Bhutan, between myth and reality

Synopsis

We set out to discover the small kingdom of Bhutan, in the heart of the Himalayas. For as long as can be remembered, this country has been the object of many a fantasy. Many myths and legends belonging to the past nevertheless remain very much alive in the hearts of travellers setting out to explore. Thanks to the GNH – Gross National Happiness – everyone lives in perfect harmony. The painted phalluses on the walls seem to serve as constant reminders of the existence of Drukpa Kunley, a crazy Yogi whom is said to have converted the people of Bhutan to Buddhism through the use of methods deemed unorthodox to say the least. And then we are told of the yeti, the abominable snowman, who’s said to inhabit the wilderness of Eastern Bhutan. From the country’s capital, Timphu, to the confines of the forgotten valleys of Merak and Saktang; the further we go, the more we learn about Bhutan’s lesser known, mysterious side…