DAY 3 - 25 JUNE 2024, TUESDAY

Morning Walk and Breathtaking Buddha View Point

An early morning routine continued in Thimphu. After a coffee in our room, Malli and I embarked on a brisk walk. We spotted a beautiful park, but unfortunately, it wasn't yet open. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a refreshing bath and parathas for breakfast before boarding our trusty Toyota HiAce.

Our first stop of the day was the Buddha View Point, a popular attraction featuring a majestic Sakya Muni Buddha statue atop the Kuensel Phodrang Hill. Inside the temple, we learned about the impressive collection of one lakh six-inch Buddha statues and twenty-five thousand eight-inch statues. The main attraction, the towering 51.5-meter bronze Buddha statue, offered a sense of peace with its open space perfect for meditation. The view from this vantage point was incredible, capturing the surrounding area in a breathtaking panorama.

 

 

 

Experiencing Bhutan in Miniature

Our itinerary included a couple more temples, but Birkha, our guide, suggested a unique alternative – "Simply Bhutan." This fascinating attraction served as a miniature world, showcasing Bhutanese culture, architecture, local cuisine, dance, tea, wine, and even an archery range (archery being the national sport!). We were each allowed to try our hand at archery, and to my surprise, I managed a bullseye, earning a celebratory traditional dance performance from the locals! Time flew by at "Simply Bhutan," and by the time we left, we were a little behind schedule for lunch.

Local Delights and Royal Takin

Lunch was at a local restaurant serving traditional fare. While we were still getting acquainted with Bhutanese cuisine, we opted for familiar comfort food like fried rice. Feeling refreshed, we headed to the Royal Takin Preserve, named after the national animal, the Takin – a fascinating creature resembling a cow with a goat's head. The highlight, besides the Takin, was the excellent coffee served at the on-site cafeteria. We spent a delightful two hours exploring the preserve.

 

 

 

 

 

National Library and Local Market

Our next stop, the National Library of Bhutan, was a highlight of the trip. It housed a vast collection of local books and ancient manuscripts, with the 7-foot by 5-foot giant book being a true Guinness World Record contender.

After returning to the hotel and seeing the staff off for their outing, we found ourselves the only guests. The staff kindly offered room service for dinner so they could enjoy their planned event. This worked perfectly for us as we could catch the World Cup cricket match while enjoying a delicious meal.

Wrapping Up the Day

After a satisfying dinner, I delved deeper into my captivating e-book for about 45 minutes before drifting off to sleep.


Click here to Continue