Some of the traditional handicraft items are described below which should be bought from here as souvenirs.
- Bhutanese Handicrafts. Handicrafted Bags and Wall Hangings.
- Hand-woven Textiles.
- Gold & Silver Jewellery.
- Himalayan Beads (Dzi Beads)
- Handmade Wooden Bowls (Dappa)
- Cane & Bamboo Items.
- Wooden Products.
- Postal Stamps.
Yes snow! Snowing is actually quite rare in Bhutan most populous areas. When the snow comes, it is enough reason for His Majesty to decree holidays and everyone goes out to enjoy the snowball fights, sculpturing snowmen etc. Usually the snow melts during the day or two.
The Tiger's Nest Monastery is a sacred Buddhist site located near Paro, Bhutan. There is a legend that Guru Rinpoche was carried from Tibet to this location on the back of a tigress, thus giving it the name “Tiger's Nest.”
Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye - Bhutan's
The only way to reach the Tiger Nest Monastery is by foot or on the back of a horse. It´s only a short 25min car ride from Paro to reach the parking lot where you will start your hike up to The Tiger`s Nest Monastery.
October to December is the ideal time to visit Bhutan as the air is clear and fresh with sunny skies. January and February are colder, but from then until April the climate remains dry and pleasant and in late spring the famous rhododendrons bloom spectacularly, flooding the valleys with colour.
Farflung Paro Taktsang became a meditation spot for many important Tibetan Buddhist figures in the subsequent centuries, but it wasn't until the late 17th century that the temple was built. In 1692, Tenzin Rabgye visited the site and constructed a temple honoring Padma Sambhava.
According to the legend he was transferred to the cave on the back of a tigress. This is why the monastery got its popular name - the Taktsang, which literally means Tiger's Nest. Paro Taktsang Monastery was built around the holy caves in 1692 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye - Bhutan's leader of the time.
Paro Taktsang is a temple perched high in the Himalaya mountains of Bhutan. It was originally just a network of caves used for meditation by Padma Sambhava, the man who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. In 1692, Tenzin Rabgye, the ruler of Bhutan, oversaw the building of the temple on the meditation site.
The visit to Taktsang is physically draining and spiritually overwhelming so it's highly recommended to keep a separate day for it. You will first need to reach up to the base camp by taxi which can take about 35 minutes from the lower Paro town and about 20 minutes from upper Paro.
The starting point of the trek is around 10 miles north of
Paro town, till where you can travel by car.
Bangalore to Paro.
| Kolkata to Paro |
|---|
| By Air | 1.0 hours |
|---|
| By Road | 19.0 hours |
|---|
| By Train | - |
|---|
| By Sea | - |
|---|
Drive from Paro to Thimphu
The distance of about 55kms from Paro town and about 50km from airport takes around 1hr excluding the stops. Drive south following Pachu River to the river confluence at Chuzom. Along the way to Chunzom, you will first pass villages like Bondey, right after the airport.The only way to reach the Tiger Nest Monastery is by foot or on the back of a horse. It´s only a short 25min car ride from Paro to reach the parking lot where you will start your hike up to The Tiger`s Nest Monastery.
The Bhutanese capital is a relatively warm area for most of November, with high temperatures of up to 15-16 degrees during the day, though dropping to less than 2 degrees at night. Rain is light and falls rarely throughout November, leaving the days clear and bright for trekking and sightseeing.
For Other Travellers: The best way to reach Bhutan from India is to take a direct flight to Paro. It takes around 2.5 hrs to reach from Delhi to Paro, flying time is at its minimum if you're taking a flight from Bagdogra.
What is the altitude of Thimphu?
Manjulika's Tips to Hiking to the Top of Tiger's Nest
- Don't attempt the hike on your first day.
- Eat a light and easy breakfast, it's the key to success!
- Carry chocolates, energy bites and drinks.
- Don't take a heavy backpack.
- Start as early as possible.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses.
A temple complex was first built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century.
Get to Bhutan by Overland
Most tourists enter Bhutan by flight to Paro International Airport, but it is possible to travel overland from Nepal to Bhutan through India. When traveling overland, one will exit Nepal at Kakarbhitta, and travel overland to one of three border crossings between India and Bhutan.
