicraft makers and artisans form a big bulk of the Bhutanese population. The sale of their products is being encouraged to visitors helping the local people to benefit from the rich. Visitors can also contribute to locals eating their wonderful local food encouraging farmers to produce more agricultural products for the demanding market for better living. Animal husbandry is still a predominant activity amongst rural population. The purchase of fresh dairy products like cheese, butter, milk, and meat to feed the visitors during their travel to Bhutan is another economic net contributing to triple bottom line.

  The tour is for 8-16 travelers only, so you can enjoy the company of others, or fill the trip with your friends and/or family. Our small group size provides you with special opportunities and private access for unique cultural experiences.

  Cultural Crossroads donates the portion of our profits to sustainable community programs in the countries we travel to. In Bhutan we give to the Tarayana Foundation (http://www.tarayanafoundation.org/) a non-profit organization working to reduce poverty and enhance the lives of people in rural communities in Bhutan.