Treasures of the Thunder

Long regarded as the Forbidden Land Bhutan-or DrukYul the Land of the Thunder Dragon-is often described as the Last Shangri La. It is still a country of pristine forests alpine valleys and glacial lakes rich in rare flora and fauna such as the blue poppy the golden langur and the red panda. As spectacular as its natural beauty are the architecture of its towering dzongs (fortresses) and the art treasures that fill its monasteries and temples.Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck shares with us her delight in some of the hidden treasures of her country which she discovered during her journeys on foot to every corner of Bhutan-from highland villages in the shadow of the great Himalayan peaks to serene monasteries wreathed in myth and legend to the rainforests in the south and centre of the country which are among the world's richest biodiversity hotspots. This book with its specially commissioned illustrations by young Bhutanese artists and photographs from the author's family album is essential reading both for those who plan to visit the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon and for armchair travellers who yearn to experience the magic of Bhutan through their imaginations. About the Author Her Majesty the Royal Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck was born in 1955 in Nobgang western Bhutan and educated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal India. Her previous bookOf Rainbows and Clouds was published in 1999. She heads the Tarayana Foundation which provides medical educational and social support to people and communities living in the most remote areas of Bhutan.