The most dangerous airport in the world!

This is Paro international airport, the gateway to Bhutan (unless you choose to drive up from India).

Hold on, it is not really as scary as it sounds.

Yes, the airport is located in a scenic valley surrounded by mountains as tall as 18,000 feet (5,486 m).  The approach is a meandering route between cliffs, and the runway is not visible until right at the end. BUT, only very experienced pilots are allowed to fly here, and that too under good atmospheric conditions.

So, we relaxed and enjoyed the flight, and lots of wonderful things awaited us when we arrived.

Our guide greeted us in the traditional way – a white scarf draped over the shoulder. We started off with a fairly short drive to Thimphu – the capital city – lively with markets and an interesting mix of cultures.

We based ourselves in a lovely hotel in Thimphu with views of the mountains from our balcony.

Here are some of the interesting places we visited:

‘SIMPLY BHUTAN’

‘Simply Bhutan’ is a one-stop place (a heritage museum) which introduces you to the Bhutanese way of life, and its culture, history and rituals, in an interactive way.

It was not in our original itinerary, but our guide recommended it, saying that it would give us an overview of everything in Bhutan.  He was right!

We really enjoyed the exhibits and live programs such as dance demonstrations, tasting of Bhutanese special rice wine, butter tea and some sample snacks too! There were mask dances and the significance of various masks were explained.

The kitchen section shows all the standard equipments used in Bhutanese kitchens. There is a section on archery and any visitor can participate to test his/her skills.

It was a fun place to learn a bit about the Bhutanese way of living.

BUDDHA DORDENMA

Buddha Point, also known as Kuensel Phodrang, is a popular tourist destination in Thimphu, Bhutan, known for the magnificent Buddha Dordenma Statue.

The giant 51 meter tall steel statue of Buddha is perched on a hill and can be seen from miles away. Buddha Dordenma is a massive three storey base with a large chapel full of thousands of smaller Buddha statuettes, many donated by devotees. Altogether, there are 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha inside.

The architecture and displays here are impressive. The chapel roof has some beautiful gold-colored mandalas. The Buddha is illuminated at night. The best part is the panoramic view of mountains and trees all around this place.

The Background

The primary purpose behind the establishment of Buddha Point was to create a sacred space dedicated to promoting peace, happiness and well-being, both for the Bhutanese people and for visitors from around the world.

The Buddha Dordenma statue was originally made in China, dismantled into smaller bits and shipped in here from Phuentsholing. It was constructed through the collaborative efforts of various skilled artisans and organizations. The project was started and overseen by the Bhutanese government. Several engineers, artists and organizations contributed their expertise to the actual construction.

The statue was commissioned by the fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, with the initial concept being proposed in the 1990s.

How do you get to the Buddha Dordenma

Most people and travel groups hire taxis or cars to get up to the Buddha Dordenma location.

But for those who enjoy walking and climbing, it is possible to walk to the Buddha point through an uphill, and challenging, trek. The awesome views and serene atmosphere make it a pleasurable experience for the trekker.

In addition, for mountain bikers, the road to the Buddha Point has a 3.5 km mountain bike trail.

DOCHULA PASS – Beauty & Serenity

Dochula Pass is truly one of the most scenic and spiritually uplifting places in Bhutan. Whether you’re a nature lover, history enthusiast, or spiritual seeker, Dochula Pass will give you a great experience!

Located 3,140 m (10,310 ft) above sea level, this is an absolutely “must” stop on the route from Thimphu to Punakha.  Here you will be treated to unforgettable panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges – on clear days.  You will also experience a calm ambience that is hard to come by.

The highlight here is the cluster of 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens (stupas), built in 2004 in honor of Bhutanese soldiers who sacrificed their lives in a battle against Assamese insurgents and as a symbol of peace. The Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, commissioned the shrine in 2003 after King Jigme Singye Wangchuck overcame the insurgents.

The white stupas, set against the backdrop of pine trees and snow-capped mountains, create an atmosphere of serenity and peace.

Even if the weather is misty (which actually adds a kind of charm), walking around the stupas feels soothing and pleasurable. The site is well maintained, and you can easily spend an hour here soaking in the views, taking photos, and reflecting in peace.

It is also worth climbing the hill behind the stupas where eleven meditation caves have been built, each dedicated to a deity.
There is also a small temple at the top of the hill and a café where you can enjoy hot tea and snacks before continuing your journey.

We were lucky to get an absolutely clear day and enjoy the lovely views of mountains beyond. We stayed for quite a while walking, admiring the 108 chortens, taking photographs and wrapping up our visit with some tea at the café.

Tip: Try to visit early in the morning on a clear day for the best chance to see the majestic Himalayan peaks. Carry a light jacket as it can get a bit cold. Going early helps with avoiding tour groups that arrive in big buses.

2 Good Hikes from DOCHULA PASS

–         A moderate hike from Dochula Pass down the hill through beautiful forests to the Lamperi Botanical Gardens.

–         A strenuous hike from here would be to hike up to the Lungchutse Temple through thick woodlands. There are rich bamboo underbrush and dense juniper shrubs at the foot of the temple with the backdrop of the mountains.

You can view one of Bhutan’s highest peaks, Gangkhar Puensum, and the world’s highest unclimbed mountain, from here. A nearby monastery, Druk Wangyal Llakhang, is also worth visiting.

CHELE LA MOUNTAIN PASS

Located at an altitude of about 3,988 m (13,083 ft) between Haa and Paro valleys is Chele La Mountain Pass. It is the highest motorable mountain pass in Bhutan.

At a comfortable 35 kms from Paro, it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours of driving through winding mountain roads. The last few kilometers can be rough road surface.

Once you reach there, there is a short trek to the highest point. There are panoramic views of the Himalayan range especially Mount Jomolhari and other valleys. This is a must-see destination in Bhutan.

The best time to visit would be around April to June when pretty rhododendrons bloom on the hills. October to March provides a different view with snow on the mountains.

In all seasons, it is advisable to wear adequate warm clothes as it is windy and quite cold at the pass.

We got fantastic views of snow clad peaks and distant winding roads from the top at Chelela pass. We walked around up and down taking pictures and feasting on the scenery.

There are a few challenging treks starting from here.

–         A 60 minute hike down from the Chelela pass to Kila Gompa Nunnery is a moderate hike. This route has some options to photograph birds and awesome views.

–         There is a challenging 8 hour hike from Haa Valley to Chele la pass (27 kms but a lot of climbing). This one takes you through rhododendrons and meadows, forests of juniper and hemlock, yak herders and grazing lands. You will also cross two high passes of Ningula and Kungkarpo.

–         This trek can be done in one day, however, you can also choose to spread it over two days, if you prefer taking it easy.

–         There is a Chelela ridge hike – which is a tough one that takes a full 24 hours.

For city dwellers like us, Bhutan offers beautiful sights that we rarely get to see, such as the ones we have described above.

After enjoying these sights and views, we set off to explore the north-eastern mountains and valleys of Bumthang and Trongso.

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