Bhutan
A visit to Bhutan had been a long standing dream. It came true last year when I visited the place with my husband. I never thought I could get so attached to a country and its people in just 1 week. We planned for a 5nights 6 days trip to Bhutan in Mid March last year As I keep writing I reminisce how amazing and incredible my journey was when I last visited this lovely picturesque place Bhutan. Above all the places I have visited, I would love to list out the best among the lot and the must’s one cannot miss, including the cities to visit, the food diary and a general guide to the things you can do. There are innumerable reasons to visit the country.
It’s a place full of positivity and one can find so many things to learn here from the Bhutanese culture and people. I strongly feel that if you love nature and travelling and if you haven’t visited Bhutan, then you’re missing a lot in life. The things I saw when I visited this place is that the people are kind, gracious and welcoming. As Bhutan is also called the Land of Happiness and Smiles, I could feel a sense of seventh heaven there, amidst its natural beauty and happy people. It took me by surprise that the roads in Bhutan are good to average, it is amazing that throughout Bhutan there are no traffic lights and yet the traffic is managed beautifully.
This small country located in the lap of Himalayas hugged by the Tibetan Region of China on one side and India on the other, the enduring image of the country for most visitors is the strong sense of culture and tradition. It’s truly an adventure across the lost Himalayan Kingdom. The best time to explore the country is during March-May.
Picture Credit- Wa and Far Away
The state religion of Bhutan is the Drukpa sect of Kargyupa, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. Bhutanese language and literature, arts and crafts, drama, music, ceremonies and events, architecture and basic social and cultural values draw their essence from Buddhism. One of the best ways to explore Bhutan is by Foot.
Picture Credit- Explore Bhutan
Thimphu
Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan and it takes about 54 km (34 miles) from the Paro to Thimphu by road. The culture of Bhutan is fully reflected in Thimphu in respect of literature, religion, customs, and national dress code, the monastic practices of the monasteries, music, dance and literature..
It is a place with great architecture and the must see places here are the Tashichho Dzong (Buddhist Monastery) The other one I really wanted to see here was Bhudha Point, which is the world’s largest sitting Buddha and from this point I enjoyed a stunning view of Thimphu city. When I visited the Textile Museum I witnessed the art of traditional weaving. The Weekend Market here is exciting for all ages. I saw the vendors from throughout the region start arriving on Thursday and remain until Saturday night. I wandered around the stalls and found a pungent collection of dried fish, strips of fatty pork and discs of datse (soft cheese), as well as bottles of wild honey from southern Bhutan. Here the Handicraft stalls etc are packed, thus, giving me an idea of the authentic cultural essence of this city.
Weekend Market - Thimphu
Picture Credit- Wind Horse
Paro
Paro is a small beautiful town in Bhutan. It is also the home to the only international airport in the country. The flight to Paro is considered one of the most spectacular flight experiences in the world. While flying in and out of Bhutan, one can see Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makula, and other high peaks such as Jumolhari, Jichu Drakey, and Tsrim Gang. The crisp winter breeze carries the whiff of fresh air when you land in Paro
The first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the aircraft is the crystalline purity of the air. As I took the first breath of the air in Bhutan, I noticed that Bhutan is unlike any other country I have visited. This is especially true if you hail from the urban city life where the air tends to be polluted. So I took a moment to enjoy the fresh air Bhutan could offer.
As I have visited the place, I must say that Paro Taktsang (also known as the Tiger’s nest) is a must place to do a trek to early in the morning. It was a long trek which took me to the top of the Cliff where the nest is located from where we can experience a sense of purity and beauty of Paro. The hike up to Tiger’s Nest takes a couple of hours and the views are more breathtaking in more ways than one.
Ringpung Dzong or Paro Dzong is a house of Buddhists monks. A visit to this Dzong is a must if only to view the marvellous woodwork in the central tower. There are a lot of things to see and do in Paro so never waste any amount of time doing anything when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under :) I saw the most amazing sunset view of Paro town which was from the Paro museum. It was best view of Paro town, the river passing through it, the golden rice fields and the entire valley can be seen from Paro museum. Either you drive up to the top or take the more scenic winding route from the cantilever bridge over the river through Paro Dzong and to the Paro Museum. The view from here gets great after a couple of hours after lunch and is best just before sunset.
Picture Credit- Sharath Satish
Punakha
Punakha is a beautiful valley at the junction of Mo Chhu (Mother River) and Pho Chhu (Father River). This place offers a 360 degree view of the Himalayan mountain ranges. I started my journey from Thimphu to Punakha (3-4 hour’s drive), it was a bright warm day and the sunshine flooded the mountain valleys. It was a scenic view just like how I imagined but much more amazing and beautiful. The first place I visited there was the Punakha Dzong which is Bhutan’s most impressive building. One it is beautifully located alongside a river, so the views are really amazing. Two the Architecture is very intricate and beautiful. I totally enjoyed the scenic view throughout and visited the market place there. It was totally worth it as I spent most of my time feeling the sense of nature around me.
Picture credit- Thousand Wonders
Che Travels/ Chhe Experiences
India
Mob: +9198450 77065(Blr)
email - cheindia2000@gmail.com
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'The Answer to all your Hospitality Solutions'
"Your Future Exists First in your Imagination, Then in Will and Finally in Reality"
A visit to Bhutan had been a long standing dream. It came true last year when I visited the place with my husband. I never thought I could get so attached to a country and its people in just 1 week. We planned for a 5nights 6 days trip to Bhutan in Mid March last year As I keep writing I reminisce how amazing and incredible my journey was when I last visited this lovely picturesque place Bhutan. Above all the places I have visited, I would love to list out the best among the lot and the must’s one cannot miss, including the cities to visit, the food diary and a general guide to the things you can do. There are innumerable reasons to visit the country.
It’s a place full of positivity and one can find so many things to learn here from the Bhutanese culture and people. I strongly feel that if you love nature and travelling and if you haven’t visited Bhutan, then you’re missing a lot in life. The things I saw when I visited this place is that the people are kind, gracious and welcoming. As Bhutan is also called the Land of Happiness and Smiles, I could feel a sense of seventh heaven there, amidst its natural beauty and happy people. It took me by surprise that the roads in Bhutan are good to average, it is amazing that throughout Bhutan there are no traffic lights and yet the traffic is managed beautifully.
This small country located in the lap of Himalayas hugged by the Tibetan Region of China on one side and India on the other, the enduring image of the country for most visitors is the strong sense of culture and tradition. It’s truly an adventure across the lost Himalayan Kingdom. The best time to explore the country is during March-May.
Picture Credit- Wa and Far Away
Picture Credit- Explore Bhutan
Thimphu
Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan and it takes about 54 km (34 miles) from the Paro to Thimphu by road. The culture of Bhutan is fully reflected in Thimphu in respect of literature, religion, customs, and national dress code, the monastic practices of the monasteries, music, dance and literature..
It is a place with great architecture and the must see places here are the Tashichho Dzong (Buddhist Monastery) The other one I really wanted to see here was Bhudha Point, which is the world’s largest sitting Buddha and from this point I enjoyed a stunning view of Thimphu city. When I visited the Textile Museum I witnessed the art of traditional weaving. The Weekend Market here is exciting for all ages. I saw the vendors from throughout the region start arriving on Thursday and remain until Saturday night. I wandered around the stalls and found a pungent collection of dried fish, strips of fatty pork and discs of datse (soft cheese), as well as bottles of wild honey from southern Bhutan. Here the Handicraft stalls etc are packed, thus, giving me an idea of the authentic cultural essence of this city.
Weekend Market - Thimphu
Picture Credit- Wind Horse
Paro
Paro is a small beautiful town in Bhutan. It is also the home to the only international airport in the country. The flight to Paro is considered one of the most spectacular flight experiences in the world. While flying in and out of Bhutan, one can see Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makula, and other high peaks such as Jumolhari, Jichu Drakey, and Tsrim Gang. The crisp winter breeze carries the whiff of fresh air when you land in Paro
The first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the aircraft is the crystalline purity of the air. As I took the first breath of the air in Bhutan, I noticed that Bhutan is unlike any other country I have visited. This is especially true if you hail from the urban city life where the air tends to be polluted. So I took a moment to enjoy the fresh air Bhutan could offer.
As I have visited the place, I must say that Paro Taktsang (also known as the Tiger’s nest) is a must place to do a trek to early in the morning. It was a long trek which took me to the top of the Cliff where the nest is located from where we can experience a sense of purity and beauty of Paro. The hike up to Tiger’s Nest takes a couple of hours and the views are more breathtaking in more ways than one.
Ringpung Dzong or Paro Dzong is a house of Buddhists monks. A visit to this Dzong is a must if only to view the marvellous woodwork in the central tower. There are a lot of things to see and do in Paro so never waste any amount of time doing anything when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under :) I saw the most amazing sunset view of Paro town which was from the Paro museum. It was best view of Paro town, the river passing through it, the golden rice fields and the entire valley can be seen from Paro museum. Either you drive up to the top or take the more scenic winding route from the cantilever bridge over the river through Paro Dzong and to the Paro Museum. The view from here gets great after a couple of hours after lunch and is best just before sunset.
Picture Credit- Sharath Satish
Punakha
Punakha is a beautiful valley at the junction of Mo Chhu (Mother River) and Pho Chhu (Father River). This place offers a 360 degree view of the Himalayan mountain ranges. I started my journey from Thimphu to Punakha (3-4 hour’s drive), it was a bright warm day and the sunshine flooded the mountain valleys. It was a scenic view just like how I imagined but much more amazing and beautiful. The first place I visited there was the Punakha Dzong which is Bhutan’s most impressive building. One it is beautifully located alongside a river, so the views are really amazing. Two the Architecture is very intricate and beautiful. I totally enjoyed the scenic view throughout and visited the market place there. It was totally worth it as I spent most of my time feeling the sense of nature around me.
Food
Now the most favourite part about Bhutan for the all food lovers (Includes me)- The most distinctive characteristic of Bhutanese cuisine is its spiciness. Chillies are an essential part of nearly every dish and are considered so important that most Bhutanese people would not enjoy a meal that was not spicy and if you’re looking for an Indian mix Bhutanese restaurant I would suggest Sonam Trophel Restaurant in Paro. The food here is delicious and mouth-watering. All you food lovers must try this restaurant.
The most popular Bhutanese dish is Ema Datshi. This is the National Dish of Bhutan which is a spicy mix of chillies and the delicious local cheese known as Datshi. This dish is a staple of nearly every meal and can be found throughout the country. Variations on Ema Datshi include adding green beans, ferns, potatoes, mushrooms or swapping the regular cheese for yak cheese. The food here is spicy. The red rice we get here is similar to brown rice and is extremely nutritious and filling, another dish is Jasha Maru, it is Spicy minced chicken, tomatoes and other ingredients that are usually served with rice and also the momo’s here are simply amazing.
Now the most favourite part about Bhutan for the all food lovers (Includes me)- The most distinctive characteristic of Bhutanese cuisine is its spiciness. Chillies are an essential part of nearly every dish and are considered so important that most Bhutanese people would not enjoy a meal that was not spicy and if you’re looking for an Indian mix Bhutanese restaurant I would suggest Sonam Trophel Restaurant in Paro. The food here is delicious and mouth-watering. All you food lovers must try this restaurant.
The most popular Bhutanese dish is Ema Datshi. This is the National Dish of Bhutan which is a spicy mix of chillies and the delicious local cheese known as Datshi. This dish is a staple of nearly every meal and can be found throughout the country. Variations on Ema Datshi include adding green beans, ferns, potatoes, mushrooms or swapping the regular cheese for yak cheese. The food here is spicy. The red rice we get here is similar to brown rice and is extremely nutritious and filling, another dish is Jasha Maru, it is Spicy minced chicken, tomatoes and other ingredients that are usually served with rice and also the momo’s here are simply amazing.
Picture Credit- White Lotus (tours and treks)
I have such vivid memories of why I love Bhutan that definitely remind me why I love to be in the hills so much!
The reason you pay so much money to visit Bhutan isn’t for the world’s most delicious food or the best hotels of your life. It’s to explore a place unlike any other, from the architecture to the locals still sporting their tradition and to the many things that make the destination quite quirky. It’s a place where people love their king, where leaders go into battle with their troops when necessary and where the traditions of the good old days are still present, from the capital of Thimphu to even more so... I’ve been to many countries, and to me this was unlike any place I’ve been to before.
Seema S Jaising
Che Travels/ Chhe Experiences
India
Mob: +9198450 77065(Blr)
email - cheindia2000@gmail.com
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'The Answer to all your Hospitality Solutions'
"Your Future Exists First in your Imagination, Then in Will and Finally in Reality"
