Bhutan — Land of the Thunder Dragon

The tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has without doubt, one of the most pristine natural environments on the planet. It is landlocked and separated from Tibet by the massive Himalayan peaks to the north with the rest of the country surrounded by Sikkim and India.

Because of its great variety of plants and animals, it is considered to be one of world’s hot spots for conservation and biological diversity. Bhutan is a devoutly Buddhist land. Similar to Tibet, monks are held in great respect and still honors a custom that one son from every family enters the monastic order.

The monasteries with their stunning architecture are filled with treasures of Buddhist sacred art. You will explore these living museums and will meet some of the most compassionate people in one of the most mesmerizing beautiful countries in the world.

Your tour will begin in Kolkata where you will explore Jain and Hindu temples before departing for Darjeeling — a popular hill station established by the British in the mid-19th century.

You will have a full day of exploring Darjeeling before departing on a spectacular mountain drive to Bhutan.

We invite you to join us in the Land of the Thunder Dragon!

Program Description

This intensive study abroad program to India and Bhutan is offered during the summer months. It begins in Kolkata, India where students will study Hinduism and Jainism on site at Hindu and Jain temples. Students will also study Hindu, Jain and Buddhist art at the Indian Museum in Kolkata. The program then shifts to Bhutan where students will study Tibetan Buddhist art, architecture and philosophy. Each day students will receive lectures from prominent local scholars, artists and Buddhist monks on site at a different temple, shrine, monastery, and artist foundry. Students will learn and practice Buddhist meditation with the monks and nuns in the monasteries we study at each day. Students will study in both urban and rural environments during this program.

This is a sample program description. When students enroll in the program they will receive a detailed syllabus and course description for each course.