Reasons to visit Bhutan are many, but we’ve listed the the most EPIC ones for you!
Nestled deep in the lap of the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is a country almost synonymous with happiness. Magical and mythical, the land of the Thunder Dragon or ‘Druk Yul’ as the locals call it, is full of hidden treasures. If the very fact that the country measures its output in terms of happiness using the Gross National Happiness Index isn’t enough to convince you to go there, then the following are sure to:-
Top reasons to visit Bhutan –
With steep cliffs, snow-peaked mountains, sprawling forests and meandering rivers, there is no dearth of picturesque sceneries in this country. Everything is pure as pure can be and looking around is a pleasure to the senses. Scenic beauty is one of the top reasons to visit Bhutan!
Bhutan has preserved much of its landscape as it is and this makes for some great hiking opportunities. Whether it be the hike up to the Tiger Nest Monastery or the numerous treks that range from mild to challenging, your legs will definitely get some exercise. This reason to visit Bhutan is for everyone!
The only country in the world where happiness is more important an output than the GDP, Bhutan has and continues to take special care to keep its citizens happy and content. Education and healthcare are free and measures are continuously taken to provide better amenities. People here genuinely prioritize happiness over money and some of it is sure to rub off on you! Just this alone would be enough reason to visit Bhutan.
The local food is lip-smacking and uses a lot of chillis and cheese. The ‘Ema Datshi’ which is the national dish is a stew of chilli and cheese accompanied by red rice. Whatever your tolerance of spicy food maybe, it is a must-try and will keep you warm in the cool climate. If you’re a foodie, this is a great reason to visit Bhutan!
With more than two-thirds of its population comprising of Buddhists (the remaining are largely Hindus), the Buddhist culture is everywhere. Be it in the waving colourful flags or the imposing monasteries, the festivals or the chants, there seems to be a sense of peace emanating from all corners of the country.
This little land has never been conquered in all of history. Despite this, it holds a rich history mostly centered around Buddhism. There are plenty of museums and monuments with relics and important traces of history that one can visit. For history lovers, this is a great reason to visit Bhutan!
The Bhutanese way of life follows a pace of its own. For a person visiting from the modern world, it can seem like they landed on the sets of a medieval film. Even routine work like agriculture and animal husbandry are performed using almost archaic ways. The Bhutanese society is majorly matriarchal and polygamy as well as marrying cousins used to be common. It is a different feeling to be immersed in this sort of slow-paced life with values so different from the western world.
Chanting prayers one minute and checking their iPhones the next, interacting with the monks in Bhutan is as cool as it gets. There is so much to learn just by having a conversation with them or even watching from a distance. Maybe they’ll even teach you to enjoy the simple pleasures of life much more.
Let this sink in – Bhutan has various temples and entrances decorated with phalluses to ward off evil. Some people even wear them as charms around their neck! The Chimi Lhakhang in Punakha is a temple dedicated to the Goddess of fertility and many couples visit the country just to seek the deity’s blessings. Whether it is these blessings you seek or not, the temple is a must-visit for its enchanting stories and colourful existence. This is one unique reason to visit Bhutan!
More than 70% of the landmass of Bhutan is covered by forests. This means that Bhutan is one of the few countries in the world to actually have a carbon-negative footprint. Where else will you find such pure air? Take in a lung full and let it suffuse you with the spirit of Bhutan. The non-commercial villages, the sprawling green hills dotted with animals grazing on them and the happy, smiling faces of the locals remind you of what it is like to actually live life.
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Testimonials
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Thank you very much to you and your team for arranging this fantastic tour. One of the best pick from this tour was your meticulous planning and promptness of service. All arrangements were fantastic, be it a delivery of vehicle at Chandigarh airport, hotels particularly at Chandigarh, Leh, Nubra, Pangong. However the best was at Jispa, Kargil and Srinagar for different reasons. Jispa was simple but authentic with very tasty food.
Rajesh & Gauri Natu
Graphic Designer, Apple
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Sunil, after I ran 21k Marathon I bragged about it for years. The same is being repeated again, with my ambition to drive across the Himalayas, which was almost faded with Srinagar under curfew. You and Chetan were the spark to our fire that we could do this drive and without a single trouble. Driving is a passion but driving thru places where there are no roads is trouble, but your breakup of program and awesome car condition helped us actually sail thru. Three cheers and five stars.
Jignesh Shah
Absolute Networks, Mumbai
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Wow. wow, wow. What a experience! We took the route of Delhi - Jammu - Srinagar - Leh - Sarchu - Manali - Delhi. Sunil Kapoor gave us excellent service which includes his next to new 4WD in immaculate condition and all hotels were top class. Coming from Australia, we were bit nervous in start but when we met Sunil, we had full trust and all went very positive. Sunil gave us perfect instructions and everything was according to plan. Thank you Sunil and your team for our one of the best experience in life you have provided us.
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Jignesh Patel
Director, Webential, Australia
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Eight of us from Sri Lanka got Sunil to arrange a self driven tour to Leh and we are very happy with our decision. He was punctual, trustworthy and met our expectations. The service provided was very professional. As foreigners it’s hard to arrange such a tour by ourselves and Unwind outdoor filled in the gap perfectly. All places we stayed were nice and decent. Should specifically mention about the two Scorpios which we instantly fell in love with. They were very well maintained ...
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Sumudu Fernando
Friends from SriLanka
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After days of research, we finally came across a facebook page called ‘Unwind Outdoors’. It seemed like our dream was going to be finally true. Very reasonably priced and Sunil from Unwind was like a know-it-all person.
The itinerary was so crisp and so very well laid out that there was no reason for us to worry other than coping up with nature’s fury.
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Priyadatta Prabhavalkar
Clifford Chance, Delhi
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We did a SUV self drive trip from Chandigarh to Ladakh and back organized by Unwind Outdoor.
Highly recommend Unwind Outdoor as Sunil and Manpreet took care of everything we needed (car, hotel bookings, sightseeing and food recommendations, permits) and everything was organized seamlessly. Sunil was very patient with all our queries, giving suggestions and options to suit our preferences.
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Ashish & Neha Thadani
KPMG, Bangalore
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Great to see the know-how of the Unwind Outdoor team regarding every aspect of the Srinagar - Leh - Chandigarh self drive trip. From weather conditions, to road conditions, to health/clothing requirements, and also driving instructions - Sunil and Manpreet are warm, meticulous and knowledgable. Villa Himalaya in Sonamarg surpassed all our expectations and ensured that our expected standards for the rest of the trip were extremely high.
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Parth Deshmukh
Symbiosis Law School, Mumbai
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Thanks Sunil for arranging a wonderful trip. Everything went well and we were in good hands with friendly and competent drivers. Accommodation was good and tents were comfortable beyond our expectations. We didn't have problem with food choices. It was a totally rejuvenating vacation and experience for us. Thanks from us in Singapore!
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Lilian Chan
Singapore
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We had an amazing 9-day from Manali to Leh. Serene, breathless and picturesque. High altitude sickness was a big issue for us but we were in good hands.
Unwind Outdoor was superb in arranging and coordinating the trip. Taking care of all arrangements and checking-in on us. Kudos to Sunil and his team.
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Alvin Chia
Assistant Director, Jurong Town Corporation, Singapore
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We travelled as a couple & completed a self drive trip from Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Nubra-Pangong-Tso Moriri-Sarchu-Manali-Delhi. Itinerary was meticulously designed to be a mix of adventure and comfort. Hotel choices were best. Support was available at all points in case of emergency.Vehicle provided was top notch. Thanks to Mr. Sunil Kapoor for personally putting in efforts to maintain such high standards.
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Nikhil & Neha Mazumdar
Manager L&T, Mumbai
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Six of us (two families) travelled to Leh in Jul / Aug 2015 and we had an excellent experience with Unwind Outdoor. From the very beginning of our excited planning phase, Sunil has been willingly suggesting us options, number of days, places to visit etc. He has all the knowledge of the terrain, passionate about trekking and traveling himself, so he understands travel-crazy people such as me and my quirks.
We landed in Leh in time for cloudbursts and flashfloods and landslides (along with mud and rocks sliding too). Despite Nature's fury, Sunil and Skarma made sure we were utmost safe and comfortable. These guys are just not into travel business, they help people fulfil their travel dreams. Truly! Go guys!!
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Kamala Aithal
Barclays Bank, Bangalore
