Bhutan
Paro

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • Day 21

      Hot Stone and Farmhouse

      April 18, 2019 in Bhutan ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

      Zum Abschluss des Trekkings haben wir uns ein Hot Stone Bad und ein letztes, leckeres Abendessen verdient.
      Wir sitzen in grossen Holzkisten mit heissem Wasser, am unteren Ende werden heisse Steine nachgelegt, so dass das Wasser immer schön warm/heiss bleibt.
      Das Essen findet im Farmhouse statt und bildet den traditionellen Abschluss einer jeden Tour mit DrukAsia. Das Essen ist fantastisch, alle habe gute Laune und wir es gibt genug Ara für alle.
      Schade dass wir am nächsten Morgen schon um 5 Uhr aufstehen müssen und darum der Abend für uns gar nicht so lange wird.
      Read more

    • Day 10

      Back to Paro

      May 14, 2013 in Bhutan

      Our time spent in the Phobjika Valley will certainly rate as the highlight of the trip. The electricity failed soon after our arrival (I gather this is a regular occurrence here) but it did not affect our enjoyment at all. The place was just so peaceful and beautiful that we did not need Internet and TV or any other trappings to enjoy ourselves. Yesterday we set off on a hike along the Valley and marveled at the scenes that unfolded before us as we walked along. At one point we came across a group of people building a large new home - not a power tool in sight but the workmanship was superb. While carpenters were busy hand shaping huge wooden beams the women were busy tamping down the earth in the packed earth walls. It was fascinating to see the way the whole village worked together to build the new house. Apparently this is what they do for each new married couple.

      This morning our time in the valley reluctantly came to an end as we packed our bags and rode the bus back up to the top of the 3300 m pass. We then got back on the bikes for the longest and most exhilerating downhill you could imagine. It was approx 52 km long and a vertical drop of just over 2000 metres. It was a pity that the road surface was appalling for most of the way. The surface was full of potholes and in places it has disappeared altogether. In several locations large landslides had almost completely blocked the roadway and new slips looked about to occur at any minute. Once again we had superb weather for the ride.
      The weather in Bhutan can be very fickle to say the least, but for the duration of our stay we have not had a single day when it rained during a ride or walk ! I liked to think that was something top do with the spirit of Camelot.

      When we finally ran of downhill riding on the outskirts of Panukha we bade farewell to our bikes for the final time. The bikes were Trek 4300 MTB bikes and they had taken a huge beating but had emerged unscathed through the trip. The rest of the long return journey to Paro was done in the bus and this gave us a final chance to see the roads that we had previously ridden along.

      We arrived back at hotel in Paro soon after 4 pm. Later in the evening we said our final farewell and thanks to our truck driver. Since we will not be using the bikes any longer, he will now return to Thimpu where he lives. Tomorrow we will taking the difficult climb up to the Tiger's Nest, one of Bhutan's most venerated places and probably the most photographed site in Bhutan.
      Read more

    • Day 3

      Exploring Paro by Bike

      May 7, 2013 in Bhutan

      Today we had the opportunity to climb on our bikes and test our legs by riding around the city of Paro and nearby hills.

      Here is my diary entry:

      I am sitting in our hotel in Paro on our second day in Bhutan, thinking that I have fallen in love. Yep fallen in love with this amazing little country. Before we arrived we all had preconceptions of what we were going to find but these have been swept away in a few short hours. It is certainly different to any previous country I have ever travelled through. In some respects we all find ourselves shaking our heads in disbelief at the sights that await us around every corner. I suspected that is would be similar to nearby Nepal - I could not have been more wrong. It is little wonder that the Bhutanese people have fought so hard to maintain their wonderful culture and way of life.Read more

    • Day 2

      A Very Scary Landing in Bhutan

      May 6, 2013 in Bhutan

      It was a very early start (and very little sleep) as we gathered back at Bangkok Airport at 4 am for the early flight to Paro Airport in Bhutan. There was only airline that was equipped for landings at the tiny airport situated high in the Himalayas, and only around 7 pilots who were certified for the very tricky landing.

      And so began my first flight with Druk Airlines (aka Royal Bhutan). I had heard all about how dangerous the landing at Paro Airport was, and I have to admit that I was experiencing some anxiety as we flew closer and closer to the towering mountains.

      As the plane tilted and turned, seemingly almost touching the ridges, all the passengers were holding their collective breaths. Eventually I caught my first glimpse of the tiny landing strip and wondered just how hard the pilot would have to work to land the plane safely.

      The final couple of minutes of the flight were particularly hair raising as we narrowly missed the houses perched on the top of the final ridge. Then we dropped sharpy and aimed straight for the runway. Once the wheels touched, it was a full brake power screaming stop. But at least we were safely on the ground. So far, so good I thought.

      We climbed down the stairs from the plane and walked across the tarmac to the small terminal building. Fortunately our luggage also made the journey safely, and soon we were all sitting in a bus and heading towards our first hotel.

      There was not much conversation as we all had our faces glued to the windows, mesmerized by the unfamiliar sights that were all around us. Bhutanese people still nearly all wear the traditional costume of a loosely fitting tunic, with long sleeves and knee high socks. It was a sight we were to see continually over the next ten days.

      Since our flight had arrived before noon, we had the afternoon free to explore the city of Paro. . We even got to visit your first dzong. A dzong is a Bhutanese fortress which were constructed at strategic locations throughout the country. They contain both temple and administrative offices of the district government.

      Almost every town that we stayed in on the trip had a dzong and the local governments still work within their grand walls. Dzong are built with high sloping walls, inside we found detailed woodwork and courtyards. The main dzong in Paro was constructed in the 15th century and still houses the administrative offices of Paro.

      What was once the watchtower for the dzong is now the national museum and this was our next stop. The museum holds a great collection of artefacts from Bhutanese history.

      The Bhutanese Buddhist belief is full of gods, demons, saints, historical figures and kings. It was a fascinating introduction to the country, but it had been a very long day and I was so glad to finally hit the bed.

      My diary entry reads:
      We have now had a few hours to explore Paro and the more we see the more we fell in love with this place. It is just so magical that it is like we have left the earth and landed on another planet. The people have been so welcoming that we immediately felt at home, the streets are clean, the buildings are beautiful and the valley is breathtaking. I guess the fact that we are at an altitude of 2200 m also has something to do with the lack of breath. This afternoon we tried out our bikes for the first time and tomorrow we start riding - that will be the first big test.
      Read more

    • Day 79

      Wow, einfach nur wow

      December 16, 2016 in Bhutan ⋅ 🌙 10 °C

      Das erste Wow gabs auf dem kurzen Flug nach Bhutan. Mit Sitzplätzen auf der linken Seite hatten wir Glück und sahen während des ganzen Fluges das wunderbare Himalaya-Gebirge, inkl. Mount Everest. Auch der Anflug nach Paro war eindrücklich. Noch selten ging es für uns in einem Flugzeug zwischen den Bergen so steil nach unten.

      Das zweite Wow gabs beim ersten Eindruck von Bhutan. Was für einen Kontrast zu Nepal. Ein Flughafengebäude verziert wie ein teures Hotel oder ein Palast, fast kein Verkehr, kein dauerndes Hupkonzert, absolut sauber, wunderbare Landschaft, so friedlich und abgeschieden, viele Reisfelder, eigene Architektur, schöne Burgen, einen sehr netten Empfang des Guides und seines Fahrers.

      Das dritte Wow gabs nach einem kleinen Spaziergang rund um Paro im Hotel. Das Janka-Resort liegt etwas ausserhalb des kleinen Dorfes. Das Zimmer ist sehr gross, schönes Bad, WLAN, Tee zum Empfang und ein grandioses erstes Abendessen. Es gab Suppe, Kartoffelsalat, Reis, Nudeln, Gemüse, Rindsgulasch...mmhhh.
      Read more

    • Die Festung von Paro

      March 6, 2019 in Bhutan ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

      Nach der herrlichen Wanderung und einem Mittagsessen geht es weiter.
      Die Festung wurde Anfang des 17. Jahrhunderts erbaut. Sie war ein Kloster, hatte gleichzeitig aber auch eine administrative Aufgabe. Noch heute befindet sich dort das Gericht der Region und auch Mönche leben noch dort, nur ihre militärische Funktion wurde aufgegeben.Read more

    • Eindrücke aus Paro

      March 6, 2019 in Bhutan ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

      Paro ist eine der Metropolen Bhutans, es gibt sogar einen internationalen Flughafen, auf dem aber nur speziell ausgebildete Piloten landen dürfen. Die Landebahn ist kurz und der Weg zu ihr hin heikel, durch die eng beieinander stehenden Berge.
      Zum Abschluss des Tages gönnen wir uns ein Hot-Stone-Bath. Dann geht es weiter zur Hauptstadt Bhutans, Thimphu.
      Read more

    • Day 84

      Zurück in die Sonne

      December 21, 2016 in Bhutan ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

      Am Morgen ging es zurück über den Dochula-Pass. Es war wie beim Gotthardtunnel, denn kaum waren wir auf der anderen Passseite, änderte sich das Wetter von 5 Grad und dickem Nebel zu purem Sonnenschein und fast 20 Grad.
      Zurück in Paro besuchten wir das Museum mit Ausstellungen über die traditionellen Tänze, die Malereien und Statuen und über die verschiedenen Klimazonen mit der entsprechenden Tier- und Pflanzenwelt.
      Anschliessend besichtigten wir noch den Dzhong von Paro, der im Vergleich zu jenen in Thimpu und Punakha kleiner und weniger prunkvoll ist. Trotzdem sind diese Bauwerke einfach eindrücklich.
      Nach einem Lunch im Zentrum verbrachten wir den Nachmittag damit, Souvenirs zu shoppen und im Hotel die weitere Reise zu planen.
      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Paro, Горад Паро, Πάρο, पारो-भूटान, PBH, パロ, პარო, 파로, Paras, Паро, پارو، بھوٹان, 帕羅

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android