The Annual Rhododendron Festival at Lamperi Park in Punakha attracted approximately three thousand visitors this year. While the visitors were both international and local, some new amenities in the parks such as footpaths for wheelchairs made the festival inclusive this time.
Although different species of rhododendrons bloom at different times, according to the park manager, the festival coincides with the blooming of Rhododendron kesangiae. The species was observed in March 2017 and named in honour of Her Majesty Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck.
Out of 46 species available in the country, the park has 37 and 29 are native.
Toebisa Gup in Punakha, who is responsible for organising the festival said that the increase in the number of visitors could also be due to the revision in the sustainable developmental fees.
“I feel like it has become quite affordable for tourists to visit our country with revision in sustainable development fees. While the increase in the number helps in the economic development of the country, it will also help to spread words about such celebrations and festivals when they get back to their countries,” said Tshering Penjor, Toebisa Gup, Punakha.
“I think this is a great opportunity to bring people from all different cultures together. We just saw a dance down there that they invited everyone to participate. So locals, foreigners, and so you can get a hands-on participation in local culture. But you have also got this way of spreading communities by sharing in food and clothing and articles that you can purchase here. I just had one of the local drinks, one of the local concoctions. So I got to taste the flavour of Bhutan a little bit. So that was fun,” said Nathan Perry, a tourist from the USA.
“It is also a place where the locals, as well as the tourists, can gather and learn more about the festival and I believe also that a school is also responsible for producing the festival this year and I am very impressed with the festivity we learn about the culture the dancers and things that are all related to rhododendron so as I said this is my first trip to Bhutan and also my first trip to this festival,” said Kenneth Kox, a tourist for Brunei.
“The overall experience of the Rhododendron Festival so far has been really nice to see everyone come together, both people from Bhutan and tourists, and we have felt really welcome here. It is really beautiful in this botanical garden. Even with the rain, everyone is still out eating food and socialising together has been really nice to see, so it has just been a really nice representation of all of the people we have met since we came to Bhutan and how everyone interacts together,” said Jess Dean, a tourist from the USA.
Moreover, the upgradation of basic amenities in the park welcomed persons with disabilities too.
“We received a lot of visitors this time. This is also because people with disability also got to participate. We have constructed a footpath for people with disabilities. Other than the festival, we have also been receiving around 10-15 visitors in a month at other times. Moreover, we have also upgraded meeting halls and the boating deck at the lake has been modified allowing everyone to participate and visit without distinction,” said Passang Wangdi, regional manager of Green Bhutan Corporation Limited.
“It has been five years since I got in the wheelchair, so when I came before I had to return from the gate. Before, the ramp was also not good. I can also go by boat. Although I cannot paddle on my own I can play if there is a friend to paddle for me. I got to be part of this festival due to Green Bhutan’s initiative and if other festivals could also make it inclusive with ramps we would be grateful,” said Tandin Gyeltshen, a visitor.
“Today we came with the students studying arts in 12th grade for the environmental studies here and by looking at the environment we have lots of things to learn. What we have noticed is that this time we see that there is a ramp and it is accessible for children using a wheelchair if we have this type of accessibility for all in almost all the parks I think it would benefit our children to learn about the environment,” said Pema Wangmo, a teacher at Drukgyel Higher Secondary School.
The Green Bhutan Corporation Limited looks after the park although the festival is organised by the Toedbisa Gewog.
Devika Pradhan
Edited by Phub Gyem
