Bhutan has the richest and one of the world`s finest cultural heritage that has largely remained intact due to its isolation from the rest of the world till early 1960s. One of the main attractions of the tourists in Bhutan is culture and its traditions. The government is increasingly making efforts to sustain the current culture and tradition. Thus, Bhutan has aptly been referred to as the “Last Shangrila”.

Bhutan is seen to be inaccessible to foreigners. There is a widespread misperception that Bhutan has set limits on tourist visas. The high tourist tariff and the requirement to go on packaged tours may have created this impression. Most visitors have seen and felt multiple benefits and advantages of the controlled Daily Tariff and Packaged Tours. You will understand yourself once you are in the country.

National Dress

The traditional dress in Bhutan is called Gho, a knee-length robe tied at the waist by a cloth belt known as the Kera. Women wear an ankle-length dress, the kira, which is clipped at one shoulder and tied at the waist. An accompaniment to the Kira is a long-sleeved blouse called Toego, which is
worn underneath the outer layer. Social status and class determine the texture, colours, and decorations that embellish the garments. Scarves are indicators of social standings, as Bhutan has traditionally been a feudal society. Bhutanese law requires all Bhutanese citizens to wear national dress in public.

Food & Beveraged

Rice, and increasingly maize, are the staple foods of the country. The diet in the hills includes chickens, yak meat, beef and mutton on rare occasions.Soups of meat, rice, and dried vegetables spiced with chilies and cheese are a favorite meal during the cold seasons.
Dairy foods, particularly butter and cheese from yaks and cows are popular, and indeed almost all milk is turned to butter and cheese. Bhutanese cuisines are very hot as lots of chilies are used in various forms. Popular beverages include butter tea, sweet tea, locally brewed rice wine and beer. Bhutan is the only country in the world to have banned the sale of tobacco.

National Sport

Bhutan`s national sport is archery. It differs from Olympic standards not only in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere. Traditional Bhutanese archery is a social event and competitions are organized between villages, districts and towns.
There are two targets placed 100 meters apart and teams shoot from one end of the field to the other. Each member of the team shoots a pair of arrows per round. Usually plenty of food and drinks complement singing, dancing and funfair. Family members and supporters of the participating teams cheer. Attempts to distract an opponent include standing around the target and making fun of the shooter`s ability.

Darts called Khuru is an equally popular outdoor team sport, in which heavy wooden darts pointed with a 10 cm nail are thrown at a paperback-sized target ten to twenty meters away.

Another traditional sport is the Deogor, which can be best described as shot put combined with horseshoe throwing. Football is an increasingly popular sport.

Musics

Popular music played on a mix of traditional instruments and electronic keyboards dates back to the early 1990s; it shows the influence of Indian popular music, a hybrid form of traditional and Western popular influences. Traditional genres include the Zhungdra (Classical) & Boedra (Modern).

Dzongs

Characteristic of the region is a type of fortress known as the Dzong. This contains the religious and secular administration for each district. There are twenty districts in Bhutan. The Dzongs were constructed at strategic locations aimed to protect the country from invaders and enemies.
Some of the Dzongs also served as political centers in the medieval Bhutan.

Public Holidays

Bhutan has numerous public holidays, most of which centre around traditional seasonal, secular and religious festivals. They include the winter solstice in January depending on the Lunar Calendar. The Lunar New Year in February or March, the King`s Birthday, the Anniversary of
Coronation, the official end of Monsoon season in September, National Day on December 17, and various Buddhist and Hindu celebrations. Even the secular holidays have religious overtones, including religious dances and prayers for blessing the day.

Mask Dances

Masked Dances and Dance Dramas are common traditional features at festivals, usually accompanied by traditional music. Energetic dancers, wearing colourful wooden or composition facemasks and stylized costumes, depict heroes, demons, death heads, animals, gods, and caricatures of common people.
The dancers enjoy royal patronage, and preserve ancient folk and religious customs and perpetuate the ancient lore and art of mask-making.