Beautiful Bhutan: Photos of Himalayan country known as The Forbidden Kingdom or The Last Shangri-la
Prince William and Kate Middleton will head to the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan on 14 April, at the invitation of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema.
Prince William and Kate Middleton will head to the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan on 14 April, at the invitation of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema. Bhutan's royal couple – often dubbed the Wills and Kate of the Orient – married in October 2011, around six months after the British royal wedding. The young royal couple had a son in February 2016. After a traditional Bhutanese welcome ceremony, the royal couples will have dinner at Lingkana Palace in the capital, Thimphu.
His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema emerge after their marriage ceremony is completed on 13 October 2011Paula Bronstein/Getty ImagesThe royal couple kiss in front of thousands of Bhutanese citizens at ChangLeme Thang in Thimphu on 15 October 2011Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will hike for around six hours to reach Paro Taktsang monastery, also known as the Tiger's Nest. The monastery was built in the 17th century on the side of a cliff, around a cave that was the focal point for Guru Padmasambhava, who is credited for introducing Buddhism to Bhutan.
The ParoTaktsang Palphug Buddhist monastery – also known as the Tiger's Nest – in Paro districtAdrees Latif/ReutersA young monk looks at the view after walking from the Tiger's Nest monastery in Paro districtPaula Bronstein/Getty Images
The Kingdom of Bhutan, is a tiny landlocked country bordering India and China. Sometimes called The Forbidden Kingdom or The Last Shangri-la, it was isolated from the rest of the world until the mid-20th century. Television and the internet were only introduced in 1999. The country was finally opened to tourism in 1974. IBTimes UK looks at some of the spectacular sights that tourist – and royals – could see.
Mount Jomolhari is seen from the Chilela pass situated between the Bhutanese valleys of Paro and Haa. The sacred mountain stands around 7,350 metres tall and was first climbed by a five-man expedition led by British explorer Freddy Spencer Chapman in May 1937Ed Jones/AFPBuddhist monks stand inside the complex of Tashichhodzong – also known as the the Fortress of the Glorious Religion – in ThimphuRupak De Chowdhuri/ReutersBuddhist devotees walk near the Memorial Chorten Monastery in ThimpuPrakash Mathema/AFPA huge statue of Lord Buddha is built at Kuensel Phodrang in ThimphuSingye Wangchuk/ReutersA man stands at the site of a sky burial, looking towards the Paro valleyEd Jones/AFPA monk looks through a window of a temple in the Bhutanese district of Paro valleySingye Wangchuk/ReutersPeople stand in front of the Gankar Punsun glacier at Dochula in BhutanAdnan Abidi/ReutersThe former administrative centre of Punakha Dzong, one of Bhutan's largest buildings, is seen in PunakhaMichael Smith/ReutersBhutanese men don traditional masks while taking part in a rehearsal for 2011's royal weddingAdrees Latif/ReutersNovice monks at the Dechen Phrodrang Buddhist monastery look down from a hilltop in Bhutan's capital ThimphuAdrees Latif/ReutersChildren react to the camera through the window of their classroom in a school in ThimphuSingye Wangchuk/ReutersA Bhutanese boy look out from his classroom as it rains in ThimpuDesmond Boylan/ReutersA boy reacts to the camera as he plays at a school in Kamji village near the Indo-Bhutan borderAdnan Abidi/ReutersYoung monks pose for photos at a school near the town of ParoEd Jones/AFPNovice monks Sangey, six, and Tenzin, seven, and Tandin, four, and Pembar, 10, rest after hours of prayer at the Dechen Phodrang monastery in ThimphuPaula Bronstein/Getty ImagesA giant Thangkha painting is unveiled during a ceremony to celebrate the new royal couple, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, at ChangLeme Thang in Thimphu on 15 October 2011Paula Bronstein/Getty ImagesMonks wait for a huge Thangkha painting to be unveiled at the royal wedding in 2011Paula Bronstein/Getty ImagesBhutanese dancers take part in the annual Tsechu festival in Paro districtSingye Wangchuk/ReutersPeople walk near the snow-covered Druk Wangyal Chorten at Dochula pass on the outskirts of ThimphuSingye Wangchuk/ReutersA woman looks out from a balcony in Bhutan's capital ThimphuAdrees Latif/ReutersA woman carries firewood in the Paro valleySingye Wangchuk/ReutersTraditional dancers take part in a festival in ThimpuGopal Chitrakar/ReutersYoung mothers walk around a market in Bhutan's capitalGopal Chitrakar/ReutersWomen, their teeth red from chewing betel nuts, laugh at a vegetable market in ThimpuGopal Chitrakar/ReutersA Buddhist devotee prostrates himself near the Memorial Chorten Monastery during an annual ritual inThimphuPrakash Mathema/AFPBuddhist monks pray during an evening congregation in a hall at the Dechen Phodrang Monastery in ThimphuRoberto Schmidt/AFPSchoolboys look out of window at a school in ThimphuRoberto Schmidt/AFPA novice monk stands next to a large Thangkha painting at the Dratshang Kuenra Tashichho DzongPaula Bronstein/Getty ImagesCeremonial dancers line up for the coronation of his Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at the Dratshang Kuenra Tashichho Dzong in Thimpu on 6 November 2008Paula Bronstein/Getty ImagesDancers get ready to perform at the annual Paro Tsechu festival Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
