ABOVE THE CLOUDS

The rough and rugged ridges of the Himalayan mountains are met with the gentle spirituality of Buddhist teachings in Bhutan

By Coco Marett

“I have lived 20 years, four times,” an elderly monk tells us with a bold grin. Tatler had asked his age when our group stopped for a break on the Trans Bhutan Trail. Encounters with monks are common in “The Land of the Thunder Dragon”. Mahayana Buddhism is Bhutan’s official religion, and around 75 per cent of the population is Buddhist. As such, the principles of humility and happiness so deeply entrenched in the religion are felt in the warmth of the country’s people and the simplicity of everyday life. Truly unlike anywhere else on Earth, Bhutan’s mystery and allure have placed the destination at the top of many travellers’ bucket lists. And since the country reduced its “Sustainable Development Fee”—a daily fee implemented in an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint…

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Tatler Malaysia (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 2023

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