Bhutan in Monochrome - II

Bhutan is the only place where Mahayana and Vajrayana forms of Buddhism are recognised as state religions. Combined with its pre-Buddhist Bon roots, its cities and monasteries alike represent a very happy amalgamation of these very different cultural roots. Historically, Bhutan had always been a kingdom which was Tibetan for sure, but was considered as its fringe. Imagine what Taiwan and China of today, but with much less antagonism towards each other. This "isolation" provided a base for the Nyingma school to translocate from Tibet to Bhutan when the Gelugpa Sect started becoming dominant in mainland Tibet. Its monasteries are a standing proof of this cultural evolution.