“Bhutan is the happiest place on Earth.” And after years of waiting, he finally got the chance to find out if this was true on his parents’ 44th marriage anniversary. He decided to explore this enchanting land with his most favourite people and booked an all-inclusive Bhutan family package from TravelTriangle. Here’s an account of his fun escapade that brought immense joy to this little family.
Trip Type: Family trip
Trip Duration: 7 Nights 8 Days
Trip Cost: INR 1,08,600/-
Agent Name: Bhutan INC
Inclusions: Airport Transfers, Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Transfers, Sightseeing, Online Permit, Tourist Sim Card, Licensed Tour Guide, Government Taxes and Service Charges
Exclusions: Lunch, Dinner, Entry Fees
Travel, to me and my family, means getting to see a new place and immerse in its culture while getting closer to your loved ones. My wife Deepa & I love to explore new places. In fact, making impromptu plans has now become a hobby!
Bhutan has been on our bucket list for long. So when I realised that my parents’ 44th marriage anniversary was around the corner, I saw it as the perfect occasion to visit this beautiful nation.
“Thank God I found TravelTriangle”
A simple Google search for places to visit in Bhutan brought me to TravelTriangle. I really liked their user-friendly and attractive website and I am happy to say that I found this portal as it helped me customise my trip the way I wanted.
What All We Did On Our Bhutan Family Trip
Here’s a detailed account of our fun escapade to this beautiful country:
DAY 1: A scenic drive from Bagdogra to Bhutan
We arrived at Bagdogra by flight, and then drove all the way to Phuentsholing. Then from Phuentsholing, it was a scenic 5 hour drive to Thimphu. On the way, we stopped at Kharbandi Gompa to get amazing views of Phuentsholing town. We spent the evening at the Town Square in Thimphu doing shopping.
We had opted to stay Kuenden Boutique Hotel which is a bit away from the main town and is perched on top of a hill, providing complete seclusion, peace, and the breathtaking views. I will recommend this hotel to all who visit this city. In fact, if I do revisit Thimphu, I will definitely stay here again.
DAY 2: The tallest statue of Buddha, Butter Tea, and Bhutan’s wildlife!
Post breakfast, we visited the Buddha Viewpoint where we were overwhelmed by the tallest Buddha statue in the world at a height of 177 ft from the ground. You will be left awestruck by the sheer size of the statue.
We then visited Simply Bhutan which gives insightful glimpses into Bhutan’s past. Herein, you are welcomed with Bhutan’s local rice wine called Ara. Do not miss this place as it’s a quick tour & gives a great deal of information for you to appreciate the culture of Bhutan throughout your trip.
Our visit to Simply Bhutan ended with a delicious cup of ‘Butter Tea’ & performance of Bhutanese dance by the locals.
Next, we visited Changangkha Lhakhang which offers breathtaking views of Thimphu Town. You can see a lot of couples who bring their kids to this temple for seeking blessings & for their naming ceremony.
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We then visited the Takin Zoo which is home to Bhutan’s national animal Takin. The animal is pretty unique with the face of a goat & body of a cow. If you are traveling with kids don’t miss seeing this very different looking animal!
DAY 3: Dochula Pass, Suspension Bridge, and a refreshing hike to Punakha Dzong
We visited the Dochula Pass which is home to 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens. This was built by the Queen Mother to celebrate her husband’s victory over fringe elements from India who had entered Bhutanese territory to escape from India armed forces.
A very unique thing is a visit to the temple uphill wherein they have kept the weapons used during this fight within the temple premises. The pass also gives stunning views of Himalayas on a clear day.
We then visited the Suspension Bridge in Punakha which is a great experience!
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The last visit of the day was to Punakha Dzong. It’s one of the most scenic places in Punakha & should not be missed at any cost. Though it is a tiring visit with a lot of walking it will be totally worth it and you will be able to enjoy soaking in the culture of the country here.
The stay was planned at Hotel Vara which has breathtaking views of Punakha valley.
DAY 4: Wandering through chilli fields, meeting friendly locals, and playing in a river!
We started with a trek to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten which is a short trek of 45 mins through green chilli fields & a small suspension bridge. This was definitely the highlight of our visit to Punakha and the view from the top was one to die for!
The photo below is of a local village resident who sits at the Lakhor throughout the day & turns it while reciting the local mantras!
We also made an impromptu stop at the river which turned out to be a great decision owing to the refreshing and revitalizing surroundings.
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DAY 5: The grand anniversary celebrations arranged by the hotel!
On the way to Paro, we visited Drukgyel Dzong which is one of the oldest in Bhutan & is maintained by a family & not the government. This is home to the oldest suspension bridge in Bhutan. Though the bridge is now closed owing to the fact that it’s worn out by time, they have built a new one right next to it!
This was a special day for us as it was the 44th marriage anniversary of my parents & the Dharma Resort in Paro did an awesome job to make it all the more special with their arrangements.
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Nestled between paddy fields & very close to the main town with nice views of Paro Dzong, this is a great resort to stay at.
DAY 6: Driving through thousands of colourful prayer flags and praying under orange trees!
On this day we visited the Chele La Pass which gives spectacular views of Doklam Plateau on a clear day. Many locals come here to erect poles and tie prayer flags on them, which has turned this place into a colourful abode. The belief is that the mantras on these flags spread peace and positivity through the wind.
We were lucky to see a big herd of yaks on the way back.
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We then visited the Tachog Monastery where you can see an Orange Tree within the premises which is very unique as the Bhutanese weather is not conducive for growing oranges.
DAY 7: Trekking to the breathtaking monastery of Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest)
This was the best day of our trip as we visited Tiger’s Nest. It’s essentially a 3-hour trek which puts your endurance levels to test. But it’s totally worth it, as one look at this beautiful abode will kill all your fatigue in a jiffy!
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More than us, our son thoroughly enjoyed the trek. It was a sight to watch our little explorer happily trekking onwards with a stick in hand, his constant companion during the 3-hour trek.
DAY 8: Dressing up like the Bhutanese do!
After a lovely breakfast at the hotel, we visited Paro Dzong to try on some traditional clothes and click pictures. My son looked super cute in the outfit and the smile on his face is my typical definition of ‘satisfaction’! After a lovely day, we bid farewell to Bhutan and boarded our flight back to Paro.
My Bhutan family trip was one of the most surreal and soul-soothing experiences I have had in life. I would like to thank TravelTriangle for making these 8 days the best memories of our lives!
Our WOW Moments On The Trip: The whole trip was one big WOW for us, but I would like to single out two particularly extraordinary experiences:
- My son’s first trekking experience to Paro Taktsang.
- The room decoration & cake arrangement by Dharma Resort (Paro) for my parents’ 44th marriage anniversary.
My Overall Experience With TravelTriangle:
Travel Triangle had helped us connect with the right tour operators. We zeroed down on Bhutan INC. as we found this agent to be very professional & trustworthy. Travel Triangle representative was in constant touch via emails/calls however the website itself is so easy to use that I never was required to call Travel triangle.
Also, I would like to mention that I am immensely thankful to our guide Bijay & driver Ashok who made our trip awesome by being accommodative of changes & sharing loads of local information.
Tips For Future Travelers:
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- Visit Bhutan after March to make the most of the awesome weather, like we did.
- Do try Bhutanese cuisine & never ever miss out on Ema Datsi with Red Rice.
- Trek to Tiger’s Nest by foot. Do not use the ponies and miss out on the awesome experience of trekking.
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Now that you’ve seen Bhutan through Rohit’s eyes, doesn’t it entice you to explore this paradise on your own as well? Book your trip to Bhutan right away!
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