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Bart Aldrich | profile | all galleries >> Asian Travels - 1984-2019 >> Bhutan Autumn Festivals tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

CHINA 1992-2008 | BALI | Faces of Asia | Vietnam 2019 | Remebering India | Vietnam 1995 | Tibet & Nepal | CHINA 1984 | CAMBODIA: 1993 & 2017 | Bhutan Autumn Festivals | Myanmar 1996 | LAOS 1996

Bhutan Autumn Festivals

Shot on Fujichrome Provia film in 1998, but new, improved scans being added... Sept 2020.

While Bhutan is definitely one of the smallest countries in the world, the cultural diversity and its richness are profound. A strong emphasis is laid on the promotion and preservation of its rich cultural diversity.
Bhutan's cultural diversity is enhanced by the variety of festivals that are is being observed. My visit was during the autumn festivals. Hoping to keep outside influences to a minimum to help preserve their traditional culture,Tourism in Bhutan began in 1974, when the Government of Bhutan, in an effort to raise revenue and to promote Bhutanese unique culture and traditions to the outside world, opened its isolated country to foreigners. In 1974 a total of 287 tourists visited the Kingdom of Bhutan. The number of tourists increased to 2,850 in 1992, and was still only 5,000 when we visited in 1998. Then rose to 7,158 in 1999 and peaked at 10,000. Although they have opened up to more adventure tourism such as river rafting and climbers and allowed a few high-end resort-lodges to be built.
Children are taught English from early on and are eager to practice with native speaking visitors.

The northern part of Bhutan lies within the Great Himalayas; the snowcapped peaks in this region reach an elevation of more than 24,000 feet (7,300 metres). High valleys occur at elevations of 12,000 to 18,000 feet (3,700 to 5,500 metres), running down from the great northern glaciers.
With the lowest crime rates in Asia, a simple farming based culture, rich lush valleys and picturesque streams and mountains, a devoutly religious population and a government more concerned with it's peoples happiness than it's GDP, Bhutan just may be the closest thing to the mythical Shangri-La valley of James Hilton's 'Lost Horizons.

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All Images © Bart Aldrich, All Rights Reserved. Please contact for permission.

Watching the Festival Fvents Leaping Dancer Deer Dance Vibrant Festival Dancers Masked Dancer
Bhutanese monks Bhutan schoolgirls Twirling, leaping Dancers Praying Hand The Faithful gather at the  Prayer Wheels
A Young Student Children in a Colorful Window Bhutan Cosmos in the Mountain Mist Hillside Village
Wangdi Dzong During Festival Monk Spins a Giant Prayer Wheel Drummers at the Festival Vibrant Dance Turning a Prayer Wheel
Wooden Rosary in Nun's Hands Student Monks Dance Color at the Autumns Festival Rainy Valley Bhutan
High Mountain Pass School Boys in Traditional Kira Our Travel Guide Prayer Flags After the Rain
Festival Viewers Monk with Carnation A Thimphu Street Paro Valley Boys watching a dance festival
Prayer Flags on a Ridge Three Faces in a Wndow Hands with Buddhists Rosary Buddhist prayers Student at a Window
Friends Monks Studying Buddhist Texts Young Archers Young Boy at Festival Bhutanese Monk at Festival
Punakha Dzong Lively Festivities Girls in their Traditional Kira Children Watching Festival Dancing Drummers
Monk in Doorway Hauling Water Buddhist Novice Nun Weary Traveler Cosmos in theMist
Tashichho Dzong Paro Valley Nun with Rosary Mountain Outpost Big Sister & Baby
Lush, Terraced Hills Archery is the Bhutan National Sport Prayer Flags High in a Himalayan Pass Elderly Buddhist Nun Sudent Monks
Young Monks at Wangdi Dzong Young Monk Design School Student Monks & Musicians Peppers Drying on a Rooftop
Monk's Flower Colorful Window Taktsang Palphug Monastery / Tiger's Nest Bhuddhist Pilgrim Daydreamer
Shop Window Woman in Traditional Kira Buudhist Nun & Novice Elderly Man Suspension Bridge
Novice Nun First Time at the Festival Bhutanese Girls Farm Land Patterns of the Paro Valley Waterfall High in the Mountains
Colorful Festival Dancer School Mates Woman with Buddhist Rosary and Prayer Wheel Whirling Drum Dancers Women's Turn to Chant & Sing
Bhutanese Boy Monk Participating in Festivities Buddhist Monk's Wooden Rosary High Mountain Valley Look of Awe
Girls Relaxing Outside Wangdi Dzong Mountainside Rice Terraces Young Festival Goer Apple in Monk's Hands Still Life with Geraniums
Dressed for the Festival Traditional Stringed Instrument Looking Up Rugged Hand Young Monk at Festival
Main Entrance of Wangdhi Phodrang Dzong Game Time Colorful Crowd at Festival Souvenier Seller Beautiful Brocade Kira
Traditional Painted Door