The massive walls of Khiva inspired and terrified Silk Road travellers throughout the centuries. Laying on a fertile oasis next to the Amu-Darya river and surrounded by the deadly desert, this medieval city attracted the riches of the Silk Road caravans as well as envy from neighbouring khans and desert robbers. Having being in such […]
Travelling back in time in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Bukhara’s abundant mosques, minarets and madrassas make it one of the holiest places along the Silk Road. Bukhara is one of the few cities in Uzbekistan, beside Samarkand and Khiva, that survived Russification under the Tsars and the Soviet rule, and kept the feel of a true Silk Road city. With two or three days, […]
5 most beautiful dzongs and temples of Bhutan
Buddhism and spirituality are an integral part of Bhutan’s identity. So, it is no surprise that the most magnificent woodwork and stonework can be found in religious architecture. There are dzongs (fortresses), goembas (monasteries) and lhakhangs (temples) dotted throughout the Himalayan landscape – on top of hills, in hidden valleys, and perched on cliffs – […]
Thimphu: Tradition and globalization in the capital of Bhutan
Home to around 100,000 people and located 1.5 hours away from Paro airport, Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital but still retains a small-town feel. The city embodies the compromise between tradition and development that the Kingdom has embraced. Here, mobile phones and social media coexist with prayer wheels, traditional clothing and Bhutanese architecture. Visitors have numerous […]
Paro: Gateway to the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon
The Himalayan town of Paro, located in a valley surrounded by more than 4.000-meters high snow-capped mountains, is the main gateway to the last Kingdom of the Himalayas and – for most visitors – the first introduction into the incredible culture, history and nature of Bhutan. Travellers often spend a day or two in Paro […]
