Margastha Maarga - The Travellers way

A trip to the land of happiness was always in my bucket-list, awaiting to be put into action. Yes, Bhutan it is! I was in the land of dragons, in the winter of 2017. Exploring the natural paradise was my main agenda, as I am less of a history enthusiast. Little did I know that both were inextricably interwoven into the experience of Bhutan. So, here I place before you a brief outline of my 10 day trip to this wonderland. Day 1 : Cross the border to Phuentsholing, get the permits and proceed to Thimpu. An exciting (but time consuming)  way to do this would be to board the Kanchankanya express (train no.  13149) from Kolkata, Sealdah station (20:30 hrs) ,  and alight at Hashimara (supposed to be 10.40hrs but it took 90 more minutes!).  Hashimara is a quiet station with minimal activity. Plenty of taxis (on reserved or shared basis) will be available for an approximate charge of Rs. 400 to the border, which is about a 40 mins drive. The taxi will drop yo...

If you want to experience what it is to be wrapped by silence and serenity, try visiting Probhjikha valley in Bhutan. Situated at an altitude of about 3000m the Gangtey valley or Phobjikha is an absolute paradise, which also plays host to the migrating black neck cranes that fly from Tibet during the winter season. I reached Gangtey at around 17:30 hrs on a Saturday in December. The sun was down and it was dark and eerily quiet. I was almost sure that I had lost my way.  I stopped the car at a place which vaguely resembled a hotel. As I was anxiously wondering why this place did not have even a single light, a man approached me and told that the power was out in the whole valley and it would return in a moment... phew! After a peaceful sleep, I woke up early, and to my amazement, the entire valley covered in white frost. Frost covered Phobjikha valley It compelled, rather inspired, me to jump into my warm clothes and take a short stroll. Piping hot Maggi noodles ...

Arguably the most famous tourist destination in Bhutan, the Paro Taktsang, more famously called the Tiger’s Nest is an architectural wonder that literally hangs at the edge of a cliff, 3120 m ASL in the Paro valley. The only way to reach here is by foot. One has to trek up the hill, for at least a good three hours. Horses are available, as some respite, although for about one third of the distance only. The base office is a short 15-20 minutes drive  from  Paro town Timings: 0800hrs to 1300hrs Entry fee: 400 Nu/ head ( = 400 Rs) This trek is quite a tough one, which takes you along a steep route covered with loose mud and rugged rocky terrain. I suggest you wear good hiking shoes to avoid ankle injuries. A hiking stick ( which is available for hiring at the base) might be selectively useful, especially if you are not a frequent trekker. As advised by the locals I started the trek early, at about 8.00 AM, as soon as the base office had opened. ...