Author(s): Matthieu Ricard

Travel Pictorial

Tucked away between China and India in the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan remains a uniquely distinct country. Few photographers have been granted permission to reside in this long-inaccessible kingdom, now a democracy, where life quietly unfolds to the rhythm of traditions amidst the magnificent, unspoilt landscape. Nearly thirty years ago, Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk and photographer, went to Bhutan to study with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a highly revered Tibetan Buddhist master.He spent eight years in Bhutan with him, and has continued to return to the 'land of the thunder dragon' - or Druk-yul as Bhutan is known in Bhutanese - throughout his life, discovering on each occasion more of its invaluable treasures. As a Buddhist monk, he has not only witnessed private religious ceremonies, the life of a great Buddhist master, and exceptional works of art, but has also participated in the daily lives of local villagers. His encounters and experiences are recorded here in this exceptionally beautiful book, a sublime voyage to the heart of Bhutan, a land where spirituality and daily life are intimately linked.