Bhutan, this landlocked beauty is called the Last Shangri-La and rightly so. The measure of it’s beauty, landscapes and harmony can only be experienced. A photograph thus, just becomes a window to the world that is this happy kingdom. Yet there are a few unique things to Bhutan that can make your touristy visit to a treasured travel experiences.
1. The journey from Phuntsholing to Thimphu/Paro
If you are entering Bhutan from here, the mountainscapes will start to gallop their way into your heart. As you admire the country that is beginning to open upto you, the late afternoon light creates magic amidst the clouds and the green mountains to make you wonder if you have entered another dimension.
Getting closer to Thimphu
2. The happiness quotient
It is a country that believes that GDP is not a measure for growth but rather GNH (Gross National Happiness) with Buddhism as a way of life is a right measure. You will begin to see the influence of these factors if you are trying to look, and you will see it all around. One can notice a sense of contentment, patience and a face that is always close to a smile from the capital town of Thimphu to a small village in the Haa valley. Bhutanese love Emadatshi (chilli and cheese together as a dish) , Ema or Chili is present in all Bhutanese dishes and in great quantities. But talk to them and you realise that even with all the chili spice in their food they are calm and happy people.
Bhutanese at the market
3. Walk the streets of Thimphu
Thimphu is a capital that spreads laterally towards north and south. On the east and west of Thimphu are beautiful mountains. Most of the city is on the west banks of Wang chuu and is a pleasure to walk. Walk the Norzin Lam, Chang Lam, Drentouen Lam, Chhogyal Lam and understand this city for yourself. Unlike the big formidable capital cities of the world, Thimphu is a place that you can wrap your head around all in a day. Find it’s main offices and administrations that run the country, the schools and universities that sharpen the minds, and the cultural and domestics that keep the daily life going. Walk these streets and talk to the locals, who are not shy to indulge in a conversation, most of them speak Dzongka and Hindi and many also speak english. Sit by their clock tower and watch the Bhutanese unwind on a slow evening. If you are in the country during a festival (which is in most months) then you will feel a whole different vibe to this quiet town. The bookshops and the art galleries stole my heart.
4. Buy stamps at the post office, even a personalized stamp!
Before you send out postcards to all parts of the world from the General Post office of Thimphu Drentouen Lam, don’t forget to visit and have a look at the incredible stamp collection in the same complex. As you get tempted to buy the elaborate and exquisite stamps that were created for various important occasions in Bhutan , maybe you want to get a personalized stamp done? Get your own picture on a stamp and it send it to your loved ones or to yourself!
5. Walk the Wooden Cantilever bridges
These wooden bridges are many in number in Bhutan, and they are for crossing the river on foot. They come with Thangka painting at each entrances or atleast traditional motifs. While you cross the bridge you can hear the fluttering of the colourful prayer flags in the gushing river wind. Wooden cantilever bridges are quite a sight from a distance and upclose.
6. Thimphu Farmer’s Market.
During my travel, we went all the way back to Thimphu from Paro for a day because we couldn’t get to be in Thimphu during the weekend , just to visit the Centenary Farmer’s Market. (And also by then I had fallen in love with Thimphu). It was totally worth the visit. It is the largest farmer’s market in Bhutan, a clean market with vegetable, dairy products, meat and other small scale industry products. The light through the two storeyed spacious market brings out the colours of all the items and adds to the joy of shopping for the week. Look out for the chilies section!
7. Sunset at the confluence, Punakha Dzong
The second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan is in the confluence of two rivers Mo Chhu and Po Chhu (Mother and Father rivers) . From the minute you lay eyes on Punakha Dzong till you reach the inner prayer sanctum you cannot stop but be awed at everything you see around you from the lush green valley, the bridge leading to the dzong, the structure, the intricate work, the rivers . Its not hard to understand why this is the winter capital of Bhutan. These rivers meet to form Puna Tsang Chhu which later becomes the massive Brahmaputra in India. To sit and watch this sight at the confluence , the layers of ranges behind and the lush green Punakha valley at sunset , from the playground of a near by the school there is an unforgettable memory.
8. Climb to Taktsang
Taktsang Monastary or more popularly known as Tiger’s Nest, deserves all the attention it gets from every person who visits the Land of the Thunder Dragon. It is majestic, captivating, mysterious and inspiring. With the view of the precariously perched monastery all through your trek up, there is no other energy required to pull you up to it.
Beckoning view
9. Watch a flight land in Paro airport.
Land in the Paro airport! The only international airport of the country is surrounded by mountains and is considered a very challenging airport to land in. So flights only land and takeoff here during daylight. If you didn’t already see Mt.Everest on your way in the flight or didn’t experience the landing into Paro airport, do not fret. You can watch the flights land from the Bhumtang-Ura highway or take off from the bird’s eye viewpoint of the airport. Watching the flights land here into the beautiful airport against the Paro Dzong is the background is an experience in itself.
10. Sip tea while watching the Paro Valley
Even after seeing the beautiful Punakha Valley or walking through the rice fields to reach ChimiLakhang, Paro valley takes your breath away. Sit at a higher plane and look at the expanse of the Paro valley with Paro chuu flowing through it and if you can get the Paro Dzong into the view then there is nothing like it. Gangtey Palace Hotel is one such place where you would want to sit for this view if you can. It wasn’t called “Castle in the sky” in the 1914 Nat Geo magazine for no reason! You could also get a great view of the Paro valley from the Paro Dzong itself. But wherever you are admiring this view from, do so with a hot cup of tea.
No matter what, The Land of the Thunder Dragon will steal your heart and leave you with a yearning to go back even before you have left. See you soon Bhutan!
