Bhutan means much to me as a visitor, as a photographer and also as someone who goes to find peace from within. As a prolific traveller, I am often asked what is/are my favourite place(s) to travel to. While I usually try to brush aside that question with vague answers, sometimes I succumb to persistent quizzing and list a few places. Bhutan always finds a place in the list.

What do I like about the place? There is no one answer. I immensely enjoy being in the presence of energetic young monks seen in many temples and dzongs. I am amazed how their traditional architecture is soothing to the eyes, much unlike the eyesores that our modern buildings are. I love how the country has preserved its wilderness--they have more than 70% green cover, which they have pledged to preserve. The people are friendly and approachable. Life generally moves in a slow pace and no one seems to be trying to hurrying beat the next guy on their way to the top. It may not be an entirely innocent, happy-happy kingdom that the world media tries to project it to be, but Bhutanese people are certainly a more contented lot than much of the world.