Bhutan Day 4: From Punakha to Trongsa

March 28, 2026 ~ tgentryfunk ~ Leave a comment

The center of political power in Bhutan is firmly situated in Trongsa, the former capital of the country. The former province was among the most economically powerful in the region for centuries before the country of Bhutan existed as a single entity. Testimony to that past is the massive Dzong sitting on a north-south axis.

Our travels today took us to the Dzong, the National Museum, and various stops along the way seeing yak, photographing the mountains and riding our small bus for hours.

I asked our group to write something about their experiences so far. Today you’ll hear from a few people as they consider this trip. Enjoy the photos and commentary!

Ronan: One of my favorite moments so far in this trip was the Hong Kong Ladies’ night market, where we tried really good food and bought fun things. We saw a lot of people selling clothing, bags, and other souvenirs. I also tried these beef skewers that I thought were going to be questionable, but they were good. They were slowly grilled and seasoned to perfection. Sadly, we didn’t bring enough cash to buy more things so all we were able to get was the food and 3D printed snakes.

Nancy: My favorite moment of the trip thus far was waking up at 2am in Thimphu and happening to glance out the hotel window to see a giant golden buddha statue glowing in the dark of the night. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I was seeing correctly, and opened them again to realize it was indeed, still there! I felt welcomed by the country of Bhutan and watched over as I went back to sleep for a few hours. We visited the statue the following day and I later learned that the giant statue was transported to the area in three pieces. I can imagine the shock of seeing the giant pieces traveling on the road by all those they passed along the way.

Brian: Thus far I am most struck and enjoying the continuous array of prayer flags throughout the environment. Strung on bridges; wrapped around stupas; planted high on hillsides or ridge lines on long vertical poles; yellow ones lining the winding road ascending the mountain to the golden buddha; tall white funereal ones planted in groups high on hillsides commemorating a relative. They are literally everywhere and bring so much color and joy to traveling through this beautiful landscape.

Plant-dyed yarn, Bumthang (photo by Nancy)

Prayer Wheel, Trongsa Dzong (photo by Brian)

In Bhutan: Day 1

March 24, 2026March 24, 2026 ~ tgentryfunk ~ Leave a comment

OK, let’s just get this out of the way: Bhutan is an amazing place in the world. I’ve visited multip0le times and made friends here. While the struggle is real to provide education and jobs to the population, few places address those needs so directly. Bringing students to this place has been some of my work for the past 16 years, and I’m lucky to have had willing travelers to come to a place few have even heard of.

Our first day in Bhutan began peacefully. We landed around 10:30AM and were picked up by my friend Namgay and Illuminating Tours. The welcome was wonderful, and we hopped on the small bus to our first stop at Kyichu Temple in Paro.

One of the oldest temples in Bhutan, constructed in the 7th century, the building is filled with statues of important teachers and leaders, as well as shrine rooms dedicated to the Buddha and Padmasambhava. Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche, brought Buddhism to Bhutan (and to Tibet) and this location was one of a few that the Guru established in the region.

After Kyichu we ate lunch and made our way to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. On the way, we stopped for a hike at the Iron Bridge. Legend and history states that a Tibetan ironworker came to Bhutan and formed the iron links that made up the bridge in the 16th century. We walked around the area, headed up to the stupa on the hill.

As we make our way around the Thimphu today and Punakha tomorrow, we’ll see how things unfold in terms of weather (hoping it holds for our rafting trip in 2 days), and hikes to temples in and around Punakha!

Travel to Bhutan, Spring 2026

October 9, 2024 ~ tgentryfunk ~ Leave a comment

After two years of trips to Japan, we’re returning to Bhutan in March 2026. This trip will be exclusive to Thailand and Bhutan, allowingng us to spend more time in both places and to have an opportunity to see more places and visit with more people in Bhutan.

Following my previous trips to Bhutan, we will fly into Bangkok. For a couple of days, we will visit Bangkok and the temples along the Chao Phraya River. Our goal is to understand the uniqueness of Thai culture and the influences of Hinduism and Buddhism on Thai history. In addition, we’ll investigate the colonial history of the city which will allow us to gain a rich background in the ways modern Thailand developed.

Our visits in Bangkok will include Temple or Wat Arun, Wat Pho (that houses the reclining buddha), Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha), and a few other sites in walking distance to those temples.

In addition, we will visit Chinatown, street food vendors in Lat Krabang, and hang out at the hotel pool after a day in the 90 degree heat!

We’ll travel to Bhutan on an early AM flight to Paro on Bhutan Airlines, landing around 11:00AM and beginning our journey through the country. We will be met by my friend Namgay Tsangkhap, and he will lead us to Thimphu and the Buddha temple in the hills above the city.

After a night in Thimphu, we’ll begin our eastern trek across Bhutan on the only road that crosses the country. Along the way, we’ll venture to Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, Trongsa, and eventually to Jakar/Bumtang.

Along the way, you’ll hike forested trails, hear from monks about their lives, and sample local food. You’ll get a chance to meditate in ancient temples and reflect on what it must be like to live in the land of the Thunder Dragon. In addition to these experiences, we will visit the Tsangkhap school and provide school supplies for students. We’ll play soccer, basketball, and maybe bring some frisbees and spend a little time getting to know students in Bhutan.

Stay tuned here for more information about travel to Bhutan and details about the itinerary, costs, and additional information.

Tashi Delek!