01st June 2018 / 5 days 4 nights trip to Bhutan from 1st June’18 to 5th Jun’18. I visited Paro, Thimphu, Punakaha & Tiger Nest.
Paro Airport
Arrive Paro by Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines, the only national carrier. The flight offers you a view of mountains and landscapes.
My Walking Story :
Today I am going to tell you about my Bhutan trip on day one and it was an unplanned trip you can say, though it was on my bucket list of travel. One day my Indian friend who stay in Bangkok only came to my home and ask me to go for a Bhutan trip. He suddenly plans to go next month on the 1st day and this current was about to be over, plus holidays were about to start, so let’s utilize this vacation at Bhutan.
I agreed with him as till that time we will get our visa also for Bhutan, at a time while sitting at my home he booked the tickets and all. The Bhutan trip was an unexpected one for me and I have heard a lot of good stuff related to Bhutan plus my travel partner was staying over there. So, I contacted him, and ask me for help in arranging everything related to the Bhutan trip, so he at once booked a hotel, car, also plan the trip for us related to the place for a visit. It was a morning flight from Bangkok to Paro airport, and the flight was of three to four hours for Bhutan.
For Indians, it’s visa on arrival, and one interesting thing about Bhutan was the flight passes by from the mountain while landing on its track path which was risky stuff. Travelers use to capture this scene and make videos also. While we arrive at Paro by Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines, the only national carrier. The flight offers you a view of mountains and landscapes which was lovely to see.
We reach the airport around 10 am in morning and our guide was present there for us. It was a huge car and we were four people me along with my friend and his family (wife and son). After completing all the formalities related to immigration and visa, we sat into our van and left Paro to reach Thimphu.
Our hotel was in Thimphu and on our way, there were many scenic view places we came through and the driver uses to stop the van wherever it feels like clicking pictures. Bhutan is most famous for tourists for its zero pollution as in Bhutan smoking is not allowed at the roadside. The place was full of beautiful views along with a cool temperature. We went in the month of June; it was summer, but Bhutan weather was cool and loveable. I have captured many images since from landing till we reach our hotel, one can check on my blog page.
This includes images of the valley, with my friend and his family, views, etc. it was almost 12 of the afternoon and lunchtime so our guide stops at a place name Chha Bistro & Bar, over there Chha is a very popular restaurant for local and tourist. Located just out of town, the restaurant offers nice indoor as well as outdoor seating options. The restaurant offers multi-cuisine and caters to a wide range of tastes. We had a lot of food on our table as along with breakfast lunch was also included in it and I love the food.
From Paro Airport to Thimphu Sightseeing
Drive to Thimphu, the small and charming capital city of Bhutan. The journey would take us one hour. Distance: 54 km & estimated driving time: 1 hour.
On the way, visit Tachog Lhakhang (temple) , this 14th-century temple located on the base of a mountain across the Pa chu on the Paro-Thimphu highway, is a must visit the temple in the Paro valley. Built by the great master architect Thangtong Gyalpo, the temple houses some unique statues. To get to the temple one may actually walk over the iron chains that span over the Paro Chu (River).
After crossing Chunzom which is a confluence of the Paro and Thimphu rivers, the drive will take you along the Wangchu ( Thimphu River) to Thimphu valley.
Further, from there our guide takes us to the paper factory name Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, they show us the whole process of making paper, I would like to describe more about this factory. Traditional Handmade Paper Factory: It is located approximately 1 km from Thimphu City. The factory uses the bark of two tree species, the Daphne tree and the Dhekap tree in the manufacture of traditional paper.
Visitors can observe the entire process of producing handmade paper using ancient traditional methods that have been practiced for generations. You can even try your hand at this ancient craft and make some paper of your very own as a souvenir. Deh-sho paper was originally used by monasteries for woodblock and manuscript books and for writing prayer books. The Jungshi paper factory continues to preserve and promote this age-old Bhutanese tradition. It also produces various other products, such as stationery and greeting cards. It was interesting and adding knowledge related to making paper.
We were out of our home from the morning at 3 am and now it’s 4 pm in the evening we were traveling, so finally we check-in to our hotel name Hotel Bhutan. well, Hotel Bhutan is a 3-star hotel designed to create an ambiance that is warm, inviting yet modern. Perfectly located near the city, most attractions are within walking distance. We have 24 beautifully appointed, sophisticated, and comfortable interior rooms with modern furnishing to provide you with a great stay experience in Thimphu.
Hotel Bhutan also offers fine dining, a bar, Wi-Fi broadband Internet access, room service, daily housekeeping, currency exchange, 24-hour front desk, and laundry services. Our staff is courteous and attentive and ready to ensure your utmost comfort and happiness when you choose to visit Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. I like the hotel and had a click picture of it, our guide tells us to take a rest for a couple of hours, then we will visit one more place in the evening.
After done with the rest, we all got ready to visit our next place name Kuenselphodrang which is the nature park where Buddha Dordenma is placed atop a hill plus it oversees the southern entrance to Thimphu valley. here one can witness a gigantic 169 feet tall statue of Buddha Dordenma and the statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold. It was amazing to view one can have, I like it and the surrounding was peaceful. The weather was getting a little cooler, but it was loveable and our guide plus driver were good enough to guide us and even they can speak a little bit of Hindi language also. I like the conversation with them.
On the way from Paro Airport to Thimphu
The view was loveable that one cannot stop themselves to capture it into an image. A beautiful place surrounded by greenery and mountains. Further, we went to Thimphu TrashiChho Dzong, which is a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu in Bhutan, on the western bank of the Wang Chu. It has traditionally been the seat of the Druk Desi (or “Dharma Raja”), the head of Bhutan’s civil government, an office that has been combined with the kingship since the creation of the monarchy in 1907, and the summer capital of the country. Presently the seat of the present king of Bhutan. I like this one as well, over here everything was so good including attractive architecture, nice weather, culture, flowers, etc.
Finally, at around 7 pm they drop us at our hotel and went away for the next day, there was a local market near to our hotel side so we plan to self-explore the market as a guide will be there by tomorrow. We cover it by walking, and it was a perfect place with no more crowd, while we found one restaurant in that way, so went inside it and had a beer together along with my friend. We wanted to see their hospitality, there were small rooms along with a small table which was nice. I like that as well. While they use to serve boiled channa (grain) along with beer one can see the photo of it. After completing we went to our hotel to have our dinner, as it was included in our hotel charges only. we all were got physically tired by exploring all the places, but we can’t get enough of their beautiful place. This was my first-day trip over here. Thank you!
Lunch at Chha Bistro & Bar
Chha is a very popular restaurant for locals and tourists. Located just out of town, the restaurant offers nice indoor as well as outdoor seating options. The restaurant offers multi-cuisine and caters to a wide range of tastes.
Opening Hours: 10:00 to 23:00
Address: Changzamtok Thimphu
Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory
Traditional Handmade Paper Factory:It is located approximately 1 km from Thimphu City. The factory uses the bark of two tree species, the Daphne tree and the Dhekap tree in the manufacture of traditional paper. Visitors can observe the entire process of producing handmade paper using ancient traditional methods that have been practiced for generations. You can even try your hand at this ancient craft and make some paper of your very own as a souvenir. Deh-sho paper was originally used by monasteries for woodblock and manuscript books and also for writing prayer books. The Jungshi paper factory continues to preserve and promote this age-old Bhutanese tradition. It also produces various other products, such as stationery and greeting cards.
Hotel Bhutan
Chubachu, Thimphu, Bhutan
Hotel Bhutan is a 3-star hotel designed to create an ambiance that is warm, inviting yet modern. Perfectly located near the city, most attractions are within walking distance. We have 24 beautifully appointed, sophisticated, and comfortable interior rooms with modern furnishing to provide you with a great stay experience in Thimphu. Hotel Bhutan also offers fine dining, a bar, Wi-Fi broadband Internet access, room service, daily housekeeping, currency exchange, 24-hour front desk, and laundry services. Our staff is courteous and attentive and ready to ensure your utmost comfort and happiness when you choose to visit Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
After checking into Hotel Visit
Kuenselphodrang
Where you can witness a gigantic 169 feet tall statue of Buddha Dordema overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
Thimphu TrashiChho Dzong
is a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu in Bhutan, on the western bank of the Wang Chu. It has traditionally been the seat of the Druk Desi (or “Dharma Raja”), the head of Bhutan’s civil government, an office that has been combined with the kingship since the creation of the monarchy in 1907, and the summer capital of the country. Presently the seat of the present king of Bhutan.
Overnight stay in a hotel.
Walking in Night Market & Dinner
Now our day comes to the end at it was night time so why not exploring the night market. So we went to see the night life and having some good time and food with local beer there. The day one was little tiring but full of good experience in Thimpu Bhutan. My picture gallery shows all good photographs taken in day one.
