Bhutan – Footloose Forever

Drukgyel Dzong: A haunted monastery in Paro

November 2, 2015November 2, 2015Posted in BhutanTagged Bhutan, Bhutan Tour, Drukgyel Dzong, Paro, Paro Sightseeing17 Comments

It was a partly cloudy day when we started for our sightseeing in Paro.

By the time we reached Drukgyel Dzong after exploring Kichu Monastery the sky was dark, covered with monsoon clouds.

Drukgyel Dzong was built in the 17th century to celebrate victory of the then king against the invaders from Tibet. It is a deserted monastery for years now after it was destroyed in fire in the 1950s. It looked more like a haunted place to me… perfect for shooting horror movies. 😛

The dilapidated walls and tall structure looked even gloomier against the dismal sky.

Our driver told it was a small trek of about 15 minutes up the hill to the main entrance of the monastery. Although the drizzle started as soon as we reached there and most of my companions decided not to go out as it will rain soon, I readily jumped out of the car in search of some mystery. 😉

A giant prayer wheel at the foot of the hill,

and the colorful prayer flags hung over our head looked welcoming at first.

But this canine guard gave a grave look at me as I stepped into its territory.

As I kept walking I could see there was no one except me and my friend. An eerie silence prevailed all over the place. The rustling pines in the cold wind amplified the silence further.

The stoned pathway led to stone steps. We stopped for a moment to breathe some air.

We climbed up the spiral stairs to find what was in store for us… and Drukgyel did not disappoint us. 🙂

Finally we reached at the main gate of the monastery.

A glimpse of the outer courtyard through the half-open door was quite dramatic. Inside, it looked like a fortress with thick brick walls with openings to keep watch over the valley.

The burnt windows, broken walls and the mysterious darkness inside gave an uncanny feeling as if something evil was waiting inside.

Well… I don’t believe in ghosts… but as my friend constantly forbade me to step inside I thought I should honor her wish… 😛 😀

So, how do you like the story of the haunted monastery? 🙂 Do share your thoughts.

P.S: This is Part VII of my Bhutan Tour Photo Essay Series. You can also check out the previous posts of this series for more photos and information on Bhutan travel.

Bhutan Tour: Kichu Monastery in Paro

October 26, 2015Posted in BhutanTagged Bhutan, Bhutan Tour, bhutan travel, Kichu Monastery, Paro21 Comments

This post is a continuation of my earlier post My Rendezvous with Paro.

After reaching our hotel in Paro we dumped our luggage in our rooms and set out to explore the place.

We were back on the road again. Our first stop was Kichu Monastery.

Kyichu Lhakhang or Kichu Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan. It is situated in a secluded place outside the town. The monastery, from its elevated position, offers wonderful views of the surrounding valley.

The monastery houses a golden statue of Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche inside the core temple. However, you are not allowed to take your camera inside.

As we entered the monastery I could see a blast of colors everywhere –

on the front fascia,

on the doors and windows,

on the prayer wheels,

and in the garden.

Even the old monk preaching at the gate of the temple looked quite a colorful person. Isn’t it? 🙂

There were orange trees in the temple courtyard that were full of ripe oranges even in June!

Kichu Monastery is a peaceful quiet place, ideal for spending some time contemplating amidst nature and sacred structures.

Even I tried to concentrate in prayer. But…you know, I found that it’s not my cup of tea… no matter where I am… 😀

P.S: This is Part VI of my Bhutan Tour Photo Essay Series. You can also check out the previous posts of this series for more photos and information on Bhutan travel.

Bhutan Tour: My Rendezvous with Paro

October 13, 2015July 13, 2016Posted in BhutanTagged Bhutan, Bhutan Tour, hill station, hills, Himalayas, mountain, Paro, Paro chhu, valley18 Comments

If I start talking (read ‘writing’) about Paro I won’t be able to include everything in one post. Paro is so beautiful and that beauty has so many facets to it that it is impossible for me to sum it up here. So it’s better to share the picturesque beauty in picture instead of words. 🙂

Finally the day came. We had to leave Thimphu for Paro. Our journey to Paro started at 10:30 am (IST) and we reached there at 12:30 pm (IST).

Paro, a fertile valley on the banks of the river Paro, surrounded by the sublime Himalayan Mountains, beckons travelers with its greenery, scenic beauty, and ample scope to explore the rich cultural heritage of Bhutan.

I had heard a lot about this spectacular valley, which is dotted with monasteries, sacred edifices and landmarks,

and a small but lively township, which we were to explore next.

The river Paro meanders through the vale dividing it in two halves.

Although there were occasional rain clouds hovering over the valley, the weather in Paro was warmer during the day than that was in Thimphu. But the nights were pleasant in summer months (May-June).

Initially, it was mountains on both sides of the road.

As we entered Paro District the roads turned wider. The glimpses of the river running in parallel with the road made the journey even more exciting and visually appealing.

Finally we reached the point where we could meet Paro, the river. This is the place where you can touch, feel, and walk into the cool waters and enjoy a cable car ride across the river. 🙂

After an exciting rendezvous with Paro Chhu (‘chhu’ is river in vernacular) we were back on the road again, heading towards our hotel. We drove past the small cottages,

lush green paddy fields,

and the small but spectacular Paro Airport.

It seemed Paro greeted us with waving white flags on the roadside

and the rustling branches of peaches blooming with white flowers, everywhere. 🙂

Our car finally stopped at the gate of the hotel Mandala Resort Garden, a hotel with excellent views, I must say.

Whichever side your room is, you are entitled to get a clear view of the valley from the room as long as you are in Mandala Resort Garden. However, it is located in the hills outside the town of Paro, within 10 minutes’ drive from Paro Market.

I’ll soon share the story of my sightseeing in Paro. But before that, enjoy some more colorful panorama of this beautiful valley through my lens. 🙂

Hope you enjoyed Paro tour with me. 🙂 Stay tuned for more.

P.S: This is Part V of my Bhutan Tour Photo Essay Series. You can also check out the first four posts of this series for more photos and information on Bhutan travel.

Bhutan Tour: Life in Thimphu

August 22, 2015January 19, 2018Posted in BhutanTagged Bhutan, Bhutan Tour, Bhutanese men, Bhutanese women, hill station, life in thimphu, roads in thimphu, Thimphu, Thimphu Market16 Comments

Life in Thimphu has a unique charm. It is a peaceful place with very low crime rate, high discipline, cleanliness and a nice coexistence of modernism and urban culture with Bhutanese tradition and a laid-back lifestyle. And most importantly, people here are nice and gentle towards you as long as you are also nice to them.

The Roads

The roads in Thimphu are so inviting that you would enjoy drive anytime. Wide roads, less traffic, and idyllic weather – what more do you need? I haven’t seen any traffic police or traffic signaling on the roads, yet no one breaks the rule. Disciplined driving was evident everywhere.

The Architecture

The sight of traditional architecture and religious edifices are quite common in Thimphu. You’ll see several traditional style gateways on the roads to usher you to different parts of the country from the capital city. Needless to mention, these structures beautifully adorn the cityscape.

The Shopping Districts

Thimphu is a perfect blend of modernity and tradition – an interesting combination of simplicity and urbanity. It is reflected in the marketplaces. The city has sophisticated shopping plazas and departmental stores.

On the other hand, the handicrafts market in Thimphu is the place you can discover the richness of Bhutanese traditional art and textiles.

The streets come alive in the afternoon with young boys playing carrom at the shopping arcades, girls having chitchat at the open-air cafeterias and women go shopping with their little kids accompanying them.

The Vegetable Markets

Vegetable markets in Thimphu, mostly makeshift ones, are vibrant, colorful places where you’ll find a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables. Most importantly, the sellers and buyers in these roadside vegetable markets are mostly women, in colorful western or traditional clothing.

The Women

Bhutanese women are beautiful and in particular, they have excellent dressing sense. Be it their traditional costume Kira or western clothing, women in Thimphu dress up and accessorize quite fashionably. Women here are very active. They work hard both at home and outside. But what is worthy of mention is that they are quite comfortable taking their kids to their workplace.

Look at this woman at a vegetable market in Thimphu.

Women usually carry their babies on their back while walking on the roads, at the shops, in the markets… everywhere. Hats off to motherhood!

The Men

You’ll see men in Thimphu mostly in their traditional robes, called Gho. Our driver Sangay, a cheerful little young fellow, told me that it is a legal mandate in Bhutan for taxi drivers to drive in their national costume during duty hours. This is also applicable to men and women working in government offices.

The Houses

Thimphu is a booming city. I saw a lot of multi-story houses all around in the neighborhood we stayed and a lot many were under construction. Residential buildings in Thimphu have similar structure and symmetry with the traditionally decorated exterior. What I loved the most is the happy colors they use to paint their houses. Well… quite natural for a city in the “happiest country in the world” – isn’t it? 🙂

The Dogs

Dogs seem to be an important part of every household in Thimphu. The people here love dogs. During the day, you’ll see them quietly slugging around in the sun. It is in the night when they are most active, barking all the night to ensure you enjoy “good night sleep”. 😀

Hotel Nirmal, where we stayed in Thimphu, is a family run hotel. The family has a cute little pet dog, Kotah, who was afraid of this distant brother of German Shepherd although I found him very gentle but watchful always. 🙂

The Neighborhoods

We stayed in a peaceful but lively neighborhood approx 15-minute walk from the main road and the buzzing shopping district of Thimphu. A walk along the winding roads in the morning and afternoon will let you look deeper into the city life.

P.S: This is Part IV of my Bhutan Tour Photo Essay Series. You can also check out the first three parts of this series for more photos and information on Bhutan travel.

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Bhutan Tour: A short drive through Wangdue

August 2, 2015August 22, 2015Posted in BhutanTagged Bhutan, Bhutan Tour, nature photography, Punakha, wangdi, Wangdue, Wangdue Phodrang21 Comments

wangdue, lobesa valley, wangdue phodrang, bhutan

I think one day is not enough to explore and experience the scenic charm of Punakha and the monastery. But you know… you are always short of time on a tour like this. There is so much to see but we have only a few days to spend. 😦 So, after lunch by the river Pho Chu we were on the road again – the road to Wangdue (pronounced as Wangdi). Wangdue district, one of the largests in the country, is home to a number of scenic valleys among which Phobjikha Valley and Lobesa Valley are to name a few.

Wangdue is less than an hour by car from Punakha. However, we didn’t have time to drive down to the interior of the district as we had to return to Thimphu by that evening.

It was a sunny afternoon. We enjoyed a drive along the Mo Chu River towards Wangdue.

We drove through the picturesque town of Wangdue Phodrang. The town seemed a newly built one with symmetrical houses and buildings of vivid colours that lends a different charm to the place.

We passed by the Wangdue Monastery which was completely burnt from short circuit in 2011. The monastery was a replication of the Punakha Monastery. It is now being reconstructed again, so visitors are not allowed. We could see the monastery from a distance. By the way, our driver charged Rs 1000 extra for this drive as it was not in our itinerary from the beginning.

The valley, bathing in the light of summer sun looked awesome from a distance. We stopped by the road to absorb the beautiful scenery with my senses. Who knows, if I would be able to see this ever again or not! So behold and capture the beauty of this world as much you can, in this one life.

We returned to Thimphu by 4:30 in the evening. So, I had a couple hours in hand to explore the neighboring locality and makeshift markets. I utilized it as much as possible. Will share that story with you soon. 🙂

P.S: Till then you can check out the first two parts of my Bhutan Tour photo essays for more photos and information on Bhutan travel:

Bhutan Tour: The Scenic Punakha and Dochula Pass

July 26, 2015May 27, 2016Posted 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.

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.