Bhutan - Land of Tiger Nest Monastery

We got picked up by our friend and driver Sonam Sangpo at the NJP station. We did not wait there and started our trip as soon as we landed. Had breakfast on the way and got our vehicle (Scorpio) fueled.

Phuentsholing is the border town and the only entry to Bhutan through road. We had to do two things in Phuentsholing - Get our individual permits for Thimpu & Paro and get the vehicle permit. We managed with the first one and since all govt. offices close down by 3:30 local time, we could not get a vehicle permit. We did not wanted to reach Thimpu that day itself but had to stay in Phuentsholing. However it was good experience as Phuentsholing is a beautiful city and the moment one crosses into Bhutan from Jaigaon, everything around you chances. Be ready to be mesmerized with clean roads, less vehicle & people, standardised shops buildings & boards, zero smoking activity & Bhutanese people & officials in their majestic traditional attire. Hills starts from no where once you cross the open border gate between Jaigaon & Phuentsholing.

We left early the next day for Thimpu. The roads are a combination of good & medium quality. There was beautiful scenaries that will force you to stop the vehicle and feel the surrounding. We reached in 7 hours and was greeted by heavy downpour. The entry to Thimpu is that of mixed feelings. It is too beautiful as a city but too small to be the capital of a country. Roads are good and traffic rules are followed very seriously. The dress & vehicles of the police has a touch of sophistication and has more semblance to that of global cities than with India.

We wanted to visit a place other than just Thimpu & Paro. Time was a constraint so we choose Haa Valley. It is a beautiful, small, sleepy hamlet valley just 15 kms from Tibet border. It has a seperate road to Paro through Chelela pass which we heard was a place worth crossing. Haa Valley has just 2 hotel & 1 resort. It mostly attracts foreign tourists and very few Indian tourists. it is a place that would give you simple yet memorable evening where you can talk a long walk with your loved ones. It has a small stream flowing, tiny shops providing sumptuous non veg snacks(chicken, beef & pork) & liquor (both local & foreign).

This is the pass that seperates Haa valley from Paro valley. From the top of the pass, one can see Haa on one side and Paro on the other side. It is one of those feelings that make your trip seems like a successfull venture. There was snow all the way and close to no traffic. It is place you would like to spend some moments alone in silence with your close friends or special ones. Yaks would give your company intermittently.

Paro is more popular among tourists than even Thimpu. We felt there were more people in Paro then even Phuentsholing which is a border town. It has the only airport from which you can enter Bhutan by air. Lot of hotels and eating places. We were all excited to Paro as the high point of our trip (Tiger Nest Monastery) started from there.

Tiger Nest Monastery or the Taktsang Monastery as it is locally called was the main destination of our whole trip. A successful rendezvous of the world renowned monastery among the misty mountains would have kind off decided the success or failure of our whole journey. Bhutan did not disappoint us. We started early to reach the point from Paro where we had to leave our car and start a 2 hour journey on foot. From there, started our trek through some amazing views of the surrounding low lying areas, lovely wood, lots of travelers. We could see the monastery multiple times from below while we were climbing up- clinged to the mountain, between the mists, high up as if it was some mysterious destination we have been travelling to reach for ever.