The Students’ Council of Shree Damodar College of Commerce & Economics Margao organised a College tour to Bhutan from 8th – 21st November 2018. 62 students and 7 faculty members were part of the tour.
Bhutan, The Land of the Thunder Dragon was the perfect place to visit to enlarge the understanding of culture through the ideas, beautiful customs, traditions and the social behaviour of the people in Bhutan. The trip comprised of visits to various places both historical and mesmerising.
We started from Margao railway station at 3.15pm on 8th November 2018. We had a halt in Bangalore the following day before heading to Bhutan.
In Bangalore, we visited the Bannerghatta Biological Park. It is located about 22 Kms south of Bengaluru city. It is one among the few places in the world where wilderness is preserved so close to a big city. It comprises different units such as Zoo, Safari, Butterfly Park and Rescue Center (Conservation of captive animals). The zoo had a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
The journey to New Alipurduar was a two day train travel. Upon arrival we had to wait at the station until 5a.m. since buses are allowed to ply only after 5a.m.
PHUNTESHOLING
It was a 1hr 45min drive from New Alipurduar to Phuntesholing, the border town of Southern Bhutan. It adjoins the Indian town of Jaigaon, and cross-border trade has resulted in a thriving local economy. Phuntesholing is uniquely more urban than other Bhutanese towns as it is Bhutan’s financial, industrial and trading capital. After completing the immigration formalities we were free to explore the place.
Culture varies from society to society and the moment we entered Bhutan, we were pretty astounded to see the cultural variation. The visible attributes of culture such as artefacts, symbols, and the Bhutanese language contributed in bringing the essence of being in a different country.
We had a four and half hour drive to Paro. On our way we visited Kharbandi Gumpa, a monastery built in 1967 by the Royal Grandmother. The monastery contains paintings on the life of Buddha and statues of Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal and Guru Rinpochey. The view from the monastery garden of Phuntesholing and surrounding Indian plains was breathtaking.
PHUNTESHOLING TO PARO
The drive to Paro was exhilarating indeed. All along the way, we were in awe with the scenery and the smooth double roads and the waterfalls. We stopped for lunch at a restaurant midway between Phuntesholing and Paro. It was a small restaurant with the usual Bhutanese charm.
PARO
After spending the night at Paro, the students and faculty members started for an adventurous albeit tough hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche first brought Buddhism here. He is said to have flown on the back of a tigress to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. The Monastery is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The Monastery is at 3180 ft altitude from base, and round trip distance is around 8 km. The trek is marked with trees and prayer flags. The captivating views of the Monastery motivated us to go on. After walking uphill along some very narrow and dusty path for about three hours, the group finally reached the Tiger’s Nest. The journey was worth the destination. All the students as well as the faculty members were awed by the breathtaking structure and construction of the Monastery. The Tiger’s Nest was the climax of the tour.
The next day was packed with a whole lot of local sightseeing. We began the day with a visit to Ta Dzong, once a fortified lookout tower that is now the National Museum. It has 4 sections a) masks – the ones used in dances b) paintings c) tea and tea pots d) natural history (mostly photos and videos and text about flora and fauna of Bhutan)
We then walked down the trail to visit the Rinpung Dzong meaning “ fortress of the heap of jewels”. Next, we visited Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country. We then drove to the Drugyal Dzong (Bhutan Victory Fort) which was built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan invaders during the 1600s. We could see Mount Jumolhari, Bhutan’s second highest mountain at 7314mts.
The view of the Paro Airport (the only one in Bhutan) was amazing. It is also counted among the 10 most challenging airports in the world, that only 8 pilots are certified to land the flights here. The surrounding peaks as high as 5000m makes it a bit of challenge. The view of the vibrant green valley with the gushing sound of the Paro river below, the stunning blue sky above, and high mountains around the Paro valley makes it an enchanting picture.
We decided to take a peek in the Paro market in the evening. It was a bustling and colourful market with some good handicraft and souvenir shops.
THIMPU
We travelled down the slopes of Paro to head to Thimpu. Home to the Royal Family, Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, is a mountain of touristic treasures. From the Tashichhoe Dzong, which houses the government officials, to the National and Textile Museums, the capital city has much to offer.
The highlight of the day was the visit to Buddha point, a Monastery. The centrepiece of Buddha Point is the 51-meter bronze statue of the Buddha sitting on top of Kuensel Phodrang hill facing the Himalayas. It was constructed in 2015 to mark the 60th anniversary of fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuk. The view was indeed blissful. The paintings on the walls of the monastery told several stories of the life of Buddha and his teachings.
On the way back, the students and the faculty members got a chance to experience the local ambience and cuisine.
WANGDUE- PUNAKHA
It was a two and half hour drive from Thimpu to Punakha. We started off with a visit to Dochula Pass (3080mts above sea level) that heralds the most enchanting views of Bhutan. With the captivating views of the snow clad Himalayas, you would feel you’ve reached heaven. Dochula Pass, was created in honor of 108 Bhutanese soldiers who died in a 2003 military operation. It is a concentration of 108 memorial stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens.” This place tells an interesting story of spirituality, bravery, and Bhutanese culture.
Later, we visited the Punakha Dzong or the Palace of Great Happiness built on the confluence of the Phu Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female) rivers. The rivers were calm and the water as clear as crystal. Walking over the suspension bridge was a thrilling experience. This 160 metres suspension bridge is the longest in Bhutan. The bridge is stable and provided a good view of the river and valley, with the mountain as background.
As we drove back to the hotel, all of us felt a pinch of sadness as it was the last night of our stay in Bhutan.
After dinner the students danced to the beats of Bollywood music, joined by the hotel staff. After what seemed like an hour of dancing and singing, it was finally time to wrap things up and get some rest.
It was a 6 hour drive to the station in New Alipurduar. After a 12 hour train journey we reached Kolkata, our final tour spot. In Kolkata, we paid a visit to Victoria Memorial, a large marble building which was built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1819–1901) and is now a museum and tourist destination under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.
We also visited the famous Science City, an iconic institution combining education and entertainment in sharp contrast to the science museums existing elsewhere in the country. The cable car rides, science on the sphere, the outdoor science park were some of the key attractions. The rest of the day was spent in shopping the streets of Kolkata and tasting the local food and of course the famous Roshgullas!
As the day came to an end, our bags were packed and we were ready to leave.
To Conclude…
Every place we visited in Bhutan, left us amazed not only by its natural beauty, but also how they could retain or blend tradition with modernity without affecting its authenticity. This educational tour to Bhutan has not only stunned us with its natural beauty but has also made us question ourselves in many aspects of our ways of living, as to how each of these culture and sub-culture play a significant role in our lives. By visiting different countries and understanding different cultures, there is always a space for us to reflect on our own culture and if given a chance this can give us the opportunity to help our society be better.
