A secret tale of faraway fantasy, Layap Tribal, Bhutan

In end of a very rainy month, a very dark cloudy day came in the peaceful land of “Tibet”. Tibetans were scattered here and there for finding a dry shelter. One day a gigantic thunder lightened the whole sky, and the great hero of Tibet “Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal” atlast found a new land, a new horizon to see the green valleys of peace and spirituality. And that was “The Land Of Thunder Dragon, Bhutan”. When he first entered in that new region he went through a village, which was “Laya”, in the “Gasa” District, where he met an indigenous people, called “Layap Tibal”, so called the highlander of “Bhutan”. Bhutanese people call them “Bjop”. “Layap Tibal” is a totally different group than the other Bhutanese Tribal groups. So many asked them where they came from, so many did research on them, but they just smiled and said, “Our homeland is Be-yul – the hidden land.” No one knows where is that place, either it is existed or not. This tribal is a mysterious ethnic group of Bhutan with some mysterious features.

Layap people basically live in the high mountains of northwest Bhutan in the village of “Laya”, in the “Gasa” District, at an altitude of 3,850 metres (12,630 ft), just below the “Tsendagang peak”. Layaps also live in northern “Thimphu (Lingzhi Gewog)” and “Punakha” Districts. Their population in 2003 stood at 1,100. Their features of living are quite similar with ethnic Tibetan people. They speak “Layakha, a Tibeto-Burman” language. Owing to Tibetan influence, the Layap practice a mixture of “Bön and Tibetan Buddhism”. The dress of the Layap is similar to the Tibetan costume, except for a few differences. The most distinctive feature of the Layap women’s dress is their “conical hat”. Made out of darkened bamboo strips, the conical hat ends with a sharp point to the sky, a cross similar to the Christian cross inverted to an upside down position. For livelihood they do illegal trading with faraway Tibet. Many of them are happy in rearing yaks and dzos. Some of them are really good in making herbal medicine from mountain plants. Few does some sort of cultivations also.

The most fantasizing thing about Layap people is that, they live in a fantasy atmosphere, where no modern politics exist. Living in remote and totally isolated areas, Layap gives a mysterious calling to all peace loving travelers of the world. They live with a full bucket of happiness without any ultra modern entertainment. They play in vast green field, ride on yaks, arrange some ritual festivals, enjoy free sex lifestyle. They never try to go to town for any reason. They think modern power is a curse for being unhappy. They do whatever they want in their areas and live life like a king to themselves. But now a days, it seems to be a bit hard for them to stay away from God’s curse. The happiness of being isolated and different is slowly moving from new generation’s life in recent time. Modern utilities are slowly reaching within Layap people. Before their villages were unexplored and untouched, but now for exploring their fantasy world so many travelers from around the world are travelling in their places. So the external influences are spreading in their lifestyle. Layap children are trying to reach in the modern educational atmosphere with the help of Bhutanese Govt. One way this is ray of new world to Layap people, but in another way this is a starting to lose the fantasy story of a faraway tribal. They are the only group of Bhutan from some hidden homeland, grew up with mysterious fairytale in their heart.

In my opinion if you are a real adventurous traveler in heart, if you are the real peace lover, if you are the seeker of the unfound beauty of nature’s creation, then just grab a trekking map of Bhutan and explore the Layap people with your own eyes. They are totally harmless, so you can easily mix with them. Feel their heats of fantasy before they lose it.