Dodging the rain in Paro

Bhutan tour bus

We leave Darjeeling in our mini convey of 3 jeeps in what should have been the last journey before picking up the truck in Siliguri. Unfortunately a landslide in Nepal blocked the road to Kathmandu on 2nd Aug & there is no sign of the road being reopened any time soon. This means we will be the first overland trip to Bhutan - but without a truck. So instead, we'll be taking a variety of different buses, at least one per country.

And so, after overnighting in Siliguri, we make our way into Bhutan at Phontsholing. 

Not much to say about Phontsholing, other than we are definitely not in India anymore. Having cleared immigration earlier than planned there is plenty of time to see the 2 streets and little temple. Apart from the peace & quiet the buildings are very distinctive with painted designs adorning all the houses, shop fronts and even petrol station. 

Bhutan petrol station

We leave for Paro in the morning driving through the green & mountains backdrop, Bhutan has a law to keep at least 69% land forested. We are accompanied by dawja, our local guide and Karma, our driver. It later transpires that Karma's regular job is driving for the treasury minister, one of 11 cabinet posts in the fairly new parliamentary system. Bhutan's 4th king put in place a the present constitution with a democratically elected government, which was agreed in 2005 & started in 2008, after he had abdicated in favour of his son (unsurprisingly known as the 5th king).

Paro watch tower

Our first stop is to see the international airport. Not the most exciting stop, but it's the only one in the country and Dawja at least seems proud of it. The real sightseeing starts at the national museum, the contents of which have been relocated due to fire damaging the original building.  Fire is also a recurring theme as across the country we see burnt out buildings, primarily as a result of the preponderance of using butter lamps in the monasteries.


The rain starts on the evening of day 1 and doesn't really stop for a further 24nrs.  This requires a last minute change of plan as trekking to the tigers nest is considered too dangerous. Instead we head for the Sunday market and the to Paro Dzong. 

Paro market

Dzongs are a large building or series of buildings housing the administrative bodies for the region (town) and a monastery. Originally built as fortresses they have a distinct architectural style making them easily recognisable. 

Paro Dzong