Long regarded as the Forbidden Land, Bhutan-or DrukYul, the Land of the Thunder Dragon-is often described as the Last Shangri La. It is still a country of pristine forests, alpine valleys and glacial lakes, rich in rare flora and fauna such as the blue poppy, the golden langur and the red panda. As spectacular as its natural beauty are the architecture of its towering dzongs (fortresses) and the art treasures that fill its monasteries and temples.
Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck shares with us her delight in some of the hidden treasures of her country, which she discovered during her journeys on foot to every corner of Bhutan-from highland villages in the shadow of the great Himalayan peaks to serene monasteries wreathed in myth and legend to the rainforests in the south and centre of the country, which are among the world's richest biodiversity hotspots. This book, with its specially commissioned illustrations by young Bhutanese artists and photographs from the author's family album, is essential reading both for those who plan to visit the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon and for armchair travellers who yearn to experience the magic of Bhutan through their imaginations.

Summary: Author's personal memoirs, travelogue, history and folklore of Bhutan

Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (Queen Mother of Bhutan)

Contents

Part One : Growing up with Bhutan
Chapter 1 : The Village on Treasure Hill
Chapter 2: Annual Rires and Festivals
Chapter 3: Horseback Journeys
Chapter 4: A House Is Consecrated

Part Two : The Way We Are

Chapter 5: Sacred Landscapes
Chapter 6 : This Hot Springs of Dunmang
Chapter 7 : I Have been Here Before
Chapter 8 : Dzongs and Chortens

Part Three : People and Places

Chapter 9 : Pilgrimage in Paro
Chapter 10 : Hidden Paradise
Chapter 11: La Ya1
Chapter 12 : Heavenly Lakes
Chapter 13: The Valleys of the Brokpas
Chapter 14 : Bulls with Elazing Horns and Other Vignettes