BhutanBike & Culture

:: Day 1 = prologue
Start cycling
get the first feeling on the bike and the condition in a sea level of 2.000 m

:: PARO
The Paro valley is more than beautiful. it is visually stunning and historically fascinating. This beautiful terraced valley is home to many oldest temples. Bhutan's only airport is located also in this valley. The national museum located in the watchtower
The TAKTSANG monastery, on a cliff which is 900 m above the valley, is also here. It will be visited on the last day of our tour

:: RINPUNG DZONG
This is known as the fortress of the heap of jewels. It was built during the time of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646. The approach to the dzong is through a traditional covered cantilever bridge. A walk through the bridge to the dzong, over a stone inlaid path, offers a good view of the architectural wonder of the dzong as well as life around it
The TA watch tower overlooks this dzong

:: TA DZONG
Located on a ridge, overlookingthe RINGPUNG dzong and the PARO valley, it is built as a watch tower. Unlike the rectangular shape of the dzongs, the TA dzong is conical, more like that of a European castle. Since 1967 the dzong was re-established as the national museum and holds a fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangka paintings and Bhutan's exquisite postage stamps
National Museum, Tuesday - Saturday, 09:00 am - 05:00 pm

:: KYICHU LHAKHANG
Highlight of the day. This is one of the 108 temples built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gyampo in the 7th century to subdue the ogress that lay across the whole of the Himalayas. Later in 1968, her majesty, the royal grandmother Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuk , built a second temple alongside the first one, in the same style. Inside the courtyard, there is an orange tree that bears fruits, which is quite amazing because no where in the valley you can find orange trees bearing fruits with the exeption of one more temple
Songtsen Gampo was said to have magically multiplied himself and to have sent all of his emanations into the various areas of Tibet so as to erect 108 temples in one day. Towering over the heart of the demon there is the famous Jokhang-Temple in Lhasa (Tibet). The demon’s left knee is held by the JAMPEY Lhakhang of Bumthang and her left sole is fixed by the KYICHU Lhakhang in Paro

:: THIMPHU
THIMPHU is the capital of Bhutan and it is the center of government. The broad THIMPHU valley represents mostly the urban way of life. Just like any other place in Bhutan, this valley is clothed with beautiful trees from valleys to the hill tops and with beautiful buildings built and maintained with the traditional Bhutanese architecture
The name THIMPHU originates from a sinking stone in front of DECHENPHU monastery. THIM means to sink and PHU meaning to fly in local language. Oral history says that the stone is placed on top pf a subdued ogress to prevent her from flying away

:: TASHICHOE DZONG
This dzong is also known as fortress of the glorious religion. initially erected in 1702 by Sherab Wangchuk, the 13th Desi and later in 1955 after moving the capital from PUNAKHA to THIMPHU, this dzong was redesigned and sections were rebuilt
TAHICHO dzong houses the main secretariat building and the central monk body. It is open to visitors during THIMPHU tchechu, after office hours and when the monk body moves to PUNAKHA in the winter month

:: NATIONAL MEMORIAL CHORTEN (STUPA)
This chorten serves as a gathering place for the young and old. This stupa was built in 1974 by her majesty Ashi Phuntsho Wangchuck in the memory of her son Bhutan's late third King his majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is popularly regarded as the father of modern Bhutan
The paintings and statues inside the monument provide deep insight into Buddhist philosophy. This chorten is one of the most visited religious structures in Thimphu

:: CHARI MONASTERY
This beautiful goemba was built in 1620 on a hilltop. A silver chorten inside the goemba holds the ashes of Zhabdrung's father Yap Tempei Nima. The trek to the monastery starts by crossing a lovely wooden bridge that spans the THIMPHU Chhu and then ascending steeply till the monastery
If you have never seen mountain goats and if you want to really find out how mountain goats can walk on steep cliffs, this is the right place

:: VEGETABLE MARKET
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday many farmers and small business vendors gather on the bank of the river Thimchu where the weekend marked is held. The place is popularly known as Sabji Bazar
It is an interesting place to visit and provides opportunity to mix with the local people. walk over the bridge to the other side of the river to buy souvenirs from the vendors

 

:: PROFILE of the first day
36 km distance, 16 km uphill, 16 km downhill
Typical time 02:30 hours - stage of tomorrow: day 2