The nation of Bhutan is an alluring destination for many travelers. A place that is certain to be on any wanderlusters’ bucket list. Getting into Bhutan does require a fair amount of pre-planning. Check out our post about getting to Bhutan HERE for more information to help plan your trip. Based on our budget and time we decided to spend 5 days (4 nights) in Bhutan. In this post, we’ll provide an overview of our visit and touch on some of the highlights of our stay.
Day 1: Arrival in Paro
Arrival in Paro, Bhutan is an unforgettable experience. The Paro Valley is lushly green, fed by a clean glacial river and surrounded by pine-covered mountains reaching to the clouds. As we exited the plane, we were greeted by a sunny blue sky dotted with white puffy clouds. The air was crisp, cold and the some of the freshest we had breathed in a couple weeks. Paro is a sharp contrast to that of Kathmandu! We had landed in (a self-dubbed) heaven.
The airport was an architectural beauty and our first taste of Bhutanese building style. Colorful and bright with wooden support beams protruding from the roof line. The terminal was pristine, and as we walked in from the runway, we were surprised by how quiet and empty it was. The arrivals from our plane were the only people in the airport. It was very different than the standard chaotic and bustling airports that we are so used to.
Outside the airport, we were greeted by our guide, Jemme, and driver, Mr. Ungen. Jemme warmly welcomed us to his home and gifted us with a white silk scarf. It felt much like the equivalent of getting lei’d when arriving in Hawaii. With our introductions out of the way, we set off to begin some sightseeing.
From the airport, we drove along the Paro Chu (river in Bhutanese) and made our way to the National Museum of Bhutan. Perched high on a hillside the museum is within the ancient Ta-dzong building. Quite prominent – the structure is cylindrical in shape, constructed of stone and ornamented with traditional design elements. The museum served as a perfect introduction to the country. Inside, we examined the collection of bronze statues, colorful paintings and intricate wood carved festival masks. In addition to artwork, there is also a portion of the museum dedicated to the natural history of Bhutan showcasing the diverse flora and fauna of the country.
We finished our tour of the museum just in time to watch the sunset over the Paro valley. From our vantage point, we could see nearly all the of Paro. Although it is home to the country’s only international airport, it is a rather small agricultural city. Directly below us was the Rinpung Dzong (fortress) seated right on the river. Beyond that, scattered sporadically throughout the valley, were numerous traditional Bhutanese homes and rice paddy fields. After sunset, we drove back down into the valley and stopped briefly to appreciate the now well lit Rinpung Dzong.
Day 2: Paro – Tiger’s Nest and the Valley
The next day we set out early on a challenging hike to Paro Taktsang (the Tiger’s Nest), a monastery and collection of Buddhist temples. The Tiger’s Nest clings to the side of a mountain at an elevation of 10,240 ft (thin oxygen). The hike is roughly 3.5 miles straight up for an approximate elevation gain of 3,500 ft! It took us two hours of persistence and patience to reach the temple. The hike isn’t an easy one, but nothing rewarding ever is. At the Tiger’s nest, we paid our respects to Buddha and meditated in the sacred space. Per Bhutanese legend, this is the very place where Guru Rinpoche meditated and became enlightened.
Returning from our pilgrimage, we sat down to a well-earned lunch. Afterward, we spent the rest of the day visiting several other temples within the Paro Valley; continuing our education of the rich Bhutanese history.
To round out the day, just before sunset, we partook in a favorite Bhutanese past time – Archery! Using traditional longbows and wooden arrows we received a first-hand lesson on the proper techniques for handling the bow. Jessica managed to get a bull’s after only a few practice shots!
For dinner, we were invited to a local farmhouse where the family prepared a typical Bhutanese meal for us. The meal consisted of red rice, peppers and cheese, cabbage, potatoes, and beef. We sat on pillows on the floor and ate from wooden bowls. The home was large, and from talking to the matriarch of the family, we learned it is customary in Bhutan for up to three generations to live in a single home together. The family is the cornerstone of life in Bhutan.
Day 3: From Paro to Punakha
Leaving Paro, we headed east crossing through Thimphu and into Punakha, land of the Divine Madman. On the way, we crossed over the Dochula Pass in the Himalayas at 10,170 ft. There 108 memorial stupas of Dochula pass, built to honor fallen Bhutanese soldiers.
In Punakha, we visited the Dzong. This Dzong, one of the most famous, is breathtaking and situated at the confluence of two rivers. It serves as the winter home for hundreds of Buddhist monks. Within the Dzong is the most magnificent temples we have seen. Housing a 3-story golden seated Buddha the temple includes gold clad pillars, vivid and colorful artwork covering walls to the ceiling and many beautiful hanging Tibetan windsocks. From the Dzong, we visited another Bhutanese landmark, the longest suspension bridge in the country at approximately 500 meters crossing the Po Chu. We bravely crossed the swaying and bouncing bridge stopping to take in the view from the middle and watch the sun drop behind the mountains.
Day 4: Punakha’s Divine Madman and on to Thimphu
We woke early in Punakha and headed straight to the temple for Drukpa Kunley (the Divine Madman); a famous destination in Bhutan. The legend of the Divine Madman is a very colorful one and his symbol, a flaming-flying phallus, is painted on all the buildings in the nearby village. Visiting his temple and receiving a blessing from the monks residing there is said to promote fertility. We both received our blessings, made our way down the mountain and on to Thimphu.
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and home to the royal family. There we visited the capital Dzong and were in awe of the temple inside. From the Dzong, we drove up a nearby mountain road overlooking Thimphu valley and checked out a small animal preserve containing a herd of Takin, the National animal of Bhutan, said to have the body of an ox and the head of a goat.
Our final stop of the day was further yet up the mountain. At the top sits a massive golden Buddha looking down on Thimphu, the largest seated Buddha in the world. It was extraordinary to see and so too was the activity going on within the temple grounds. Hundreds of people were there to receive the teachings from a great Buddhist master who was residing there. We felt fortunate to witness such a gathering.
Day 5: Thimphu to Paro and Departure
Waking up in Thimphu we went to visit a sizeable white stupa near our hotel. It was busy with many elderly locals praying and working on building up their ‘last minute’ merits as our guide coyly put it.
Before leaving Thimphu, we paid a visit to the post office. I know this may sound like an unusual place to visit, but there is something special about this post office. There we had our pictures taken and made into customized stamps of Bhutan. With our newly minted stamps, we sent several postcards home to our family and friends. This is a really unique thing to do if you are in Bhutan and I strongly recommend taking the time to do so.
With our letters home sent out, we settled in for the three-hour drive back to Paro. The Paro Dzong was our final stop before heading to the airport. This Dzong was not as grandiose or extraordinary as the others we had visited. But, what made it special for us was that we had it to ourselves while we were there. In the quiet space of the temple our guide, Jemme, led us in meditation. It gave us both a moment to pause and reflect on all the wonders we saw and experienced while in Bhutan. It was an appropriate way to end the spiritually enriching trip we had gone on.
At the airport, we said our goodbyes to Jemme, Mr. Ungen, and Bhutan. We may be leaving Bhutan, but Bhutan will never leave us.
