Bhutan’s Long-Secluded Valley Revealed: A ‘Hidden Paradise’ in the Himalayas

Bhutan opened its doors to the outside world only in 1974 — but even after that historic moment, one region remained sealed off for decades. Today, it stands as one of the Himalayas’ most closely guarded secrets.

It is 5am in Bhutan’s remote Haa Valley, and nearly a hundred people have gathered in the courtyard of Lhakhang Karpo, a 7th-century monastery nestled beneath three sacred mountains.

Mist hangs low as coils of incense drift through the air. Large vats of steaming pink rice porridge infused with Sichuan pepper perfume the courtyard. Deep, resonant chants vibrate through the silence — until they are abruptly joined by booming drums, the blare of dungchen trumpets, and sharp, triumphant calls that echo across the valley.