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.

Paro Thimpu trek
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.

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.
Paro thimpu trek
Simkota Lake
The bridge across the fast moving lake is fabricated by placing 3 logs of woods next to each other. The logs are not even tied to each other. This is a good spot to relax and enjoy the mountain spring water. Soon enough it started raining. The campsite for the day was beside Jaynetso Lake. Even though we had the entire afternoon to ourselves we could not explore nearby areas due to the heavy rain.

Paro Thimpu trek
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.
Paro Thimpu trek
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.

Bhutan
Dochu La

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