Thimphu

Bhutan

Tuesday

December 5, 2023

Hello,

Druk Air Flight 131 departs Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport five minutes early at 07:55 and heads northwest to an intermediate  stop in India.

 Drukair Corporation Limited, operating as Drukair — Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan, headquartered in the western dzongkhag (district) of Paro.

After a brief stop, we take off from runway 36.*

Dramatic is the word to describe the descent to Paro International Airport.  To the west in the bright sunlight lie Mount Tichu Drake and the sacred Mount Jumolhari, snowcapped peaks towering above their Himalayan companions.

Ms. Kinga and Mr. Jimmy, my guide and driver await my arrival.  We begin our one-and-a-half-hour mountain drive from Paro toward Thimphu.

About 30-minutes from Paro I encounter my first Lhakhang - a Himalayan “house of god.” Tamchog Lhakhang sits across the Paro River. The Lhakhang is approached by an iron chain suspension bridge. The Lhakhang and the bridge were constructed by a 13th century Tibetan saint Thangthong Gyalpo. The Buddhist saint was also a blacksmith and an architect.

Later in the day we visit the National Memorial Chohhorten.  The gold-domed stupa was built in 1974 to honor the third modern king, Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972).  Large prayer wheels are located to the left.

The chorten attracts many elderly Bhutanese who circumambulate the chorten, whirl the large red prayer wheels and pray at the shrine.

It’s been a busy day.

Tara Phendeyling Hotel and dinner await this circumambulating rover.

Cheers.

Jan

*Runway 36. I don’t believe I have ever seen this designation.  Why is it special?