Susan's NGTAW Blog: Contributing to the Gross National Happiness at the Zhiwa Ling Hotel in Bhutan

Chorten in the central courtyard of the Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Thursday, February 22 Bhutan

Today was a quiet day. Unfortunately, I was up all night with a bad GI bug, so I decided not to do any sightseeing, but to stay close to "home". Michael decided to stay with me, although today is the day that most of our group was hiking up to see the Takhsang Monastery. I loaded up on Imodium and chewable electrolytes.

Mike and I had a lovely day at the hotel. Once everyone left the hotel, the internet worked pretty well and I got 6 posts uploaded. Mike went for a hike, with a hotel employee (Shyam Kumar) as a guide, in the surrounding hills. He also had a massage at the spa - lucky guy.

Tonight we had 2 lectures from two guest experts -- one on Gross National Happiness - Bhutan's measure of riches - and one on preserving the tigers that remain in Bhutan.

The Zhiwa Ling Hotel is one of the National Geographic Lodges of the World and we greatly enjoyed it. Here’s what Nat Geo says about it:

"Nestled in the hills outside Paro, Zhiwa Ling is an architectural gem that unites Bhutanese culture and heritage with 21^st-century comforts. Its main lodge and cottages—each hand-decorated with intricate carvings—are set in a lush landscape of weeping willows and fruit trees. This is the first five-star Bhutanese-owned hotel, and its 45 beautifully appointed suites look out over the emerald foothills of the Himalaya.

Zhiwa Ling is a work of art, painstakingly constructed, carved, and painted by Bhutanese artisans over five years. It is not an old hotel—it first opened its doors in 2005 and is equipped with all the modern amenities you’d expect—yet the stunning architecture conveys an atmosphere of timeless tradition that fits right into Bhutan’s cultural landscape. The hotel’s temple exemplifies this emphasis on the authentic: it was built using 450-year-old wood from the original Gangtey Goemba monastery, one of Bhutan’s most cherished sites.

Many of us have heard of the country’s unique notion of Gross National Happiness, but the management at Zhiwa Ling has actually worked it into their business plan, making it a priority to inspire and empower their mostly Bhutanese staff. The result is top-of-the-line customer service and a well-trained, motivated, and friendly staff."

Restful and quiet, inviting reflective hikes - but you felt the climb at 7500 ft.

The manager told us local woodworkers have created all the reproductions of Bhutan carvings, with great accuracy - they still maintain an active woodcarving workshop.