The Travel Connection

I had not heard of Tiger's nest till about a year ago though I spend a good time browsing about travel. My cousin mentioned the mysterious monastery up in the sky and I was totally blown away. At that instance Bhutan dropped into my bucket. My fitness level has always been questionable . So my treks and hikes have been limited and easy. Tiger's nest would be my first high altitude hike on the mighty Himalayas. The monastery is considered an important pilgrimage for Buddhist and many a times listed under top ten places to visit for the avid traveler. The monastery is perched on a vertical cliff at about 3150m/10250 ft above sea level. Considering that I have already traveled to Leh which is at 11,500 ft and Khardungla pass at 17,500 ft, Tiger's nest didn't seem very close to the heaven. But the fact that we were were going to hike the moderately difficult trail from an altitude of 7400 ft to 10250 ft made it different. As suggested by every travel book and

Paro, home to what is considered as one of the most dangerous airports, was our final destination.  The drive from Punakha to Paro was a long and uncomfortable one because of the road work and long road blocks. One of the roadblocks was close to Dochula resort . A short walk to the resort and we were in the comforts of closed environment. The resort boasts of a 360 degree view of Himalayan ranges on a clear day. But we were not so lucky.  All we were greeted with was the silhouettes of sparrows, Doves and pine trees. The resort has a souvenir shop with some very interesting exclusive  pieces of knick knacks and should not be missed. Itinerary at Paro had a repeat of activities and sights similar to Punakha and Thimphu. The exemption was the finale of the trip. Every traveler we came across spoke with such excitement while sharing their experiences that all the other sights felt dull. But more about it later. Like with other places , Paro has its own Dzong with its wooden

The well organized holiday was put together by Eco Expedition in association with Norbu Bhutan. I would totally recommend them.  After a quick stopover at Punakha town , we drove to one of the most beautiful locations in Bhutan. If only i could retire in a place similar to this!!. Have a small little business to keep me going and spend the rest of the time perched on a ridge amid pine trees , overlooking valleys with 360 degree panoramic view Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery  overlooks valleys of of Punakha and Wangduephodrang.The temple houses a 14-foot main bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrigzig chagtong chentong). Other statues include those of Guru Padmasambawa, Gautama Buddha, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Tsela Namsum, the 21 Taras and Tsepamay (Buddha of longevity). The Avalokiteshvara statue, one of the biggest in the country, was the handiwork of entirely local Bhutanese artisans.   T