(Continued)
During our three-day stay in Punakha, we had plenty of opportunities to visit the massive dzong, explore the lovely valley and attend the famed Wangdiphodrang festival, which was not as grand but every bit as colorful as the one in Thimphu. Since there are fewer tourists in the inner parts of Bhutan, you can get a greater sense of cultural authenticity here.
From Punakha we continued travelling deeper into central Bhutan. Our next stop was the Phobjikha Valley, one of Bhutan’s loveliest landscapes. It is also held in high regard as the winter home to the extremely rare black-necked crane. It is estimated that fewer than 11,000 of this bird species still exist in the wild.
We stayed not far from this wildlife refuge at the Amankora Gangtey, another property owned and operated by the Amankora resorts group. This far off the beaten path, we basically had the place to ourselves and enjoyed the undivided attention of the staff, who tended to our every wish before we could even ask. The highlight was a “hot stone bath,” as it has been practiced in Bhutan for hundreds of years.
All good things must come to an end, but before we had to say our good byes to Bhutan, the best part was still to come. Back in Paro, we finally made our “pilgrimage” to Taktsang Lhakhang – the “Tiger’s Nest.” This magical monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 2,000 feet above the valley floor. The legend of Taktsang dates back to 747 A.D. when Guru Rinpoche is believed to have arrived here on the back of a flying tiger – therefore the name “Tiger’s Nest.”
The nearly two-hour climb is steep and requires a certain amount of physical fitness, but it is definitely worth every drop of sweat. There are only a handful of places in the world of such magical beauty. We stayed as long as we could and when we finally had to return to the valley, we knew that we had experienced something extraordinary, something we won’t be able to forget for the rest of our lives.
Packing list
Packing for Bhutan is easy. For tourists, the dress code is casual almost everywhere you go. There are only a few places for fine dining where formal attire is expected. It is, however, appreciated when guests dress properly for religious ceremonies and festivals or for meetings with government officials. Shorts and other revealing clothing is not recommended, especially not when visiting monasteries and other religious sites. Also, remember not to cover your head in and around religious places.
If you plan to go on hikes, you definitely need some rugged outdoor clothing, such as a waterproof jacket (preferably with a hood) and pants, hiking boots and a warm sweater or fleece – basically your standard alpine outfit. The weather is quite unpredictable. Count on rain showers at least once a day, even during the summer season.
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