Secret Travel by Jamal Shaikh: If happiness had a destination...

Questioning Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness, and what makes it one of the toughest countries to visit in the world

What is it about Bhutan that provokes your curiosity the most? Is it the focus on Gross National Happiness over materialistic goals? Is it the fact that the Himalayan nation has appeared on many ‘toughest countries to visit’ lists all over the world? Or, is it the intrigue that their Sustainable Development Fee holds: Bhutan levies a charge of USD 200 per day from travellers from all over the world… except India!

The Punakha Dzong, aka fortress, constructed in 1637-38, appears on Bhutanese banknotes. But you may never see it because the Indian rupee is used commonly and welcomed

A traditional folk dance performed in Thimphu

The five Aman Resort properties in Bhutan are some of the smallest luxury resorts you’ve seen, with each property having between eight to 20 rooms, making stays feel private

Within 10 minutes of take-off, the mountains appeared, and stayed in view until the plane banked left around Siliguri to turn towards its destination

For the love of chillies

Ema datchi

The trek to Taktsang Monastery