I’m currently leading a WanderTours 12-day trip to Bhutan, and have been awestruck by the beauty and traquility of this amazing country. We are at the half way point of the tour, and I don’t want it to end! This tiny country, situated high in the Himalayas, has miraculously been able to maintain its unique culture despite its strong armed neighbors (India and China). With a population of less than 1 million and land mass roughly half the size of Indiana, this Buddhist nation could be (and often is called) the last Shangri-La. From what I’ve seen this past week, I couldn’t agree more.
The Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive dzongs in all of Bhutan. Located in the town of Punakha, which served as the capital of Bhutan for over 300 years, this fort-monastery was the seat of the Bhutanese government until the mid-1950s. It has weathered fires and even earthquakes, but the dzong still continues to inspire awe in those that visit it. (Myself included).
As we drove through Bhutan, I couldn’t help but feel like I was driving through a picturesque postcard that never ended. This view, on the outskirts of Punakha, simply took my breath away. Speaking of taking my breath away…
We made an impromptu stop along the central highway (a one lane “road”) to talk to some locals walking by. As our driver bought some of their vegetables, I couldn’t keep my surprise hidden at the size of their cucumbers! HUGE!
Adventure On,
Joslin
Punaka Dzong and landscape Bhutan photos taken by Joslin Fritz.