International Journal of Management and Applied Science, ISSN: 2394-7926 Volume-3, Issue-3, Mar.-2017 http://iraj.in HISTORY, CULTURE AND TOURISM: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON

ACHINTYA MAHAPATRA

Senior Lecturer, Royal University of Bhutan (GCBS), At/Po: Gedu, Chhukha, Bhutan E-mail: [email protected]

I. INTRODUCTION heritage as Bhutan. Its vertical landscape rises abruptly from the steamy lowland plains of Assam in More than a thousand years ago, the great Indian northeastern to some of the world’s highest teacher came to the remote part of peaks along Bhutan’s northern border with the the eastern now known as Bhutan. Tibetan region of . Its diverse ecosystems— Although Padmasambhava (or “ Rinpoche,” as representing most of the climatic zones found on the he is known in Bhutan) was not the first Buddhist planet—provide refuge to thousands of species of teacher to come to this part of the Himalayan region, birds, plants, insects, and mammals. Pristine habitats his presence proved to be a defining and lasting support a dazzling variety of orchids and rare plants, influence on the life and culture of Bhutan. Guru including the legendary blue poppy. There are rare Rinpoche was an important historical figure, highly birds and mammals such as , takin, snow respected for his compassion and wisdom in India leopards, blue sheep, red pandas, and black-necked and Tibet before he ever traveled to Bhutan. He first cranes in the highlands, as well as elephants, tigers, arrived in central Bhutan before moving west to the rhinos, and golden monkeys in the southern lowland Paro Valley sometime in the eighth century. jungles. According to tradition, he reached a high cliff-side Sometimes called the “Land of Medicinal Plants,” cave 2,000 feet above the Paro Valley floor atop a Bhutan also has a rich traditional pharmacopoeia that flying tigress. For anyone who has been lucky enough draws from the country’s rich biodiversity. Bhutan is to see the site today (the location of the great one of the most treasured biodiversity hot spots in the Taktsang, or Tiger’s Nest, ), it is easy to world. The is closely associated understand why this may be the only reasonable with the development of Buddhist culture throughout explanation of how he got there. Bhutan’s landing on the Himalayas, and it is one of the last places on the National Mall for the Smithsonian’s forty-second Earth where the form of Mahayana annual Folk life Festival may be understood as is practiced. It is the home of the Drukpa another flight of the tigress. And the “tigress” arrives (People of the Thunder Dragon), who have lived in its just when Bhutan’s (GNH) isolated high valleys without occupation or measure of development is inspiring important colonization for more than a thousand years. Its thought and discussion about what makes a good geography has protected and defined its cultural society. GNH, which is not unlike Thomas heritage and traditions. Indeed, the first road to the Jefferson’s “pursuit of happiness” in the U.S. outside world (India) was constructed only in the Declaration of Independence, will be celebrated early 1960s. The total number of tourists has during the Festival. The Smithsonian is very happy to averaged below 20,000 annually. The Bhutanese have host Bhutan at the 2008 Folk life Festival, the worked very closely with their colleagues at the ceremonial heart of the capital city of the United Smithsonian to showcase as many of their traditions States. The event provides a very special opportunity as possible. Because Bhutan is so remote, the 2008 for American and international audiences to Smithsonian Folklife Festival offers what may be an experience firsthand the remarkable life and culture once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people to of the place traditionally known as Yul (Land of experience the rich cultural life of the Bhutanese the Thunder Dragon). people.

II. BHUTANESE HISTORY It will provide visitors the chance to witness or participate in Bhutan’s much music and dance Bhutan is a small country, about the size of West traditions, which are very rarely performed outside of Virginia, with a population of fewer than a million the kingdom. In fact, some of Bhutan’s highly people. Although bordered by only India and China symbolic, mystical masked dances will be performed (the world’s two most populous countries), its for the very first time in the United States. Audiences geographically isolated location, high up in the will learn from the dancers themselves about the rugged eastern Himalayas, has kept it unknown to meaning of their elaborate costumes, complex steps, most of the world. Few places on Earth have such rhythmic chants, and music. They will see in one great natural beauty or have such a rich cultural place all of Bhutan’s thirteen traditional arts (zorig

History, Culture and Tourism: A Comprehensive Study on Bhutan

79 International Journal of Management and Applied Science, ISSN: 2394-7926 Volume-3, Issue-3, Mar.-2017 http://iraj.in chusum). Bhutan has taken steps to ensure that the compassionate actions from protector deities. Prayers arts of zorig chusum continue to be taught and may consist of mantras or sutras (the Buddha’s practiced throughout the kingdom, and many of teachings). They may be profoundly lyrical and Bhutan’s finest artists and craftspeople will be on the nonsectarian or philosophical. Prayers may represent Mall to share their artistic skills and insights. narrow interests. But traditionally, most feature soul- Examples of their work will be displayed throughout lifting wishes for justice and the well-being of all life- the Festival site to show how Bhutanese traditional forms—the path that will lead them to happiness. As arts are incorporated into the daily lives of Bhutanese teachings, prayers should stimulate reflection and people. Visitors will also encounter examples of practice of the central values of Buddhism, such as Bhutan’s architectural heritage and have the chance compassion. Their function is ultimately to shake off to meet some of its finest builders. Representatives the believer’s convoluted and cloudy conscience, from Bhutan’s religious communities will share a which so easily relapses into individualistic self- unique, ten-day cycle of Bhutanese ritual life, while centeredness. At a more sophisticated level, prayers practitioners of Bhutan’s traditional medicine and help believers discover what Buddhist philosophers some of its most celebrated cooks will explain how have described as the “wisdom mind,” which can contemporary Bhutanese continue to rely on the land distinguish between the ultimate reality of things and for much of their daily sustenance, health, and the mental constructions people take to be real. wellbeing. Elsewhere on-site archers will demonstrate Another mark of faith, or shared trait among the the national sport, which colorfully punctuates Bhutanese, is the spirit of volunteerism in the virtually every village celebration in Bhutan. construction of community temples and the installation of spiritual offerings in temples. A 2004 A popular Bhutanese tale—one that is portrayed national survey confirmed that no infrastructure throughout the kingdom in homes as well as in sacred activity required more communal labor than that and public places—is the story of “The Four required for construction and maintenance of temples. Friends.” The characters include a peacock, a rabbit, The annual labor contribution of each household to and a monkey who stand on an elephant beneath a large and complex temples surpassed the voluntary high tree abundant with fruit. According to the story, labor spent in building community schools and the peacock finds and plants a seed, which is watered suspension bridges and safeguarding sources of by the rabbit and fertilized by the monkey. After the drinking water. And it explains the profusion of seed sprouts and the young plant starts to grow into a temples all over the country. tree, the elephant protects it. Once the tree matures, Bhutan Tourism: however, its fruit is so high that it cannot be reached After the study, I have come up with why tourists are by any of the four animals. However, by standing on interested to visit Bhutan. Following are some of top of each other and combining their strengths, they major reasons why tourists are interested to Bhutan; are all able to reach the fruit and enjoy the reward of  Unique Culture, tradition pristine their cooperation. In much the same way that the environment: “Four Friends” work to achieve something that none Bhutan's main tourism attractions are its traditional of them could alone, the 2008 Smithsonian Folk life culture and way of life, its religious festivals, historic Festival’s celebration of the life and culture of the monuments and its pristine environment. Bhutan has people of Bhutan represents the fruit of cooperation received much international acclaim for its cautious among many people—participants, friends, and approach to development that places a high priority supporters— from opposite sides of the planet. For on conserving the nation's natural and cultural two weeks, the people of Bhutan will share their life heritage. Protecting nature and culture is part of the and culture with the people of the United States and Bhutanese value system and is an important aspect of the world. It will be an intellectually and spiritually the traditional way of life in Bhutan, and the tourism exciting experience that will surely spark a sense of policy reflects these concerns. The policy of imposing discovery, adventure, and renewal. a high tariff has succeeded in making an exclusive and distinctive experience. III. BHUTANESE CULTURE However, with the increase in the number of tourists coming to Bhutan every year there is a need to Bhutan is a deeply spiritual country, where religious monitor and evaluate the environmental and cultural customs strongly influence people’s values. Three impacts of tourism and offer measures to reduce any marks of faith shape the Bhutanese personality. The adverse impacts. It should be recognized that tourism first is prayer. Prayer includes short, daily individual in Bhutan has been sustainable so far due to the sound acts and liturgies led by monks or lay priests that environmental and cultural policies of the Royal continue for days. The purpose and duration of government which has considerable authority over prayers vary greatly. Typically, prayers concern what setting policy direction. people desire in this life, but they may stretch into the  Festivals(): next life. Rituals and petitioning prayers are Many visitors come to Bhutan to witness religious conducted frequently to solicit gracious and festivals held annually in Dzongs throughout the

History, Culture and Tourism: A Comprehensive Study on Bhutan

80 International Journal of Management and Applied Science, ISSN: 2394-7926 Volume-3, Issue-3, Mar.-2017 http://iraj.in country. The most popular are those held in , regions of the Himalayas in the north. Bhutan has 770 Paro and Bumthang. The Dzongs come to life with species of birds (15 globally threatened), 165 colour, music and dancing as valley dwellers and mammals (among them 24 internationally protected town’s folk dressed in their best cloths and join wild animal species), and 5500 species of vascular together to exorcise evil spirits and rejoice in a new plants (among them 152 medical plants). harvest. Rare masked and sword dances and other  Spiritual / Pilgrimage, sacred sites of rituals are performed in the Dzong’s courtyards and and temples: temples. Most of the dances date back to the middle As a tiny landlocked Himalayan kingdom, Bhutan ages and are only performed once or twice each year. remained sovereign and self-sufficient but unknown Each dance has its own significance and can be to the world outside for most of its existence until the performed by monks or lay village leaders dressed in mid 20th century. The country’s heritage of rich bright costumes. Certain festivals end with the culture and environment has remained almost unveiling and worship of huge religious appliqués or completely untainted. The daily life is influenced thongdrels. The moment of the unveiling is shrouded strongly by Buddhism and like nowhere else one can in secrecy and creates great excitement amongst all experience Living . Therefore, the participants. Bhutan being the last Shangri-La has many spiritual  Special interest tracking: and pilgrimage, scared sites of monasteries and Bhutan offers great opportunities for trekking with its temples which are considered prime source as per the splendid scenic beauty, supercilious mountains and study. deep valleys unexpired by modernization. It provides scenic beauty which gradually unfolds in all its glory  Promotion of Gross National Happiness and charm. Lifestyles change from the colorful lively and several others. pace of Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, to the more The Bhutanese development philosophy, Gross traditional, simple remote mountain villages. national happiness, the brain child of fourth king, Trekking in this Himalayan kingdom is one of the Jigme Singye Wangchuk is now a debatable topic most wonderful experiences a visitor can have. It is throughout the world. Therefore, many foreigners are quite different from other parts of the Himalayas. The interested to visit Bhutan to learn more about our country ranges from the dense forest of subtropical development philosophy. Moreover, as per the study jungles to the alpine shrubs, endowed with a wide there are several other reasons why tourists are spectrum of Himalayan flora and fauna. The land is interested to visit Bhutan. thinly populated with scattered settlements. A person Tourist Arrival Table: may walk for several days before sighting a village. In terms of the bed nights by accommodation Bhutan is one of the most exclusive and rare providers, hotel Meri Phuensum in recorded destinations for any tourist. The beautiful landscape, the highest number of bed nights constituting 3.90% unique architecture, snowcapped peaks, colorful of the total bed night share, followed by Olathang dzongs, Lamaist Buddhist traditions, and friendly Hotel in Paro with 3.37%. Amongst the luxury 5-star people leave an everlasting impression on the visitor. properties, Uma Resort in Paro dominated the bed  Flora and Fauna (Nature based products night’s share with 3.19%, followed by Hotel like Bird watching and Botanical tour): Zhiwaling (2.60%), and Hotel Taj Tashi in Thimphu While in many other parts of the Himalayas the (2.41%). The high occupancy for 5-star hotels destruction of forests and loss of habitats have indicate a substantial number of high-end travelers severely reduced wildlife population, Bhutan harbors with significant Out-of-Pocket spending, contributing many scarce species mainly due to the intact forests to higher yields. Amongst hotels in Thimphu, Hotel and the fact that this small country stretches from the Phuntsho Pelri received the maximum bed nights subtropics in the south to the perennially frozen contributing 2.85% of the total bed night’s share. Table:

History, Culture and Tourism: A Comprehensive Study on Bhutan

81 International Journal of Management and Applied Science, ISSN: 2394-7926 Volume-3, Issue-3, Mar.-2017 http://iraj.in

Accommodation Providers by Bed Night (2014-2015) individuals and other sentient beings (which human rights do not guarantee). Dasho Karma Ura is the CONCLUSION director of the Centre for Bhutan Studies, a prolific writer, and an aficionado of fine art. Karma Ura There are about 2,000 temples in Bhutan, which studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, and the means that people are never too far away from their University of Edinburgh where he earned a master’s objects of veneration. Serene Statues are the degree in economics. centerpieces of temples. These statues contain scriptural teachings of the Buddha and body relics of REFERENCE eminent Buddhist masters. Thus, temples signify the presence and representations of the Buddha and help [1]. USEPA, WWF, UNEP, SEDESOL, VROM (1995). The to project Buddhist insights. Stupas (Buddhist Netherlands: Tourism Support Package. [2]. Economic and Social Commission for and the Pacific memorials that usually house holy relics) remind (1993). "Management of Sustainable Tourism Buddhists to open their minds to understanding the Development", ESCAP Tourism Review No.11. interdependence of everything, as explained by the [3]. Edward Inskipp (1992). "Sustainable Tourism Development teaching of Interdependent Origination. They should in the Maldives and Bhutan", UNEP Industry and Envirnment, vol15, no. 3-4, July-December 1992. realize that every person can contribute to others’ [4]. Katrin Brandon (1996). Ecotourism and Conservation: A happiness and well-being and that each person needs Review of KeyIssues, The World Bank, April 1996. contributions from others to achieve happiness. [5]. Ministry of Agriculture (1998). Biodiversity Action Plan for Happiness depends on sustaining a pattern of giving Bhutan, Thimphu: Royal Government of Bhutan. [6]. National Environment Commission (1998). "Bhutan: in meaningful relationships. Ecotourism Management Plan For Jigme Dorji National Park" in The Middle Path: National Environmental Strategy The third shared trait, or mark of faith, is the strong for Bhutan, Thimphu: Royal Government of Bhutan. Nature Bhutanese belief in the wrongness of killing any life- Conservation Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government 1998 form, including livestock and wildlife. In the ideal [7]. Tandi Dorji, Sustainability of Tourism, Communication Buddhist world, even flies or rats, which can spread officer, National Environment Commission, Thimphu disease, should not be killed. Poultry, swine, fish, and [8]. Planning Commission Secretariat (1999). Bhutan 2020: A should not be raised to feed human beings. Vision for Peace, Prosperity, Happiness, Thimphu: Royal Government of Bhutan. In the real world, however, Bhutanese consume an [9]. Roger Doswell (-). The Development of Tourism in Bhutan: increasing amount of as income rises. But they A Discussion Paper, World Tourism rganization and the seem to feel morally more comfortable if the meat is United Nations Development Program, Thimphu imported or if others slaughter the animals. The [10]. Bratabali (Oriya), “Somanatha brata katha”, Santosh Prakasani, Berhampur, pp.1-8. future demands of an urban society may well clash [11]. Mahesh Prasad Das (ed.), Odisara Lokasanskruti (Oriya), with the very strong belief in not taking life, one of Cuttack, 1978, p.28. the virtues taught by the Buddha. Human behavior is [12]. Mohanty, Sujata, “Sabitri Vrata”, in Braja Mohan Mohanty a delicate, dynamic balance between the ideal and the edited Odishara Parvaparvani Osha-vrata Janti yatra (Oriya), Cuttack, 1994, p.298. pragmatic, between individual pursuits of happiness [13]. Srinibas Misra, Raja Parba, 29th Vol., 8th Issue. and social justice. Lay Buddhist ethics include [14]. L.N. Raut, Socio Economic Life of Medieval Orissa, Punthi constraints on individual behavior and demands for Pustak, 1988, Calcutta, 84. social action. Together, they can shape the basic [15]. Chitralekh Singh and Prem Nath, Hindu Festivals, Fairs and Fasts, Crest Publisher House, New Delhi, 1999, 148 relationship not only between individuals (as a [16]. Chitralekha Singh, Hindu Festivals, Fairs and Fasts, Prem respect for human rights does), but also between Nath Crest Publishing House, New Delhi, 1999, 115

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