No Country is a Shangri-La - a podcast by The Religion, Race and Democracy Lab at the University of Virginia

Bhutan is a small country in the Himalayas with a long Buddhist tradition, and a more recent reputation for embracing careful development and cultural preservation. Many of the visitors who are willing to pay the $200 a day tourist visa to come to Bhutan are drawn to a beautiful landscape that's seen as largely untouched by the problems facing more industrialized nations.

But of course, no country is a Shangri-La. We spoke with people across Bhutan about the real choices and challenges that come with efforts to balance tradition, development, and environmental preservation. And we look at one valley in particular that is trying to balance the needs of local farmers, monasteries, international tourism, and the endangered black-necked crane.

Further episodes of Sacred

Further podcasts by The Religion, Race and Democracy Lab at the University of Virginia

Website of The Religion, Race and Democracy Lab at the University of Virginia