2015 – Page 5 – Footloose Forever

Bhutan Tour: The Scenic Punakha and Dochula Pass

July 26, 2015August 24, 2025Posted in BhutanTagged Bhutan, bhutan travel, dochula pass, hill station, mountains, Photo challenge, Punakha, punakha monastery, valley69 Comments

It was a pleasant, warm morning we started our journey to Punakha from the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu. Bright sunshine flooded the mountains and the valley, scenic beauty all around to behold we kept driving along the road running in parallel with the meandering river. The joy was unfathomable and that was one of the best days in my life. The photos of Punakha are so vivid that simply looking at them can make my day better… 🙂 So, I dedicate this post to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Today Was a Good Day.

We completed the local sightseeing in Thimphu on our first day in Bhutan. Next day was scheduled for Punakha Monastery (or Punakha Dzong) which is 3 to 4-hour drive from Thimphu. The drive was as usual beautiful through the Himalayan mountains. I tried to capture the scenic beauty on the way as much as possible.

Dochula Pass

We drove to Punakha via Dochula Pass, one of the highest points in Bhutan (10,000 ft). It’s about one hour drive from Thimphu towards Punakha and a favorite stopover for tourists. The uniqueness of Dochula Pass lies in the wonderful combination of natural and man-made architectures. The place offers 360 degree view of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Bonus is this beautiful architecture – the 108 chortens in circular construction – add to the charm of the place. Unfortunately, we missed the mountain views as it was all covered in cloud in the end of May. Our driver said you can get the best view in winter. 😦 Well, never mind…the view I got is no less lovely. What do you think?

Now take a look at the other side of Dochula Pass. The Druk Wangyal Lhakhang is a beautiful temple built in the memory of the king, Druk Gyalpo.

As the time passed more and more cars arrived at the spot and I could see spontaneous touristy activities all around.

I think there was a feel-good factor in the air which was quite infectious. I felt so happy and grateful to be alive under the sun and enjoy the view.

By the way, if you have time you can enjoy a leisurely break at the beautiful Druk Wangyel Cafe at Dochula Pass. But the place is a little expensive. Here a one-liter mineral water bottle of Rs 20 cost us Rs 36.

There was this curious visitor at the gate of the cafe. But no one seemed to welcome him. Poor doggie! 😦

Important info:

Carry enough drinking water during the long drive from Thimphu to Punakha. We didn’t see a proper shop or restaurant from where we could buy drinking water on the way.

Punakha

Situated on the meeting point of Bhutan’s two important rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, Punakha Dzong is a place of scenic and spiritual charm. The air, the water, the green plantation looked so clean and pure that you’ll instantly feel in harmony with the place. The monastery is built over a huge area including well-manicured gardens and ponds.

You enter the monastery through this beautiful gateway and cross a traditionally designed wooden bridge that takes you on the other side of Pho Chhu (“Chhu” means “river” in vernacular).

The traditional Tibetan style architecture of the monastery is a treat to the eye. And it perfectly blended with the beautiful surrounding.

Entering the monastery can be a bit difficult with these steep ladder like stair case. Remember, that you must not wear baring clothes, else you may be denied access into the main temple in the images below.

Well, the Punakha Monastery is not only a place for monks and pilgrims. There are other habitats too and they are rapidly growing in numbers. 🙂

It was wonderful to roam around in the monastery premises, full of beautiful orchards and the ponds which they use for pisciculture.

However, Punakha is not just the monastery. It’s much more than that. The clear blue sky, the wide open riverbeds, and the trees and flowers all around make this place divinely beautiful. Take a look at the following images and you’ll agree with me.

After spending some hours in the monastery we went to a riverside restaurant where we were served lunch. After lunch we were on the road again – the road to Wangdue. I’ll share that story soon.

I hope you like this tour of Punakha and Dochula Pass with me. 🙂

You can also take a look at the first part of my Bhutan Tour Photo Essay – Thimphu through my lenses for more photos and information on Bhutan travel.

Up-close with the moon

July 25, 2015July 26, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged close up, full moon, moon17 Comments

“The moon looks upon many night flowers; the night flowers see but one moon.”

~ Jean Ingelow

I have a link up with the moon ever since I was born… ever since my parents kept my name – Moon. 🙂 The moon is cool, calm and beautiful, and I never get bored looking at her. I always wanted to capture her beauty ever since I got my camera. It was just before a full moon the night sky was clear that I found a chance to get up-close with the moon.

Published in response to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Close Up.

Finding joy in mundane things: A thorny affair

July 20, 2015July 19, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged fern, Nature, Photo challenge, thorn, weed17 Comments

There is an old fern in the backyard of our house. It’s been there for over a decade. Dull, unattractive…unattended…uncared for. In winter it looks dry, covered with cobwebs and dust. But one day the thorns on its stem caught my eyes. Some were unusually colorful!

I publish this post as part of the Mundane Monday Challenge given by my blogger friend Jithin aka Trablogger.

Wish you a happy and happening week ahead! 🙂

Half and Half make one

July 19, 2015July 19, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged Fateh Sagar Lake, half and half, Photo challenge, Pushkar, Rajasthan, Udaipur, udaipur city palace19 Comments

fateh sagar lake, udaipur, lake, sky, blue

“Knowledge is only one half. Faith is the other.”

~ Novalis

Udaipur city and the palace. The wall divides the frame in two halves – one is the courtyard of Udaipur City Palace cast in the shadow of the palace in the afternoon and the other half is the city, shining bright in the golden light. It can also be interpreted differently – one half of the picture belongs to the imperial and the other half is for the commons. But together they formed a kingdom around five hundred years ago. Most importantly, one half denotes present and the other belongs to the past – a bygone era of valor, success and grandeur.

Pushkar in the twilight. The following picture is one of my favorites, because it exudes the essence of the place. It was a beautiful evening by the holy lake. The reflection of the temples and edifices in the stagnant water of the lake made the vista picture perfect.

It was a warm, sunny morning in Udaipur. We were boating the calm waters of Fateh Sagar Lake. The sky was blue and the sprawling water reflected the shade of the sky so beautifully that it was difficult to understand where the sky ended and the water began until I saw the range of hills in the horizon which split the blue frame in two halves.

Published in response to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Half and Half.

Bhutan Tour: Thimphu through my lenses

July 14, 2015October 13, 2015Posted in BhutanTagged Bhutan, Buddha dordenma, Changankha Lakhang, national memorial choeten, Takin preserve, Thimphu, Thimphu Market, Thimphu monstery, thimphu sightseeing65 Comments

Our Bhutan tour was planned long ago … the day we were returning from Nainital last October. I read about Bhutan as the world’s “happiest country”. I also heard a lot about its scenic beauty. Nature is kind here to bestow her treasures upon the Land of Thunder Dragons. Bhutan has mystic mountains, verdant valleys and meandering rivers brimming with crystal clear water. But what amazed me are the people here and their lifestyle. They looked happy and content with a pleasing countenance all the time – in the hotel receptions, in the shops, in the temples and on the roads. I wonder how such a small nation with a small (but growing) economy can live so happily. Discipline and peacefulness are the key, perhaps.

Our first stop was Thimphu, the capital city of the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan.

The journey starts from the border town of Jaigaon in India. As you enter Phuentsholing through the Bhutan Gate you’ll notice a drastic change in the surroundings – the roads are clean and less crowded. The architecture and edifices bear stark differences than what you see on the Jaigaon side.

It took 4 hours to get the permit at the immigration office in Phuentsholing. We spent the night in Jaigaon, the town at Indian border. Next morning we were to leave for Thimphu at 9:30. But the cars that were booked for us got stuck in the landslide and we finally started at 12:30 in the afternoon. Irritated and angry we got on the car. But as we drove along the road to Thimphu landscapes kept changing and Mother Nature seemed to adorn beautifully to uplift our mood.

It was a bright sunny day when we started. But with increase of height weather became cooler. We were driving through the clouds. It was like playing hide-and-seek with the mountains. Sitting on the front seat I was reminiscing about my childhood experience of travelling to Darjeeling. The journey was similar except that we had rain as our constant companion this time until we reached Thimphu.

I enjoyed the journey on a rain-drenched road in front of us and melodious Bhutanese songs playing inside the car. Visibility reduced almost to zero due to thick clouds all around. There were times when we couldn’t even see the cars coming from the opposite until it came within one or two meters distance.

We stopped by a roaring waterfall on our way. It was raining so heavily that no one except me bothered to get out of the car. Luckily I had an umbrella with me. It helped me shooting in the rain. If you plan to travel Bhutan in May-June you must carry an umbrella. It may rain anytime, especially in the afternoon.

We reached Thimphu at around 6:30 in the evening. The hotel, Nirmal Lodge had apartment style accommodation with spacious and nicely appointed rooms. You can check out my complete review of the hotel on TripAdvisor for further details.

Our room offered nice view of the neighbourhood from the balcony. The picturesque cityscape expanded beyond the central valley to the surrounding hills.

It was getting dark when we entered the city.

But I noticed that Thimphu looked beautiful even in the night.

Next morning I woke up early went downstairs to have a look around. It was wonderful to see golden Buddha gleaming in the morning light. A deep look at his peaceful countenance made my day. For me it was the best way to start my first day in Thimphu. 🙂

That day we covered the local tourist attractions and monasteries in Thimphu.

National Memorial Chorten

Located at the heart of Thimphu, the National Memorial is an imposing structure with beautiful rose gardens all around. Built in 1974 by the then queen of Bhutan in memory of her son the memorial is now an auspicious religious place where hundreds of people come to pray and worship.

Turning these giant prayer wheels was a challenging task for me. 🙂

Buddha View Point

Buddha View Point is an wide open area high on top of the hill where the statue of Buddha Dordenma sits overlooking the city. The view point offers excellent panoramic view of Thimphu and the surrounding areas. The giant statue is itself an attraction for the tourists.

Bhutan Parliament and the King’s Palace

Changankha Lakhang

It is the oldest monastery and a pilgrimage in Thimphu, built in 12th century. The vivid colors and traditional stone carvings grabbed my attention.

This cute little devotee, trying to touch the prayer wheels, was actually quite curious about me. 🙂

Takin Preserve

Takin is the national animal of Bhutan. It is a rare species of goat antelope indigenous to this region of the Himalayas and western China.

Handicraft Market in Thimphu

Although this is a costly place to buy souvenirs the market is the right place to get an idea of the richness of local textile and handicrafts. The colorful handwoven scarfs, bags, tapestries and handcrafted items may pinch your pocket but they are definitely a treat to the eyes.

The next day was planned for Docula Pass and Punakha, the travel story of which I will share with you pretty soon. Till then enjoy the week!

EDIT: Now you can check out the second part of my Bhutan tour photo essay – The Scenic Dochula Pass and Punakha.

The Magic Lamp on my window

July 13, 2015July 12, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged Aladin's magic lamp, magic lamp, monday, mundane, Photo challenge24 Comments

It was a beautiful dawn. I could hear the chirping of birds. The golden streaks of morning sun entered my window. I opened my eyes. Oh, it’s a Monday again! I looked out through the window. Something glittering caught my eyes. What is it? Wow…it’s the magic lamp of Aladdin. I couldn’t believe my eyes…no more boring Mondays, no more work… lots of money and only travelling! A Beautiful music was playing in my ear. But suddenly the music stopped. Someone pushed me and told me it’s already 7:30 in the morning. I sprang up on my bed. It was my sister calling me as I had to get ready for the office.

There was nothing on the window. Alas! It was a dream. 😦

Since then I was wondering, if one fine morning I wake up to find Aladdin’s magic lamp on my window…what would I do with it! Well…then I could definitely transform the mundane into something beautiful and exciting with its magical power. 🙂

This post is a part of the Mundane Monday Challenge given by my blogger friend Jithin who blogs at Trablogger.

Have a wonderful week ahead guys! 🙂

The River and the Mountains – together they teach the lesson of life

July 11, 2015July 13, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged Bhutan, life, mountain, Nature, Paro, river, symbol, symbolic29 Comments

“The river is constantly turning and bending and you never know where it’s going to go and where you’ll wind up. Following the bend in the river and staying on your own path means that you are on the right track. Don’t let anyone deter you from that.”

~ Eartha Kitt

The relation between the river and the mountain is pretty symbolic. The river with all its gushing waters symbolizes motion – the dynamism of life. And the mountains with their huge, unwavering existence are the symbol of obstacles that we face in life. The river makes its way through the mountains – sometimes it is able to break through the solid rocks and sometimes it bends its path – but never stops until it meets the sea. Together the river and the mountain teach us the biggest lesson of life – keep going until you reach your goal; until the purpose of life is served. There will be problem, there will be obstruction, there will be barrier – but you should learn to make your way through it and move on.

River Paro, Bhutan