Our driver looks for RST officer in every possible places of the RST office building but fails miserably. Seeing unhappiness in our faces he says, “Sir ji, I can take you upto Dochula Pass but beyond that it is not possible to move without a permit”. He further proposes to take us to Chelela Pass which is about 35KM away from Paro Valley to compensate our miss of the Phunaka tour. We agree to his proposals and set out journey for Dochula Pass.
It is now only 2 km left to Dochula Pass. We see some vehicles are standing ahead in queue.
“What happened ahead?”, asks our driver to a by passer.
“Road widening work is in progress”, he replies.
We come out from the car and see that a small notice board is placed on the middle of the road to inform the schedule of road closing hours and according to it we need to spend an hour here. We start strolling nearby places. Suddenly sun goes out and weather turns cloudy. A few snow starts showering on us and we astonish by such a gift of God.
We start again after an hour and reach Dochula Pass within 10-15 minutes. It is approximately 30KM away from Thimphu city and is popular for offering a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range on a clear day. But a scattered little snow shower continues hereto and the most magnificent views of white Himalayan mountains remain invisible to us. The eye catching views of 108 Chortens (Stupas) are simply watch worthy. These chortens were built in as a memorial by Queen Mother to honor the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed when fighting the Indian rebels (Assamese Separatist) in 2003 war of southern Bhutan.
108 Chortens at Dochula Pass
We take up our journey for Paro Valley leaving behind the beautiful Dochula Pass. The road after Chuzom, where the rivers Paro Chhu and Wang Chhu meet, passes through the Rocky Mountains and moves along the side of river Paro. We get a pleasant ride on the highway and arrive at Paro passing through a spectacular mountain scenery en-route.
Mountain scenery en-route to Paro
Beautiful river Paro ahead of Paro town
As our car takes the turn to enter into Paro town we see a plane making its descent for landing on the runways of Paro Airport, the only airport in Bhutan standing just ahead of Paro town, a beautiful building with a green helmet.
Paro Airport
Our hotel locates on the edge of a hill above the valley. I enter into my room and notice the big windows. I open them and capture the magnificent views of Paro valley lying on the laps of surrounding Himalayan Mountains.
View of Paro Valley from our Hotel
Reshmi, the hotel girl, knocks at my door and I turn towards her. She briefs me about the facilities in the hotel and I express to have understood the same. She returns back and I take a nice hot bath, change my dress and after a few minutes enter into the dining hall where Prakash is suggesting to visit Paro Dzong on this afternoon. Everyone is consenting to him and I raise my hand too.
Paro Dzong
Paro Dzong, also known as Rinpung Dzong, is the administrative seat of the district of Paro. We climb up the steep front stairs to reach at the top of the Dzong and look at the scenic beauty surrounding the monastery. We start capturing the memories in our camera. Slowly evening steps in and we walk down the road to Paro town.
View of Paro Valley from Paro Dzong
Another View of Paro Valley
Paro is small but one of the most beautiful town in Bhutan. We witness a stunning Himalayan views from here and a picturesque valley view from the uphill. We move around the stores in Paro town which offer us a good shopping for jewellery (made of precious stones), textile (mostly imported from Nepal and Bangladesh) and local handicrafts.
Paro Town
An evening in Paro Town
Tomorrow we will go to behold a paradise, the Takstang Monastery, another wonder of this world, for which human imagination remains mystified with the thought how it could have been built at that cliff.
Thanks Anupam da for my photogaphs on our journey .Dochula Pass and Paro Valley is a nice, beautiful place and enverment Area I like it…………..!!!
Thanks. Hope to get you on the board again on this summer.
Anupam Da
beautiful post. photographs are superb.thanks for detailing about hotel room rent etc.
Hello Ashok
Thanks. Yes Paro Valley is indeed beautiful as they are in the above photos.
Anupam
Well done Anupam for sharing our happiest moment of journey of Bhutan trip. Kamal Krishna Das
Thank you and seriously hope to see you rushing into mud, and then I click. Ha Ha Ha
Anupam
Anupam ji
Thanks for nice post on Bhutan.All the photographs come so beautiful.What is the procedure to go Bhutan for individual.
Om Prakash Ji
Thanks for your appreciation and liking the post.
You may arrive at Bhutan flying from Kolkata to Paro otherwise the route I took.
You require either: (a) Passport having validity of minimum 6 months or (b) Voter Identity Card for Entry Permit. No other documents. In absence of the above you may apply for Identification slip at Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing
Working days (Monday to Friday); Lunch hour 12.30pm to 1.30pm BST, Bhutan time is 30 minutes ahead of India.
Hope I have answered your query.
Thanks
Anupam
Paro Valley took my breath away…….scattered dreams are now clouding together…….the trip….. it will happen…. it has to.
Dear Jaishree
Hold your breath, pull up your socks and get on with your dream ……………..to witness all those. I wholeheartedly wish for your trip to Bhutan.
Thanks
Anupam
Bhai
Why you haven’t inform me before your journey? I could have join you on that tour.
However, its a very very beautiful place you have traveled and I think your experience in travelling got better and better. Continue such type of program in the year ahead.
Thanks for sending the message.
Thank you very much.
very well written and equally supported by awesome pics.
Thanks for your appreciation.
And again you made it look so simple and in turn encouraging a whole new set of Ghumakkars to plan a journey. I believe if one has to go from Delhi, then flying-in would be better.
What is the local currency and what is the conversion ? Also, how are the prices overall.
Looking forward to Takstang Monastery.
Hi Nandan,
Wow! Thats great. My best wishes to all Ghumakkars.
1. Bhutan Currency is NGULTRUM. (I cant pronounce it. So for me it was simply How much?)
2. In exchange with Indian currency you will Bhutanese currency of same value.
3. Conversation – Hindi is fluently spoken with Indians. Apart from Bhutanese, Nepalese is also widely spoken.
4. Flying option is always better.
5. Prices are not too high so far as Hotel tariff and food is concerned. Shopping would be a costly affair.
Yes, I will say Takstang Monastery is surely a wonder of this world.
Thanks
Anupam
Great Anupam!
Good descriptions Excellent Photographs.
Keep it up.
Regards
Great going…. Anupam..
some mind blowing fotos :)
Amazing pics again, looks like Bhutanese drive Suzuki well. Sorry to know that you missed Phunaka tour.
Hi Anupam,
Bhutan is becoming prettier every mile. I want some happiness and Bhutan seems to be the appropriate destination.
Yes indeed. Their concept is the Gross National Happiness. Thanks for reading and your comment on it.
Beautiful photos were posted in this post. Loved the place and eager to go and have some fun over there.
Thanks Phub Dorji :-)
Photos made it a perfect article !!