Bhutan in Photos – 33 Images from The Land of the Thunder Dragon

Flying through the Himalayan range for a sharp descent into the Paro airport is something you often hear or read about, but it wasn't until I experienced it myself that I realized why this is one of the most spectacular landings in the world. The short runway is located in a deep valley and surrounded by peaks as high as 18,000 feet. The sensation and sight of flying so close to the mountains is pretty wonderful; at points you almost feel you could touch them.

The Land of the Thunder Dragon is as unique and evocative as the arrival. Planning the trip here was in the making for several months, and it didn’t disappoint.Imagine a place where ancient Buddhist culture collides with remote, awe-inspiring landscapes, fortresses, dzongs and monasteries.

The Bhutanese are warm, and a white scarf symbolizing purity is given to anyone who makes it here as a gesture of gratitude and welcoming. This is a kingdom where magic and mystic surprises can be found in many forms. Phalluses adorn the entrances of many homes, there’s a distinctive architecture difficult to be seen anywhere else, colorful festivals take place, and chili is not a condiment in this region but the main ingredient of every dish.

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to visit and photograph this country. I really enjoyed my stay and these are some of my favorite photos of Bhutan.

DOCHULA, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: View of the Himalayas from the Dochula Pass in Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: View of village on the mountains in Punakha, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: View of Paro and Paro Chu rive in, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Rice fields in the Bhutanese countryside. (Daniel Korzeniewski)
WANGDUE PHODRANG, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Portrait of young monk looking at camera in Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Portrait of young Bhutanese woman looking at camera in Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
LOBESA, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Rice fields around the village of Lobesa, Chimi Lhakhang close to the temple of Divine Madman (Daniel Korzeniewski)
LOBESA, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: General Shop in the village of Lobesa, Chimi Lhakhang close to the temple of Divine Madman (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Iron Chain Bridge and Tachog Lhakhang Dzong (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Iron Chain Bridge and prayer flags at the Tachog Lhakhang Dzong (Daniel Korzeniewski)
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Sunrise over the mountains in Thimphu, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
THIMPU, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: House in the countryside in Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
WANGDUE PHODRANG, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Portrait of young Bhutanese girls looking at camera in Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Old Bhutanese woman smiling close to the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: View of the Punakha Dzong, a landmark in Punakha, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Monk walking in the Punakha Dzong, a landmark in Punakha, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Architectural detail inside the Paro Rinpung Dzong, a landmark in Paro, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Architectural detail inside the Punakha Dzong, a landmark in Punakha, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Typical door inside the Punakha Dzong, a landmark in Punakha, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Architectural detail inside the Punakha Dzong, a landmark in Punakha, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Bhutamese man walking into the Paro Rinpung Dzong in Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Old Bhutanese man close to the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PUNAKHA, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: View of mountain range and valley in Punakha, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
THIMPU, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: House in the countryside in Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
LOBESA, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Rice fields around the village of Lobesa, Chimi Lhakhang close to the temple of Divine Madman (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA October 2014: Storm rolling into the mountains near Paro with rainbow (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Kids playing badminton in the streets of Paro at night. (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Bhutanese monk chanting and meditating during a ritual in Paro, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: View of Tiger's Nest Monastery in Paro, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
WANGDUE PHODRANG, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Mask performer dancing during the Tshechu Festival inl Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Portrait of old Bhutanese woman in Thimphu (Daniel Korzeniewski)
PARO, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Woman walks in front a general store in Paro, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)
THIMPHU, BHUTAN - CIRCA OCTOBER 2014: Cobbler shop in Thimpu, Bhutan (Daniel Korzeniewski)

All the photos made during the trip were taken with Fuji X camera bodies and lenses.
That’s all for now – more coming soon. For prints and licensing information, just contact me.

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