Top six things to do when you visit Bhutan

Imagine a place where you could walk on streets free of honking, abuses, tobacco stains, a green paradise where everyone followed the rules and respected the value of a human dignity above everything else. Sounds too good to be true…Well it actually does exist and is called Bhutan.

This tiny little nation of just 800,000 people exists on the north east shoulder of India and to put it in the most simplest of words is a shining example of what India could be if we took pride in maintaining good civic sense. We visited this little country recently and were blown away by what we saw and would recommend you do the same. So here then are the top six things we recommend you try when you visit the Dragon Kingdom.

Zhongs
These are fortress’ located in various regions of Bhutan and usually contain ancient relics, scriptures and some very fabulous works of Buddhist themed art work. We were able to visit the Punhaka Zhong and examine its splendour. Since their inception, the Zhongs have been administrative centers and even today house a variety of government offices.

Tiger’s Nest
The Paro Taktsang or Tiger’s Nest as it more popularly known is a monastery located on the side of a mountain outside Paro. It is included in top 10 holiest sites of Buddhism and is worth a visit if you are up for the climb of a life time. It needs to be seen to be believed and is best summed up in the saying “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” 

Dochula Pass
Imagine a 10,000 foot high HD view of a valley and snowcapped mountains in the distance. Well that is what the Dochula Pass offers. Located on the road from Thimpu to Punhaka, it is highest point on the route and also has the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens. To soak in the view, you can relax at the local tea/coffee stalls while soaking in the surroundings.

Thimpu
The capital of Bhutan is a quaint little city nestled into the valleys. There is enough to see but no so much that it will overwhelm you. The mix of modernity and tradition has resulted in a quiet, well organised urban area that is best enjoyed on foot. Do visit the giant Buddha statue that overlooks the city.

Local cuisine
Here we would recommend you find one of the smaller hotels (like the one in our photo) to sample out the local cuisine where you should try out the Emadatshi (chillis and cheese) as well as the Kewadatshi (potato and cheese). One of the best meals I had was in Paro at a restaurant called Sonam Trophel which serves up a good mix of Indian and Bhutanese cuisine.

Take a moment and enjoy the surroundings
In our haste to get things off our task list, we tend to forget to just take a moment to enjoy the beautiful and sometimes stunning vistas that Bhutan has to offer. In any of the places you visit, if you get a view of the valley and blue sky take a few minutes, breathe in the cold mountain and absorb the sense of zen that is present all around.