Manisha Lama

Manisha is from Samtse in southwestern Bhutan but grew up in Thimphu, raised by her mother alongside younger siblings in a close, women-centered family. Being the eldest shaped her early — responsibility, patience, and care became second nature before she had words for them. She credits her mother and sisters with making her who she is: emotionally grounded, quietly strong, and proud of where she comes from. Her love for Bhutan deepened through her work at MyBhutan, where she began to see her own country with the kind of attention that most people only bring to places they've traveled far to reach. She has hiked Bumdra, Tiger's Nest, Pumola to Buddha Point, and Chumphu Ney — sacred and scenic routes that gave her a firsthand understanding of Bhutan's landscapes and what guests need to be prepared for. A trip to Kathmandu stayed with her too, for its layered spirituality and its food — she is, by her own admission, a true foodie. One site she finds genuinely extraordinary is Chumphu Ney in Paro, connected to Dorji Phagmo and home to a sacred statue believed to float slightly above the ground. The hike there is quiet, the atmosphere charged with faith and mystery — the kind of place, she says, where spirituality, nature, and story converge in a way that is difficult to explain un...