Bhutan: An Incredible Country

Beautiful Bhutan is a small land-locked country situated in the Eastern Himalayas. The capital Thimphu is the largest town, and small villages are spread throughout the country amongst spectacular scenery. Michael Kern has visited Bhutan twice, spending a few months travelling across the country and immersing in the rich spiritual and cultural traditions. It has been a source of deep inspiration on both personal and professional levels. He has also spent time in Tibet, Nepal, Ladakh and Northern India 

Bhutan has an ancient heritage that’s steeped in Buddhist practice. Its history is partly shaped by the fact that the country has never been colonised. Bhutan has pioneered the concept of Gross National Happiness as a national measure, which you can read more about in the attached PDF.  

The Gross National Happiness Philosophy

A Deep and Thriving Culture 

The traditional culture is everywhere to be found in Bhutan, helped to thrive by the country’s long history of independence. Himalayan Buddhism is woven into the fabric of society, and the national dress is a cultural institution; many people choose it as their everyday clothing, while it’s compulsory for officials or anyone visiting an official building.  

The architecture of the country is also unique, largely relying on ancient techniques and foregoing the use of nails or metal framing in buildings. Bhutanese traditional music and dance is also widespread, although modern music from India is now becoming more popular.  

Leading the Way In Conservation 

Bhutan is considered a world-leader in conservation, and its active efforts for the care of its vastly diverse ecosystems are a major part of the country’s life. From the high mountainous regions in the north to the sub-tropical regions in the south, Bhutan is host to a huge diversity of plant and animal life, including many endangered or uncommon species.  

In response to this, large parts of Bhutan are given over to conservation areas, and many countries look to Bhutan for inspiration in this crucial matter. You can learn more about conservation in Bhutan via the embedded infographic. 

Conservation & Environmental Issues in Bhutan

An Ancient Spiritual Heritage 

Throughout this magnificent country, the presence of a deep Buddhist heritage has given rise to incredible monasteries and shrines. From the dizzying heights of the 3,120-metre-high clifftop monastery of Paro Taktsang, to the majestic Punakha Dzong, winter home of the ‘Je-Khenpo’ (the head lama of Bhutan), the monasteries present stunning traditional architecture and inspiration. 

The Bhutanese Head of State is known as the ‘Dragon King.’ Take a look at the short video attachment to find out more about the head of this amazing country.

The Druk Padma Karpo School: Modern Education with Respect for Tradition

Since its founding in 1998 the Druk Padma Karpo School has been operating in the Ladakh region of northern India, delivering an education fit for the modern world while not losing sight of the deep traditional culture of Ladakh. Today, it teaches children up to age 16.  

The Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust – which is founded by Michael Kern – is an active supporter of the school. A percentage of the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust’s yearly profits are donated to the school.  

The Druk Padma Karpo School has won several awards since 1998, including an award for the building design which was developed by Arup Associates; the attached PDF contains more information about its work.  

Introduction the Arup Group

Putting Sustainability at the Heart of Design 

Sustainable design is fully integrated into the way of life at the Druk Padma Karpo School.  

Drinking water is collected from snowmelt-fed reservoirs, while ‘VIP latrines’ produce fertilizer - just two of the remarkable solutions in use at the school. 

The school is heated by an ingenious system of passive solar collection, while a special heat-absorbing building design collects heat in the walls during the day and releases it back into the building at night.  

Druk Padma Karpo Helps Others Offset Carbon Use 

The school is self-sufficient through its use of solar energy, but the efforts toward sustainability do not stop there. Through an independently accredited initiative, the Druk Padma Karpo School offers others the opportunity to offset their own carbon footprint by donating directly to the school’s solar renewable energy system.  

Through specifically targeted donations, individuals may neutralise their carbon output every time they travel with a donation to the school.  

Find out more about the three core steps of carbon offsetting by watching the embedded video.  

A School Designed for the Future 

The focus on sustainability has led designers Arup Associates to minimise the use of imported construction materials, despite the relative lack of natural resources present in Ladakh. The result is a sustainable, self-sufficient structure that is designed to withstand large variances in climatic temperature as well as the possibility of earthquakes 

When a massive mudslide caused huge damage to the surrounding area in 2010, the school remained standing when many other buildings did not. Subsequent construction of a defensive infrastructure allowed another mudslide in 2014 to be completely diverted away from the school campus.  

The school has been selected for many awards since the first children were accepted in 2001; see the attached infographic for more details. 

Druk Padma Karpo School Awards