PARO VALLEY, BHUTAN — When it comes to wellness tourism, there definitely is a new kid in town — Bhutan.  This tiny speck of paradise, perhaps the world’s last Shangri-La, is popularly referred to as the  “Land of Thunder Dragon." It is a landlocked country nestled in the midst of the Eastern Himalayas, bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east and west. The landscape is conspicuous by the majestic Himalayan peaks and nourished by swift flowing rivers.
The country is so obsessed with “happiness” that right now Bhutan has emerged as a pioneer in the domain of wellness, sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices, which the entire world is so fixated with these days.
Out here in the Himalayas, prosperity is measured not in terms of concepts like GDP or per capita income, but by the level of happiness of its citizens.

Above: Tiny Bhutan sits cradled in the mighty Himalayas.

Way back in 1971, the country outrightly rejected the GDP and put in place the concept of GNH (gross national happiness), where prosperity is measured by taking into consideration citizen’s spiritual, physical, social and environmental health.
It took a tiny Himalayan kingdom to come out with a stark warning that planet Earth is on the verge of an economic and environmental disaster. The United Nations adopted Bhutan’s call for a more holistic approach towards development in 2013 that found the support of 68 countries.
The Bhutanese approach lays emphasis on the fact that with the advent of modernity, a new human breed has emerged whose beliefs correspond very little to the heritage of their forefathers.
As a consequence, religion and spirituality — the kingpins of that heritage  — has been marginalized, both intellectually and politically. Progress has turned into something of a nightmare.
According to Huston Smith, a leading figure in the study of comparative religions, “it is discouraging to discover that not only are we no wiser than our forefathers were, we may be less wise for having neglected value questions while bringing nature to heel. Also, it is a fact that the 300-year-old tension between science and religion shows no sign of easing, for science continues to be what modernity believes in.  Science still can’t deal with values and existential meanings.

Above: The country's natural beauty leaves every visitor awestruck.

"Questions arise: How do we deal with all these differences? Would these vanish in course of time or are they here to stay? Are they in any way reconcilable? Is it possible to discover some thread of harmony connecting them? What is the significance of the presence of so many religious traditions in the history of the world? Such are the questions that every serious student of religion and spirituality have to reckon with."
The tourism industry has now grown into a global phenomenon, which has enough power to change the world and I, for one, believe that the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is merely following on the hallowed footsteps of Vajrayana Buddhism.  Bhutan has identified tourism to play the role of a catalyst. But again, it is not falling prey to an overdose of tourism; that might bring disaster. Rather, tourism in Bhutan is restricted and they have figured out the “carrying capacity” and have designed their “tourism vision” based on the carrying capacity.
To herald the dawn of organized tourism activity, and to compliment the spiritual ethos of Vajrayana Buddhism, Bhutan’s first and only 5-star spa resort, Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, has been championing the campaign of sustainable and value based tourism with a degree of proficiency that has induced today’s discerning world traveller to not just have a look, but to come and experience the spiritual bliss firsthand.

Above: Bhutan's religious ceremonies and temples are truly impressive.

Located in the midst of a rather panoramic valley (Paro Valley), Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, offers the very best of Bhutan’s many ancient wellness recipes — traditional Bhutanese medicine, restorative spa treatments, authentic Bhutanese cuisine, outdoor adventures and holistic experiences. The resort draws inspiration from the wisdom of His Holiness Gyalwa Dokhampa’s philosophy of “The Restfull Mind.”
The WOW factor begins right from the entry point of the sanctuary. As an honoured guest, you first come across the huge red gate that leads you to a typical Bhutanese courtyard.  You then encounter a small bridge that leads you to another Bhutanese-style red gate from where you cross over to the threshold of the “transformation room.” You are now face-to-face with the Golden Door, which opens up, inviting you inside the fairytale  sanctuary — the magnificent Paro Valley unwraps her legendary beauty for you to fathom.
The sanctuary is the brainchild of Dutch hotelier Louk Lennaert and has been designed to emulate a traditional Bhutanese fortress. The affable hotelier followed the footsteps of a fortuneteller who had prophesied that in 2018, Louk will live in Bhutan. 

Above:  Stepping through the entrance of the sanctuary, left, leads to a world of wellness and happiness.

The sanctuary’s commitment for local community welfare is paramount and its membership in Pack for Purpose – a non-profit organization that offers visitors a chance to contribute to the local community – is a sign of its heart-felt obligations. It goes without saying that when you put aside some space in your baggage and earmark that space for carrying essential provisions for school children, or even medicines that aren’t easily available in the Paro Valley, you are indeed making a huge impact in the lives of the local community.   
Unlike other high-end hospitality properties that take  pride in offering guests the opportunity to savour the great Bhutanese outdoors — mountain biking, trekking, hot air balooning, visits to national parks etc.,  Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary insists upon guests remaining inside the resort and delve into their innermost beings whilst embracing the Buddhist philosophy of “The Restfull Mind.” Ideally a five night stay is adequate enough for guests to be acquainted with Bhutanese culture and traditions.
The sanctuary takes pride for its bewildering array of traditional Bhutanese medical therapies and a walk along the sanctuary’s herbal plantation is an absolute must. The in-house doctor will prescribe the medicines as well as a holistic regimen based on the individual’s physical, as well as spiritual needs. 

Above:  Ending a day enjoying a good meal and the beauty surrounding the sanctuary is quite special.

The sanctuary’s standout treatments include herbal compression, hot oil compression and Ku Nye massages that are in great demand.
The sanctuary’s commitment for local community welfare is paramount and its membership in Pack for Purpose – a non-profit organization that offers visitors a chance to contribute to the local community – is a sign of its heart-felt obligations.

JUST THE FACTS

Getting there by air:
Bhutan’s only international airport is located in Paro and Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary is a spectacular 20 minute drive from the airport. Druk Air, the national carrier of Bhutan operates routine flights to and from Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Bodhgaya, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Bangkok and Singapore.

For further information and reservations, please contact Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary https://bhutanspiritsanctuary.com