Up in the Air

Escape the ordinary with a once in a lifetime sojourn to the ancient Kingdom of Bhutan. Kissa Castañeda spends a week in the Himalayas unlocking the secrets of this mystical destination

ew places in the world announce their presence before you have even touched down, and nowhere could probably rival Bhutan’s captivating welcome. Descending into Paro Airport, the main gateway into the Land of the Thunder Dragon, we were cruising through a clear blue sky when, in what seemed like a split second, we were surrounded by mountains on all sides. From my window seat, it felt like the airplane’s wings were about to touch the slopes—exciting, unnerving and certainly demanding of your full attention. Only eight pilots in the world are certified to manoeuvre around these majestic peaks and execute one of the most dramatic landings possible. Bhutan takes your breath away, even before you get there. On a crisp winter morning in December, I arrived eager to discover a country whose name alone conjures a reel of exotic imagery—from unspoilt landscapes and ancient temples, to locals in traditional garb and with genuine smiles on their faces. I was, after all, in the “happiest place on earth”. Atop the eastern Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan is seemingly untouched by the travails of modern life, which is precisely why it has captured the world’s imagination. Though Bhutan has opened its doors to tourism since 1974, only a few have had the privilege to visit. In 2016, the Bhutan Tourism council reported 54,600 international leisure tourist arrivals—still relatively exclusive when compared to the volume of tourists who go to neighbouring Tibet and Nepal. The government’s sustainable tourism policies have laid down strict ground rules; this approach has benefited its citizens who depend on a healthy tourist trade as well as attracted mindful travellers who come for the promise of an authentic experience in one of the world’s most remote places. It is only five hours from Singapore, and yet I have never felt so far away.