Thimphu

6th October 2011
Today day we left Punakha heading to the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu.
Our visit to the capital coincides with the annual three day festival.
Before reaching Thimphu we had to cross the Dochu La pass once more. This time our luck held with the weather and we had views to the snowy mountains, all of them over 7500m in hight. That part of the Himalayas forms the border with Tibet.
On arrival at the outskirts of Thimphu, we once again saw the 202 ft high golden Buddha which is currently under construction on a mountain side over looking the city. The Buddha is 140 feet tall with a 62 foot base. In the city itself, we visited the textile museum and the King Jigme Dorij Wangchuk memorial chorten, he was the third king of Bhutan, the current king is the fifth. After lunch we went to the Tashicho Dzong to watch some of the annual festival. Like all the other Dzongs, Bhutanese people are required to wear their national costume to enter and all foreign visitors are required to dress smart. With this being an important festival I think the locals had put on what we would call their Sunday best. Inside the festival the main dance we saw, was the dance of the 16 drum beaters. I don't know how the sixteen dancers kept it up? It was another very hot day today, no shade for the dancers, they wore colourful dress with a mask and the dance lasted for two hours.
On leaving the festival I had a little walk down the main street of Thimphu. Compared to what we have seen, but not unexpectedly, the city is a lot busier. In Paro buildings were restricted to a maximum of three levels, here that does not seem to be the case. That said none appear to be over five levels and all are still in the Bhutanese style.
Later we checked into our hotel, about half an hour drive from the city. This hotel is the Wangchuk Resort and once again I'm very impressed with the standard of hotel. I think Singey, our guide, must telephone ahead because every time we arrive at an hotel there is group of ladies waiting to take our bags to our rooms and tea and coffee is also waiting for us.


Phil