Bhutan-3

Day 2 (Paro):

Today we are going to Paro, the second largest city of Bhutan, connecting the country to the rest of world, with its airport. Paro city is spread over plain area unlink Thimpu, that is the reason this city has the one and only airport. This city has lot of hotels and a market, having lot of shops for handicraft items.

Nature’ beauty

Paro market

@ Drukgyel

One hour and 45 kms ride from Thimpu and you are in Paro. One went 20 kms further to see the ruins of Victory, ‘Drukgyel Dzong’, a mark of victory over Tibet some 50 years back. Now this place is at utter silence and abandoned after some fire accident in past. But still the place is worth a visit, because it offers the view of picturesque white snow covered ‘Jhomolhari’ peak and other high mountains with soaring trees standing beside it.

We started back and some 10 kms after we reached to base place for ‘Taktsang’, very sacred monastery situated over a very high cliff. It took us (me and Hari, as Suraj opted out from the trek) 2 and ½ hours to reach to the monastery. We covered some 2000 ft height, trekking in dirt trek through the mountains. But this trek has definitely lot of scenic views of mountains covered with greenery to offer. We ran out of breath but we continued

Dirt trek to Taktsand

through undefined territory. On mid way, there is one canteen, we has nice lunch and snacks to offer. We got some energy to complete our rest of journey to the top.

Once we reach to top, the downward journey to the monastery starts. Once we leave the dirt trek and start the route of small steps, it becomes a bit difficult and we need to be very cautious over the steps we take. But the view of monastery right on the other side, keep the spirit up to continue.

The Legends being that Guru Rimpoche, very respectable religious leader of 8^th century, flew there on back of a tiger and mediated there. People from all walks of life from all around the world come here to pay a visit to this amazing place, some for faith, some to get glimpse of the marvelous architectural work, some to get a fresh breather and some to get lost in

Taktsang on cliff

astounding natural beauty, which will hold you spellbound.

Although way down was only of 1 hour but that also has its part of steep slopes of short cut, which we opted to save some time. It was only 5 in evening, when we reached to parking base, but it was getting dark and by 6 when we reached to Paro, city was sparkling with all lights lit up. The Dzong was looking magical under the shade of yellow light.

We reached back to Thimpu and set around bukhaari to heat up. We were so much exhausted that right after settling into bed with all the blankets, I fall into deep sleep. Next day we rested for whole day and roamed around on streets to get a peek into their city life.

Day 4 (Punakha):

After a day of rest, we were ready for other mountains, but this time we were lucky, as road have made their reach into, so we can go by car. Today’s itinerary included Dochula, Punakha and Wangdi.

We started at 9 and made our first stop at ‘Dochula Pass’,

Dochula Pass

after 40 kms of drive. The charm of this place will make you stop there. This place is alsoused as shooting location to capture the clouds, posing in different shapes and mountains in same line of focus.

108 Stupas @ Dochula

Adding another jewel to this crown is 108 stupas overlooking the northern mountain chains.

From there another 40 kms for the Punakha, former capital city of Bhutan, on route were Misina and khuruthang. Punakha is very small town, nothing much to see here, other than small market and houses. Only thing worth visiting here is ‘Punakha Dzong’, a bridge over river connecting to the dzong.  We need special permit for entering into the dzong. We didn’t had the permit, which is issued from Thimpu, so we roamed around the dzong and tried to capture the immense

Punakha Dzong

beauty around the dzong with the river passing aside into frame and also tried to fit ourselves in one corner.

After the photography, we moved toward Wangdi, another small town having another dzong, which is built over a hill which looks like elephant’s back. Soon we started back for Thimpu, as it was getting dark and we had a 3 hour journey back.

Day 5:

It was my last day of Bhutan tour and it was the day when Thimpu had its first snow fall of the season. They even get public holiday also for first snow fall of the season. At last I wasn’t going without experiencing snow fall, which was one of the reasons for my visit.

and the snow fall

I stepped out of the house, to see how it feels to be amidst falling snow. Well, let’s just say it’s amazing and can’t be written in words, at least not by me. And when you look around, even a regular neighborhood looks magnificently beautiful with tree leaves under snow, sapling with snow cover giving an impression of strikingly white sheet and roads having small white spots over it.

Now it was time to say adieu to host and friends. Hari accompanied me till bus stand and I bid good-bye to my friend, to the wondrous landscapes, to a developing country where traditions, culture and row form of nature are yet preserved.

After the snow fall, the whole scene was changed and journey to Phuentsholing became memorable with classic hindi songs, amazing views of fog rolling over the mountain slops and clouds kissing the notch. No matter how much you try to capture the beauty into digital frame, the beauty is never captured 100%.

This was the memorable end to my trip. It also brings a close to this post. Although I have tried to put as best as I could, but I feel binary bits can’t exactly describe the feeling of actually being there, which is both vivid and thrilling.  Both bouquets and brickbats are welcome about this travelog.