Building rules in Bhutan, a photo from Paro, West

Photographer's Note

I will soon run out of usable photos from my trip to Bhutan in 2003, my last journey with an analogue camera. But before I leave this country for good I have to show you once again some of the remarkable buildings that characterize Bhutan more than anything else.

This is the main street in Paro (more or less the only street). Paro was the first town I saw after my arrival, and the conformity of the traditional architectural style was overwhelming. While the Bhutanese people enjoy fairly modern lives, they live in buildings looking from the outside like they have done for hundreds of years, and usually dress according to a fashion created centuries ago.

Here is a larger version.

The protection of national traditions makes Bhutan unique in the world. At the same time the country is quite well adapted to the modern society. Wi-fi connections are available everywhere, English is the language of education already from the first grade, and Bhutan was a vanguard of environmental protection long before the rest of the world took the threat from global warming seriously.

In one workshop I will show you the amazing hotel where I stayed in Paro, in another WS you can see a new house being built in the traditional style.

All photos were scanned from Kodachrome slides.

pajaran, alvaraalto, alvaraalto, snunney, ikeharel, Royaldevon, papagolf21, Fis2, pierrefonds, dale54, jhm, PaulVDV, ChrisJ, macjake, COSTANTINO, mcmtanyel, gervaso, lucasgalodoido, Cricri, jean113, cornejo oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

pajaran (115989) 2019-01-20 1:34

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled, interesantan teksat ...
Lepo pokazano, dobar kontrast, lepe boje.
Lepa fotografija i secanje.
Zelim vam lep dan za odmor, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good day.
Nice view, interesting tea ...
Beautifully shown, good contrast, beautiful colors.
Nice photo and memory.
I wish you a nice day for rest, all the best.

mesutilgim (0) 2019-01-20 1:38

Hello Gert,
Another nice capture from your archive. Also this one is been captured with a very good pov. Perfect ligth management and sharpness. Many interesting and usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

Nicou (193806) 2019-01-20 1:45

Hlelo

sueprb eocmpo et vue quel véhicule dans cette rue et de chaque côté ces maisons quel rendu et constraste entre les deux parties de la rue et la colline en fond sueprbe
Bravo et beua dimanche
Nicou

alvaraalto (42804) 2019-01-20 1:52

Hello Gert,
A beautiful series with these photos that show us the beauty and traditions of the Bhutan architecture. Especially the photo with the house under construction fascinates me as a former architectural engineer. It shows the traditions of the construction in a beautiful way.
The photographs are now also provided with an informative text which makes the photographs even more attractive.
Excellent work
Have a nice Sunday, groet Rob

snunney (130967) 2019-01-20 1:56

Hello Gert,
A fascinating street scene, though I know you might class it as 'nothing special'. I like the point of view and the lively atmosphere, even the passing van plays its part. Good management of the light and shadow contrasts with excellent colours and sharpness. Difficult to believe this image started life as a Kodachrome slide.

lousat (139332) 2019-01-20 2:10

Hi Gert,this is a great rule,no douts. The best way to preserve the traditions and to see too fantastic and colorful architechtures. It reminds a lot my boutique hotel in Bukhara. 3 perfect pics as usual,it's interesting to see the WS with the building moments. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

Royaldevon (85932) 2019-01-20 3:07

Hello Gert,

Not only are these extremely interesting records of Bhutan, they must be wonderful mementoes of your travelling holidays. I sort of picked that up by the delight you expressed at your hotel room!
In some ways, the Bhutanese are saving themselves a lot of hard work by building to a recognised style of building! It is a style they like, it will prevent a lot of 'class' distinction and, providing the interiors have modern features, the footprint plans will already be in existence.
In this country, we find old, characterful buildings and modernise them. The opposite way round!!

Three lovely photographs. I have enjoyed touring Bhutan!

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

papagolf21 (152607) 2019-01-20 3:42

Bonjour, cher Gert,
Merci pour ces différentes présentations trčs appréciées.
Je suis heureux de voir que certaines régions gardent leur tradition et n'oublient pas leur passé.
L'ensemble des constructions offre un aspect gai et coloré.
Trčs bonne note comme ŕ l'accoutumée.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Tue (92470) 2019-01-20 4:10

Hej Gert,
Det er interessant at hřre om landet som ikke mange kender meget til. Et smukt gadebillede, som viser de mange fine detaljer pĺ de traditionelle huse meget godt. Lyset var dejligt!
Lars

Silvio1953 (221729) 2019-01-20 4:39

Ciao Gert, lovely composition with beautiful buildings and fantastic mountain, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Fis2 (170861) 2019-01-20 5:18

Witaj Gert!
A very curious buildings.
Facades make impression.
Nice balconies.
Good Framing, colors and composition.
Interesting place.
Well done.
Nice sunday.
Krzysztof

pierrefonds (114536) 2019-01-20 5:45

Hi Gert,

The wideness of the area is creating depth. The point of view is showing the details of the mountains and of the buildings. You have captured well a daily activity. Have a nice day.

Pierre

dale54 (17768) 2019-01-20 6:11

good afternoon and hello gert....the decorations on these wonderful buildings are awesome,and i can see some stray dogs about,nice work! tfs dale

jemaflor (147224) 2019-01-20 6:30

Hi Gert,
Nice architecture well presented, good light and colors, well done, tfs.

jhm (211736) 2019-01-20 7:46

Hello Gert,

The building are wonderful but the men are very dangerous busy.
Maybe is there no control of the workers their safety. Composition and presentation make your picture attractive.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

jmdias (115252) 2019-01-20 8:11

gert

it is a nice idea to preserve the architectonic style of the old times. I saw some similar preoccupation in san pedro de atacama- chile, where they even can't paved the streets to keep the environment more "wild and original". of course there are different opinions about such matters. I remember a mayor in a historical town of minas gerais, he covered the cobblestones with asphalt and was obligated to put them visible again, because he had damaged the "colonial mood" of the historic town.
nice details visible in these buildings.

take care
jorge

GyurMaster (24840) 2019-01-20 9:49

Dear Gert,

Please make me comfortable that you have Kodachrome slides left in your bag! For some reason these houses resemble me with those in Austria.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

PaulVDV (62978) 2019-01-20 11:33

Hello Gert,
Fantastic architecture.
I would certainly also enjoy staying at such a hotel.
Great that people in Bhutan continue to build in the traditional style.
The green hills around Paro show that this place isn't located on a very high altitude. Without knowing a lot about it, I thought that the whole of Bhutan was very high.
Isn't it a very expensive country to visit? Or are there not certain restrictions for this country? I don't know exactly why I thought this is a country that I could never visit ...
Best regards, Paul

ifege (48159) 2019-01-20 18:41

Hi Gert
Thanks for showing this traditional architecture - very neat conistent and ornate. I guess that the sky is suffering a bit from the scanning. And .... a most interesting series from your archives.
cheers
Ian

rychem (72187) 2019-01-20 21:51

Another beautiful photo from Bhutan, the whole region in Asia is very turbulent, and in your photo you can see a very calm city and peaceful scenes from everyday life, a beautiful shot
regards Ryszard

ChrisJ (171884) 2019-01-21 0:03

Hello Gert

Perfect density levels that have given solid blacks and clean whites as well as perfect saturation and lighting contrasts. Well framed and composed as well. Tfs!

macjake (98456) 2019-01-21 13:17

Hi Gert
first of all...i need to tell you i will NOT be posting that wedding couple today as previously planned. Instead i have included it as a WS in the photo already posted. Just in case you were wanting to see it, if not, no big deal :)
I have to say, you make an excellent case for travelling to this country, you advertise it very well. I'm sold :)
the WS photos are great to see too. they clearly put a lot of effort and care into their homes, culture and history. They sound like a wonderful 'people'. fine post here too
cheers
Craig

COSTANTINO (116580) 2019-01-21 13:26

Hello dear Gert and have a nice time
and a happy new day
original version with old photo
from your trip to Bhutan in 2003
this photo has been captured from the
best pov
thanks for your useful notes about
the main street in Paro the first town
you saw the architectural style
welldone and wellseen
regards
Costantino

emka (158204) 2019-01-21 14:34

hello Gert, Fantastic how they build the new houses in traditional style and you can't tell if it is new or old, is it the temple or the hotel. A really fascinating experience. But in the Tibet, it was similar, although not to such an extent. fantastic decorations of the buildings, I would love to stay in such a hotel.

Kind regards MAlgo

mcmtanyel (68623) 2019-01-21 19:36

Hello Gert,
You saved the best to last. Your hotel was, indeed, amazing. It looks like they build sturdy houses. Three wonderful photos.
Regards,
MT

gervaso (28177) 2019-01-22 6:35

Hello, Gert!

The architecture is really wonderful, and the details were captured here with perfect light and colors! The mountains in the background also look beautiful, and so does the deep blue sky that makes the composition even more interesting! Very nice job!

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2019-01-22 13:02

Olá Gert,
interessante como săo detalhadas e coloridas essas construçőes, típicas da regiăo. Sem dúvida um belo registro seu.
Parabéns e Abraço,
Lucas

Cricri (176) 2019-01-23 0:32

Hi Gert
Jolies décorations des bâtiments, intéressantes complémentaires en WS ,
belle scčne de vie, entre ombre et la lumičre, trois belles présentations et note
Bonne journée
cricri

ikeharel (113427) 2019-01-23 6:44

Hello Gert,
The light gave the building extra shine against the green hills on the far side slope.
Decorations shown in fine manner, people added life to the town in remote, far country.
Good afternoon,
Ike

jean113 (27893) 2019-01-23 8:52

Hello Gert, three delightful pictures. It looks and sounds like a wonderful place, and obviously quite innovative when it comes to the environment.
The buildings are so beautiful. The shot where they are constructing a new house is fascinating; oops I was forgetting that this was in 2003. I feel sure that they are continuing with their good work.
Regards Jean.

cornejo (61504) 2019-01-23 10:42

Hello Gert, very good picture of this interesting scene of everyday life with interesting architecture, very well captured in this interesting image, with good sharpness, light, color and quality. A great job perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good night and happy rest of the week.
All the best from the south of Spain.
Angel.

carlo62 (81265) 2019-01-23 14:47

Ciao Gert
il Bhutan non č un paese che ho mai preso in considerazione e difficilmente mi č capitato di vedere documentari, per cui accetto con molto piacere queste tue condivisioni.
Queste architetture sono molto belle, queste tre foto sono molto interessanti e accompagnate da una nota all'altezza delle foto.
Saluti
Carlo

adramad (73006) 2019-01-27 9:45

Hello Gert.
What special constructions and different from those we find in other parts of Asia, even in nearby India, a beauty of woodwork, with beautiful designs and a beautiful color, beautiful to see daily life with this colorful.
An image to enjoy, with its beautiful colors, great luminosity and perfect sharpness.
Superbly captured. I love.
Happy start of the week
Very best regards.
Luis.

kasianowak (17676) 2019-02-24 9:55

Hi Gert
Amazing architecture combined with lovely weather and people wearing traditional garb. Even the van somehow suits the rest of the scene.
Do you remember the name of your hotel?
Best wishes
Kasia

Miguel82 (47110) 2019-05-08 11:50

Hello Gert, I guess the Bhutanese government encourages or maybe demands the traditional architectural style to the buildings. The new houses look like the ancient ones made of carved wood, decorated balconies, colorful windows. Nice mountain view in the bg. The little van is very useful to circulate on mountain roads