The Land of Thunder Dragon
While Bhutan has its own enchanting ways to mesmerize you, we were mostly moved by the warmth and the hospitality of the people. We were a group of 14 people, mostly senior citizens on our journey to this picturesque country, a hidden shangri-la in the Himalyas.
We drove through high mountain passes strung with colorful prayer flags, we loved watching rhythm of river stream fed by glacial melt and monsoon rains, and we visited hilltop monasteries populated by red-robed monks. We will always cherish the memory of serene walk through charming villages long isolated from the modern world, gracious Bhutanese people and their dedication to preserving their country’s natural beauty and daily rituals !
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS - A Hiking Adventure
Our 2 hours hike to the Talaka Monastery proved ADVENTURE KNOWS NO AGE LIMIT. The 34th Je Khenpo Sheldrup built the monastery during the 19th Century. It has the best view of the Thimpu city at 3080m. Today this monastery is a monastic institution for novice monks. They even have a garden full of flowers and a little gazebo to sit where we enjoyed our afternoon tea. It's amazing to see the sense of freedom, happiness and 'I can still do it' confidence of our group most of whom are senior citizens.
embracing the moment in punakha
From the cold and foggy DochuLa we drove down to the low lying sub tropical Punakha passing through winding roads and dense green forests. Punakha has a special place in the history of Bhutan. It was their old capital and the Punakha Dzong is the second largest and oldest dzongs in the country. Two major rivers Mo Chhu and Po Chhu converge here.
Chocolate mountains topped with chortens and cluster of houses gave way to terraced rice fields and farmlands. Weather was pleasantly warm. We got down at Sopsokha village to see the rural side of Bhutan. About 70% of the Bhutanese stay in the villages and agriculture is their main source of income. Our perfect afternoon stroll through the rice fields to the Fertility Temple was totally worth it. Chimi Lhakhang so it is called sits atop a hill overlooking a beautiful valley. It was blessed by saint Drukpa Kunley also known as the "Divine Madman", known for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism.
bridge to happiness
This is the result of a badly synchronized picture. It is a lot of fun when everyone wants to be a part of the picture. We took this picture on the Punakha Suspension Bridge, longest one in Bhutan. This bridge is broad and does not shake much. There are mountains surrounding the bridge from all sides which also gives a breathtaking view. Now I am at the other end and a prayer wheel welcomes you to the village. A two storey building and rice fields are the main sights. This was one of the most fun days we had; here are few more pictures of the same.
at the nunnery
We met this little girl at the Nunnery, She is only 9 years old. Everyone just loved her. They even had a bit of giggle with her whilst in the hall. They were chanting in the hall, it was a great way to see their faces and hear the sound of the women in Buddhism.
seeking bliss at the palace of great happiness
As you would have noticed by now that we loved to be clicked, so there we are again posing in front of the Punakha Dzong. This is the most iconic and revered monument in Bhutan and is also known as The Palace of Great Happiness or Bliss. It is also the headquarter of Punakha district. Words and pictures can’t do justice to this magnificent fortress/monastery. Punakha Dzong is a perfect blend of religion, art and architecture and we will always remember it as the Palace of Sublime Moments.
hiking story continues
Some people can finish the tiger nest hike in less than 5 hours. Yes, you read it right. Tiger’s Nest Monastery is believed to be the birthplace of Buddhism in Bhutan, making it the most sacred monastery in the country. Precariously perched high up on a sheer cliff a dizzying 10,000 feet/3,048 meter above sea level, it certainly also has the most stunning and fascinating location.
life of a bhutanese nomad
A day out at a farm house, Paro.
We experienced the rural Bhutanese lifestyle - wearing Bhutanese national dress - Kira, trying our hands at archery, strolling and admiring the beautiful traditional village and spending time with our farmer host on a delicious lunch of local delicacies...
As Lin Yutang rightly says “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” This trip not only gave us long lasting memories but friends for life.
