Pic of the day: the top of Dochula Pass, Bhutan
Is this the most beautiful monastery in the world?
The beautiful Taktsang Palphug Monastery, more commonly known as the Paro Taktsang or Tiger’s Nest, clings to the side of a sheer granite cliff approximately 3000m above sea level. It is where the second buddha meditated and is one of Bhutan’s holiest sites, an important pilgrimage destination for all Bhutanese at…
A face only a mother, and an entire nation, could love
Legend has it that the Takin, Buthan’s official animal, was created by a famous holy man, Lam Drukpa Kunley, more commonly known as the Divine Madman, from a combination of the head of a goat and the body of a cow. Looking at one lying in the sunshine at the…
Into the valley of beauty and contentment
For such a large, potentially menacing building, the Punakha Dzong sits remarkably lightly on the beautiful landscape. Positioned at the junction of the valley’s two rivers it combines huge strategic, architectural and religious importance. Visiting was a perfect finale to our visit to the Punakha Valley. But that’s getting ahead of things. Getting to the valley was an adventure in itself.
Nothing adequately prepares you for the view from Dochula Pass, the crest
of the fiercely steep and sharply curvaceous road between Bhutan’s capital Thimphu and the Punakha Valley. As soon as you crest the peak everywhere seems dwarfed by the massive sweeping panorama of the Bhutan Himalayas, white tipped against an impossibly blue sky and
Punakha Valley, Bhutan
Leaving the hustle and bustle behind while exploring the capital of Bhutan
After the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, Thimphu, the capital of 
Bhutan, is a shock to the system. In a good way. A very good way. Despite undergoing an obvious growth spurt that has resulted in new hotels and restaurants, it remains serene and magical.
True, it is winter, the quietest time for tourists. This makes getting around the sights, bliss. But you get the impression even at the height of the season it’s pretty orderly. There are no traffic lights, just one balletic policeman on point duty. Drivers are courteous if occasionally haphazard. The locals, most dressed in the traditional gho (for men) and kira for women, are reserved but quick to respond to a greeting or smile.
Wintry wind sets prayer flags dancing on covered bridge Thimphu, Bhutan
