Bhutan in Frame

The last great Himalayan Kingdom and a land of monks, prayer flags, dzongs and mountains, Bhutan is a travel photographer’s dream. With an air of mystery, which is so hard to find in today’s global world, Bhutan is yet to have hordes of tourists descend upon its stunning scenery and impressive landmarks. Photos are devoid of crowds and search #Bhutan on Instagram and you’ll find under 230,000 posts, compared to nearly 35 million photos tagged with #Thailand. We’ve searched the internet for the best photos of this incredible country, pulling together the images which inspire us with wanderlust for one of the happiest places on earth.

This pensive monk was photographed in the charming and historical town of Paro, home to many sacred sites including Tiger’s Nest Monastery and Rinpung Dzong. Photo credit: Jérémy

Bhutan’s most sacred Buddhist site and one of the most breath-taking temples in the world, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is accessed by trekking through a pine forest. Photo credit: Donatella Venturi

Buddhism is the main religion in Bhutan with monks distinguishable by their shaved heads and maroon robes. They spend their days in study and meditation in the country’s many monasteries. Photo credit: Jérémy

Standing at the entry to the Thimphu valley, the 51 metre high statue of Buddha Dordenma is filled with 125,000 small statues of Buddha with the three-storey base housing a large chapel. Photo credit: Michael Foley

Monks join the monastery between the ages of six and nine where their daily lives become very austere as they study and meditate, the spiritual training continuing throughout their life. Photo credit: Christopher Michel

Prayer wheels are used to collect wisdom and good karma and dispel negative thoughts. Thousands of mantras are wrapped around the core of the cylinder which is called a ‘Life Tree’. Photo credit: Jérémy

Each valley in Bhutan has a dzong which acts as the religious and administrative centre of the area. The dzongs follow the design of large exterior walls encircling a courtyard, temples, administrative offices and the monk’s accommodation. Photo credit: Bertrand Gossart

The administrative centre of Bhutan and where all the kings have been crowned, the Punakha Dzong is at its most stunning in spring with the blooming of the lilac jacaranda trees. Photo credit: Wajahat Iqbal

The dzongs of Bhutan have opulent decoration inside, the woodwork within intricately carved and painted in gold, red and blues, reinforcing the power and importance the dzongs have to the Bhutan community. Photo credit: Jérémy

The most visible religious structure in Thimphu, the Chorten is for many Bhutanese the place for their daily worship. It was built in tribute to their third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and has a shrine dedicated to the popular monarch. Photo credit: Gelay Jamtsho

Featured image by Pere Aleu Casanovas

If these photos fill you with as much wanderlust as us, have a look at our Bhutan private itineraries which take you to the highlights of the stunning Himalayan Kingdom.