Amankora Bhutan allows guests to explore the country's wild and wonderful pockets through a lens of authenticity and luxury. From its contemporary take on traditional Bhutanese architecture, to a wealth of cultural, spiritual and adventure experiences
In 2004, Amankora became the first hospitality brand invited to set up roots in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
"As the first international hotel collection to be granted permission to operate within Bhutan's borders, we wanted to create a journey enabling a seamless unveiling of this remarkable destination," says Jonathan Lithgow, general manager of Amankora Bhutan.
Inspired by the Bhutanese custom of offering a place to rest for travellers traversing the country—you can read more about that here—Amankora has five lodges spread across Bhutan, giving guests the opportunity to experience the diverse and fascinating range of landscapes, cultures and communities that make up the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Amankora’s lodges can be found in Paro, Thimpu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang. Paro is the largest, with 24 guest rooms, and Gangtey is the most intimate, with just eight.
First Impressions
Guest rooms are more or less identical across all five properties; comprising a king-size bed, large freestanding bathtubs, timber finishing and banquette window seating overlooking majestic forests. There's WiFi, but no televisions. In the evenings, guests can ask the staff to light the bukhari wood-burning stove—found in every room—so you can fall asleep to the soothing sounds of a crackling fire.
Outside the rooms, however, each Amankora property is wonderfully unique, built with the intention to immerse guests into each locale. On this trip, Tatler got to experience Amankora in Thimphu, Punakha and Paro.
Just a short drive from Bhutan’s laidback capital, Amankora Thimphu is a fine example of what is now one of our favourite architectural styles: Brutalist Bhutanese farmhouse. Taking notes from and adding a hint of drama to the local architectural language of sloping roofs and traditional rammed-earth walls, the sheer scale of Amankora Thimphu’s buildings is awe-inspiring.
