Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go to Bhutan? My husband and I went in 2008, with our son who was two years old at the time. Bhutan is a small country located between Nepal and China. When we went, they were completing an extended highway connecting Bhutan’s two main cities, Thimphu and Paro, making travel between the two easier and safer.
Paro is the smaller of the two cities and from where you fly to Bhutan. It has a quaint village feel, with a small main street lined with shops and hotels. The flight from Kathmandu to Paro is amazing with the most incredible views of the Himalayas. Even the airport is architecturally beautiful, operated by the commercial airline Druk Air. Paro Airport is listed as one of the 10 most extreme airports in the world, known for its spectacular drop into the valley and its short runway. The flight is actually very smooth, you do circles and fall on the airport tarmac quite quickly, but to tell you the truth, I never felt nervous. It’s like landing in a fairy tale valley: breathtaking views and ancient dwellings on the slopes.
We were visiting family so we stayed at our family’s resort which was lovely with all the scenery and traditional Bhutanese architecture. For a few days we spent time in a hut that was just across the hills from the famous Taktsang monastery. You can see the monastery high up in the mountains, it looks so majestic and far away with the clouds dancing around it most of the time. There is a day hike you can take to visit it, half of the hike is on horseback and the other half on foot. We went with our toddler and it was well worth the effort.
We spend much of our time in Timpu, which is an hour’s drive from Paro. Thimphu has approximately 80,000 people, not including the surrounding areas. It reminded me of Vail, Colorado, it’s like a small mountain town with high peaks protecting it. We went in May and the weather was perfect; cool at night, sunny during the day, with occasional showers that didn’t last long, much like Colorado in May.
As a mom traveling with a young child, my first concern was: where can I get the things I need for my child? Fortunately they have grocery stores comparable to ours, some of the names are different, but disposable diapers are available. The only thing I recommend bringing from home is Children’s Tylenol and bug spray. Those are easy to get in adult forms in Bhutan, not so much in children’s doses. There were no bugs where we were staying, but there are warmer areas of Bhutan and if you venture to one of those places you’ll want some bug protection. They have boxed milk that is safe, powdered formula, and baby food.
The city of Thimphu has a main street full of interesting shops and all kinds of vendors. There are restaurants and bars, even several hotels in the city center. It is a warm and friendly city where the locals are used to welcoming tourists and helping you when they can. You immediately notice the children dressed in their school uniforms, or Bhutan’s formal dress code, as large numbers gather in the main square after school or on weekends. There is one main Dzong (fortress) in Thimphu called Tashichoed Dzong, built in the early 13th century.
I was able to visit some of the historical areas of Thimphu, an old medical school/library, retreat caves, as well as the main Dzong in Thimphu. They were all magical places filled with so much energy that it really was like going back in time. I am a nurse so I wanted to see the hospital in Thimphu and see how they do things. The main hospital was a bit crowded, but clean and relatively organized. My biggest curiosity was about the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). The nurses were very nice and let me have a quick look around their unit. It’s very small, but it had spotlessly clean new equipment (medical supplies, incubators) and wonderful care for premature babies, I was really impressed.
We also did a 4 day tour of central Bhutan. A guide takes you by minibus to various towns, stopping at quaint lodges along the way. The architecture is magnificent, the gardens are unlike anything you’ve seen before – brightly colored flowers and huge old trees. From the tiny cottages to the grand Dzongs that dot the hillsides and valleys, it was all a feast for the eyes, surrounded by hundreds of giant rhododendrons that seem to have been there since before time. The wildlife I saw was also fascinating: colorful birds, grey-faced langur monkeys, and yaks. The southern area of central Bhutan is mild and warm, with another type of jungle foliage that I have never seen, beautiful purple flowering trees and lush grassy hills. Punakha Dzong was spectacular, walking around makes you feel like you have entered some sort of time portal.
The people we met along our travels were so kind and engaging, we went home with wonderful stories and warm memories. People often ask me if I would live there, I would, but I’m a big fan of small towns. Bhutan is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, I hope you have the opportunity to visit it, it is really an amazing adventure. For more information on traveling to Bhutan, Nepal or Tibet, please visit our website, intrekasia.com