How Bhutan Became My Chosen Home
It’s a fair warning that what you may read ahead may come across as a little dramatic. After all, Bhutan is just another place, and you’d be absolutely correct. But very slowly and steadily, Bhutan became my place. A land where I wouldn’t be reprimanded for being too nice, where sustainability wasn’t a buzzword but simply a way of life. It became my safe space – a place where I was nobody, yet somehow, always somebody to the locals.
The year was 2012 and my love story (read: obsession) with the mountains wasn’t unknown to my immediate circle, including my workplace back then, Make My Trip. Like a child wishing dinner wouldn’t be a boring vegetable, I wished to be assigned to a mountain-laden destination and next thing I knew, I became the first Destination Manager to be sent to Bhutan.
And that’s how it all began.
Over the years, I’ve often asked myself — why Bhutan? More importantly, why me? What makes me fit to take people to the Land of Happiness when there are so many others who can do the same? The answer is simple: Bhutan is deeply personal to me and I would never want to gatekeep the experiences and discoveries I’ve had here. I believe this land should be experienced by anyone willing to receive it with an open mind.
Bhutan reveals itself slowly. Beyond the monasteries and mountains are stories, rituals, food spots and philosophies that rarely make it to travel brochures – the kind of discoveries that stay with you far longer than photographs ever will.
This isn’t a journey for the socials or for grand adventure tales. It’s a journey for the soul, one that teaches you to pause, look deeper and discover gentler ways of living.
Beyond surface-level travel, Bhutan invites you to truly interact with life itself.
Mr. Raju Rai
Over the years, Bhutan gave me many things, but one of the most special has been Mr. Raju Rai – my best friend, brother and partner through countless journeys across the mountains. Here’s something he often says about Bhutan:
“[Add Quote Here]”
With over 35 years of experience in travel, Raju isn’t just an industry veteran to me. He’s family; a guide, partner in crime and the person responsible for most of my Bhutanese slang lessons along the way.
Here are 3 things you can expect if you do decide to trust me as your co-traveller in Bhutan:
A localized trip, beyond the regular
Since I have travelled the Druk Yul far and beyond, the tour will be structured based on your preferences, sprinkled with lots of discoveries. The itinerary will be broken down into, must visits, experiential visits and surprise visits, ensuring you go back home with tales of your own adventure.
Experiencing Bhutan from within
Over the years, a few people in Bhutan are like family to me. On this journey, your interaction with them won’t be limited to a meal or home visit, you will sit with them, hear their stories, take home a memory and who knows? You may just get back home with a new best friend.
The most random facts ever
If you type ‘Facts about Bhutan’, google will send you a minimum of thousand and I can promise, the ones you would experience with me won’t be a part of the thousand. For example: (add)
If what you’ve read & experienced till now speaks with you, even in passing; and you’ve been eyeing Bhutan for a while, I’d love to speak with you and design a personalised itinerary, over a call or over a local Bhutanese beer.
Testimonals
This piece of writing can go on and on, I could tell you about my most horrible time in Bhutan that eventually turned out to be a blessing in disguise or I could tell you about how I ate this one dish for lunch for 48 days straight because it satiated me beyond measure or how I love their custom to serve a small amount of alcohol to a newborn baby fascinating – but I rather save that for when we speak with each other, as powerful as words are, they would only be able to convey a portion of my excitement to you.
