Paro Thimpu trek
Paro-Thimpu trek is an easy/moderate
difficulty trek in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. This 5 day trek is one of the most popular treks in Bhutan. I completed this trek in September 2010. This is, by most accounts, a bad time to do the trek
due to the heavy monsoon rains. The paths become slippery and the spectacular mountain
views are obscured by the clouds. Nonetheless, the rain gods were kind enough
to give us a few hours of clear skies every day in the mornings. Perhaps the only
advantage of doing the trek in the monsoon time will be the total absence of
other fellow trekkers. It’s just you and the mountains and the clouds and the
rain and the trees for the entire trek.
.jpg "Camp Jale Dzong") |
| Camp at Jale Dzong |
Day 1: Tazo to Jale Dzong
Duration: 4 hours
The night before the trek was
spent at Paro. Paro is good place to stock up on the last minute trekking supplies. After breakfast, we set off to Tazo in a car
arranged by the trek guide. The trek starts from Tazo. Beyond Tazo is the
village of Damchena. There are a few houses and a lot of apple orchids in
Damchena. Beyond Damchena un-adulterated nature begins. The trek passes through scenic pine trees
most of the trek. We pitched our camp beside Jale Dzong (Jale fortress). Jale
Dzong was, apparently, used as a storeroom by the Bhutanese kings for storing
meat. Today there is an isolated community of monks residing there. At night be
prepared for the low pitched Buddhist chants from the monastery. There is something eerily beautiful about
sitting in total darkness under the stars listening to the tonal chants coming
from the distance. |
| Tsokoding |
Day 2: Jele Dzong to Tsokoding
Duration: 5 hours
We had a few hours of clear
sky in the morning. It started drizzling
by 9:30. Most of the trek passes through thick vegetation. The colours of the
wild mosses growing on the rocks are amazing.
By late afternoon, after we had reached our camp, the heavens opened up. 
It was impossible to step out in the rain without getting drenched. It rained on me (no pun intended) that the most important item I carried for this trek was my large umbrella. Tsokidng camp is an open site is devoid of any trees. The area where the tent
was pitched became slushy due to the heavy rains. It was impossible to leave
the tent without accidentally stepping into slushy patch of grass.
It was impossible to step out in the rain without getting drenched. It rained on me (no pun intended) that the most important item I carried for this trek was my large umbrella. Tsokidng camp is an open site is devoid of any trees. The area where the tent
was pitched became slushy due to the heavy rains. It was impossible to leave
the tent without accidentally stepping into slushy patch of grass.
Day 3: Tsokoding to Jaynetso
lake
Duration: 4 hours
In the morning we woke up to a
clear day. It was a beautiful morning with clouds below us. Day 3 is one of the shortest days in the
trek. The trek crosses Tsaluchu river.
.jpg "Simkota lake") |
| Simkota Lake |
.jpg "Jaynetso Lake") |
| Jaynetso Lake |
Day 4: Jaynetso lake to
Phajoding
Duration: 4 hours
When I woke up in the morning, I
could not locate Jaynetso lake!!! I was perplexed as the lake was beside the
tent when I went to sleep. Little did I realise that what I assumed to be grass
and vegetation was, in reality, the reflection from the placid lake. Most
people who see the picture of the Jaynetso lake (see pic on the left) have difficulty in spotting the
lake. In the photograph vast majority of people incorrectly point to
the waterfall when asked locate to lake!!! This spot was certainly one of the highlights
of the trek.
.jpg "Lavala pass") |
| Lavala Pass |
Day 4 of the trek crosses Lavala
pass located at 4300 meters above sea level. This is the highest altitude of
the entire trek. Most of the vegetation at this altitude consists of mosses and
grasses. The trek passes beside beautiful Simkota lake. Most of the time the thick clouds blocked
views of the mountains. Phajoding camp is located close to Thujidrak Goemba.
 |
| Phajoding Goemba |
Day 5: Phajoding to Thimpu
Today the trek descends to
Thimpu. The trek passes through Phajoding Goemba . This
is the residence of the country’s main abbot.There are many views of Thimpu
nestled between the mountains. People walk
to Thujidrak Goemba to make offerings. I was surprised to see one of the boys
walking to the Goemba sporting a Manchester United cap!! The mountain trek
descended to a tarmac road and a waiting van took us back to Thimpu.
 |
| Dochu La |
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