Kingdom of Happiness

It was September 2012, this trip came up when I was in need of a break. There are stages when life changes drastically and most of the time for the best only.
Most apt place I could have gone, when I needed to re-energise myself to get back to life for new challenges. Its the gross national happiness instead of the gross domestic product that measures this serene himalayan beauty called Bhutan. Flying down through the valley of clouds into the runway between the lush green hills is altogether a different heaven on this earth.

The freshness and fragrance in the wind steals all the fatigue. Paro has the only active airport of Bhutan served by Bhutanese airways Druk. Airport made in traditional Bhutanese architecture with interiors of colorfully beautiful murals and frescos of buddhist and bhutanese culture.

Bhutan is a perfect example of how cultures and religions are developed. Its a complete blend of the tribal traditions with adaptation of buddhism. This is highly visible in the local daiety temples and monasteries around and the rituals followed.
My trip began with driving from Paro to Thimphu the political capital of the State. For Indians, we just need entry passes to the country and its various cities based on our Valid ID proofs. So here we begin our drive in the beautiful curves of Bhutanese hills.

Our Fabulously intelligent, educated and informative guide and friend Namgyal drove us through the scenic beauty of the kingdom. He stopped on the way to show mountain range across the river and i was usual up with my camera. almost 3-4 mins later we realised there was a car waiting behind for us to move. Surprisingly pleasant 'No Honking' attitude. wow!! this is the place of peace, happiness and just relax.

Driving amongst the shades of greens and blues through the Buddhist flags of peace, prosperity and happiness we reach Thimphu, the capital. all the places can be done on foot if you are a walker. take the camera out reach out to the roads, lanes and by-lanes the best way to absorb the culture the lifestyle.

Apple Orchards, School of 13 Arts, University, palace, the market. This small hill town has some good discotheques too. Restaurants and shops close max by 9, if they don't have visitors. You will find mostly ladies running the hotels and shops. Handicrafts Expo Centre is set-up at the centre of the city is a Indo-Bhutanese venture.

Bhutan is a place of forts, palaces, monasteries, rivers and mountains. The gorgeous and mighty green Himalayas. All praise to the citizens to maintain the nature. They have limited tourism and schools and colleges adopting hills around to grow trees and make them clean. They have restricted the external architecture of all public and private buildings in typically Bhutanese style. They want to preserve their culture their identity, yet want to be up with new technologies of the world.

So we began our journey with Simtokha Dzong(fort), the first in Bhutanese history to bring various tribes around to come up as one country. Simtokha Dzong is a small dzong, located about 3 miles south of the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who unified Bhutan, the dzong is the first of its kind built in Bhutan. An important historical monument and former Buddhist monastery, today it houses one of the premier Dzongkha language learning institutes.

A beautiful blend of ancient daieties and buddhism is Changangkha Lhakhang. Built in 12th century, Changangkha Lhakhang is one of the oldest temple in Thimphu. Hovering over a ridge above Thimphu, near Motithang, the Lhakhang houses Chenrizig: an 11-headed, thousand-armed manifestation of Avolokitesawara as the central statue.  Lama Phajo Drukgom Zhigpo who came to Bhutan from Ralung in Tibet chose this site to build this lhakhang.
The prayer books in this Lhakhang are larger than the usual Buddhist texts. There are large prayer inside the Lhakhang and small on the walls outside the lhakhang.

Punakha a warmer place down the valley is the home to the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. Built between two rivers the Pho Chu and Mo Chu(chu means river in bhutanese) on a beautiful island with all rice fields around, is the place of education, legal and adminstrative offices. We can reach the town via Dochu la (pass).

 Not to missed its a terrace among clouds with 108 chortens made in the centre of the roads. it gives whole view to the valley across. Punakha dzong is a perfect architechtural example of political and administrative strategies.

Haa Valley, which was till more recently 2002 was not open to public is a ghost town with its own mystic  and beautiful surroundings. Untouched nature with a beautiful Dzong (now under Army), a beautiful golf course spead across the river next to the dzong is so very picturesque. This very sleepy town, you will barely see people on road, but when u meet few they are most smiling, welcoming and friendly.laughing and giggling children are music to this silent valley.

From Haa we headed back to Paro the last foot of our trip in this beautiful kingdom.  To reach Paro we cross the highest pass in Bhutan - Chele la. A must halt place, where you can just stop and walk around quietly and absorb the nature, the winds, the fragrance, the himalayan ranges around, the clouds.






Paro the base to the famous Tiger's Nest or taktshang Lhakhang. I couldn't afford to miss the trek.

My first ever hike that I did alone! not that am an expert Trekker. And I was not exactly alone lot other people giving me company, many tourist, students, travellers, hikers. So i chose the best ones the volunteers from the school, a group of local students. Thanks to the aboslutely wonderful company I could do this hike up and all the stairs and saw the mystic and beautiful monastry.

The place, the people, the air, the hikes have their own ambience of happiness which is just so magical, that makes you forget all the troubles, deadlines, tensions, traffic, phone calls and all the possible nuisance that we humans have invented.