India, Oct. 26 -- When an opportunity to attend a medical conference in Bhutan came my way, I couldn't say no. I had long yearned to visit the Himalayan kingdom to experience first-hand the much-talked-about happiness of the world's only carbon-negative nation. A two-and-a-half-hour flight from New Delhi brings you to what feels like the Buddha's own country. The first taste of its deep-rooted heritage arrives the moment you alight at Paro International Airport. Nestled in a valley surrounded by hills, the landing strip looks straight out of a picture book. Traditional wooden carvings and native paintings replace the steel, concrete, and glass that dominate global hubs. It is the first airport I've visited where the architecture belongs to the land rather than competes with it. Spread over an area of about 38,000 square kilometres, Bhutan is constitutionally mandated to maintain at least 60% of its land under forest cover; currently, around 65% is forested, with plans to raise it to 71%. My five-day stay felt like wandering through an unbroken green paradise. Dense forest hills and the crystal-clear waters of the Paro river accompanied us on the drive to Thimphu and onward to Punakha. As the sunlight kissed the river, the water shimmered like molten silver flowing through the valley. What struck me even more was what was missing: No aluminium foil, discarded plastic bottles, or stray tobacco pouches littered the roadside. Well-lit roads without gargantuan hoardings, alongside well-maintained pavements free of encroachments and street vendors, invited everyone to walk, stroll, or run. Enquiring about the steep daily fee, I learned that Bhutan's tourism strategy deliberately prioritises sustainable, quality experiences over high-visitor volume. A quiet pride in tradition permeates daily life. Citizens on duty wear their national dress-the gho for men and the kira for women-and their genuine warmth quickly wins you over. My time in the kingdom left me with a simple realisation: It lies entirely in our hands to create either pandemonium or paradise around us. I returned home a little wiser, somewhat more evolved, and decidedly saner. Tailpiece: There are no traffic signals in the capital city of Thimphu. Traffic moves on the simple principle of stop, look, think, and go. Best of all, no one honks. A point to ponder, indeed....