Bhutan is a sacred land with a deeply spiritual people. Buddhism and Hinduism are both practiced although the majority of people are Buddhists.

There are more than 10,000 stupas or chortens and more than 2000 monasteries in the kingdom, built many centuries ago to honor the teachings of Buddhism. Some are national treasures like the Taktsang, the tiger’s nest built on a sheer craggy cliff face as if grounded on the deep faith of its people.

The hermitages that are built high above some of these sacred sites are a marvel to see: many of them are huts in the traditional architectural style, providing shelter to meditation practitioners amidst deep nature.

Spiritual seekers will find numerous spiritual sites throughout Bhutan. Some are within the easy reach of a few hours’ walk and others require a bit more of a trek or climb but it is always satisfying to reach the tops of the numerous monasteries that mark Bhutan’s landscape and to take a moment for contemplation there, on the top of the world.

The tsechus, local community festivals, and the sacred architectural represented by various stupas and mani walls are a constant reminder that in Bhutan, spirituality is still a way of life despite a fast changing world.

In Bhutan, Buddhism is not in any normal or material sense a tourism resource. However, Buddhism is fundamental to its culture and recognize that some of its guests are Buddhist, some want to learn more about it and come to Bhutan to explore what it might mean for them, others understand its importance as a religion and want to learn a little more about it.