Bhutan

Hidden away in the Himalayas Bhutan and its people have largely lived a life of isolation from the rest of the world. The Bhutanese have succeeded in maintaining their cultural and spiritual heritage and belief that they live in the last Shangri-La by strictly limiting the number of tourists to the Kingdom to a maximum of 5000 a year. Western values have little or no impact. There in this land of culture and extreme charm this exudes a special feeling of serenity. The people are intensely religious, much in evidence here, even in urban centers the spinning of prayer wheels the murmur of mantras and the glow of butter lamps are still important features of daily life. Monasteries temples and religious monuments are dotted across the landscape bearing witness to the importance of Buddhism, while red robed monks, young and old are everywhere mingling freely in towns and village markets.