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| Rinpung Dzong, Paro |
After a deep sleep caused by being extremely tired the previous day, we woke up refreshed and surprisingly there was no hint of muscle pain anywhere. Normally, after a strenuous trek, we have always experienced cramps & pain for 3-4 days while the muscles repair themselves. Seems that the hot stone water bath really worked wonders without the need for any massages. It was really worth the price paid both in terms of the experience during the bath and the next day.
The penultimate day of our stay in
Bhutan was relaxed. After a lazy late breakfast, we checked out of our hotel
and left the luggage in the cloak room. We then went to visit the Rinpung Dzong.
This is a large Buddhist Monastery as well as Fortress located in Paro. The
museum we visited couple of days ago, was originally the watch tower to guard
this fortress, situated a couple of hundred meters above. Rinpung Dzong houses
the local monastic body as well as the government administrative offices.
Inside the Dzong are 14 shrines – not all
can be visited by tourists. We did visit a few and also saw children learning
the scriptures very much like the Ved Patasalas of India. After learning the
scriptures, most of them become monks while some decide to get married and
settle down as householders. The practices are similar to those found in
Sanatana Dharma. Some of the children looked at us curiously as we walked
around while some others were engrossed in their studies and didn’t get
distracted. There were very few visitors at this time of the day.
We were astounded at the beauty of the
monastery. To think that this imposing structure were built a few centuries ago
and have survived the different kinds of natural disasters, which the Himalayan
regions are prone to, is really admirable. The main building in which we did
not see any pillars or beams is a stone structure and must be nearly 100 feet
high and about 50 feet wide. Some of the smaller structures are made of wood
and have lovely carvings adorning them.
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| Budding Monk |
After spending an hour or so here, we came out and then drove back to the shop from where we had made purchases on the day of arrival at Paro. We finished last minute purchases of gift articles here and then came back to our hotel to pick up our luggage before bidding goodbye to Paro & proceeding towards Phutensholing. On the way, we saw a 600 year old iron bridge across the Paro river at Tachog Lhakang. This bridge was washed away and restured traditionally in 2005. The rest of the return journey was uneventful. We stopped at a roadside café for lunch on the way.
As we
approached the town, we were stopped at the check point where we had to show
our passport & permit to the police personnel. They make sure that we are
accompanied by the same guide and that we are returning as per schedule and
update their records. It was nearly dusk when we reached Phutensholing. We
checked into the same hotel “Ga Me Ga” where we had stayed on Day one. After
evening prayers, we had dinner at the restaurant in the hotel. The day ended
thus.
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| Tachog Lhakang bridge |
The next day, after breakfast we said
our goodbyes to our guide and driver. We thanked them profusely for their help
during the trip as well as gave them some tips for their services. Parting is
always difficult especially when one has spent a few days together and had got
to know them intimately as we had exchanged lots of personal information during
the journey. We wished them well and then made our way to the immigration at
the border check point. This time, we had to go along with our bags which were
screened twice (once by Bhutanese & once by Indian authorities). After we
came over to the Indian side, we were received by our Indian cab driver. Our phones
started working and we were glad to be back.
We drove through smooth roads but in
warm weather all the way to Bagdogra airport. About a kilometre before the
airport we stopped at a pure veg restaurant for a late lunch. The name of the restaurant
is Gour Nitai Mistanna Bhander and they serve all dishes without onion &
garlic. We had a sumptuous lunch, and it cost us just Rs. 750/-. The flights
were on time, and we landed safely back in Mumbai by evening.
Thus ended our lovely trip to
Beautiful Bhutan. I would recommend Bhutan as a holiday to anyone who is keen
to visit hilly terrain. It is beautiful, its people are nice, and the country is
very tourist friendly. It is possible to get visit permits issued even from India.
It is preferrable to go through travel agencies who operate out of Bhutan.
Indian travel agents only facilitate the arrangements with some local operator,
and this means extra expenses to cover two agencies. If one has contacts, one
can also directly engage driver, car & hotel. However, to be on safer side,
it is better to go through a good local agency. If anyone wants any guidance or
contacts, I will be more than happy to help.
That’s it from me for now.
Watch this space for yet another lovely trip coming up soon..
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