Hotel Migmar

Love for Bhutan dates back to college days and I contacted many travel agencies persistently for a good deal. The enigmatic Himalayan Kingdom, a real Shangri-La has a charm of its own. Fortunately, no visa or entry fees was required for the citizens of India in 2019 to travel in Bhutan. But while touring Bhutan one needs a special permit by the government. We flew by Druk Airlines from Delhi to Paro. It was an incredible experience to watch people move around in traditional attire. Men look so dignified and composed in their ghos, the Bhutanese traditional clothing for men. And women look so graceful in their colorful kiras, the traditional clothing for women. Then, their intricately carved houses are a sight to behold and one can find a stunning monastery or stupa nearly on every corner. This is the country that coined the term '`Gross National Happiness’ as opposed to Gross National Product to designate a nation’s wealth. The sight of majestic Himalayan range from the plane was incredible as we flew past Kathmandu. I was spellbound by the innumerable tributaries passing through the dense forests, bright sunshine and snowcapped mountains. Upon touchdown at Bhutan I was instantly transported to a new world where I saw locals dressed in traditional attire guiding and helping the tourists. It requires incredible skill to fly an aircraft in the hilly terrains of Bhutan. Only few pilots are authorized to fly the airline because the plane passes through the mountains before a perfect landing. On arrival at the airport in Paro, we met the tour leader, a cheerful and patient guide from Bhutan named Tashi and were immediately transferred to Hotel Migmar in Thimpu, the modern capital city of Bhutan. We took approximately two hours to cover a distance of 60 kms. It was necessary to get acclimatized to the erratic weather. We had a city tour of Thimpu, visiting National Memorial Chorten and Buddha Dordenma Statue. The calm and quite ambience inside the hall was very effective. It has been strategically placed began Thimphu and Paro and it is believed to bless the residents of Bhutan. There were numerous prayer flags on the way. The local people believe that everyone must pray for each other and for the general well-being of humanity. They strongly believe that the prayer flags flutter when breeze blows or the river which carries water from one place to another is symbolic of spreading blessings far and wide. The stay at Hotel Migmar was very comfortable and the food was very tasty. Next day we covered approximately 90 Kms in three hours to reach Punakha from Thimphu. It is the only capital city in the world without traffic lights. Several years ago, a traffic light was installed, however, the locals complained that it was too impersonal. Hence, the traffic police continue to direct the traffic with their graceful gestures. Punakha is the former capital of Bhutan and the place of the confluence of the two rivers – Ma Chu and Po Chu. The best part was a trek to Taktsang Lhakhang or the Tiger's Nest in Paro.