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Through misty mountains, clear streams, beautiful waterfalls and picturesque living root bridges, Meghalaya, India offers an ideal getaway for the nature lovers and the romantics. Meghalaya is a doorway to heaven with swirls of clouds passing beneath you amidst the green and vast landscapes. On our trip across Meghalaya, we learnt and discovered various facts about their culture and tradition, one being importance to cleanliness. Most travel enthusiasts would have heard of our next destination as Asia's cleanest village - Mawlynnong. Our love for rural India and a strong desire to see the lives of locals up close made us spend more time at Mawlynnong. And we enjoyed every second of our stay in this beautiful village also nicknamed - 'God's own Garden'. In this seventh blog of the series – The Meghalaya Odyssey we present a detailed travel guide to Mawlynnong (Pronouned - Maw-leen-ong, Maw rhymes with Law, Leen rhymes with Keen, Ong as in Song), the cleanest village in Asia, along with recommendations around stay and itinerary. 'The Meghalaya Odyssey' is a series of 10 travel blogs and 2 photo blogs. Check out other blogs in the series by clicking on the below mentioned links or photographs: 1. Introduction to Meghalaya 2. Plan your trip to Meghalaya 3. ​Shillong Travel guide 4. Mawphlang Travel guide 5. Sohra (Cherrapunjee) Travel guide 6. Sa-I-Mika Resort @ Cherrapunjee 7. Mawlynnong - A Photostory 8. Mawlynnong (Asia's cleanest village) Travel guide - This article 9. Experience Dawki, Shnongpdeng and adventure sports on Umngot river 10. Amazing Dawki, Shnongpdeng and the river Umngot in Meghalaya - A Photo blog 11. A Complete Travel Guide to Jaintia Hills 12. Mawsynram & Mawlyngbna We had read a lot about the cleanest village of Asia located in Khasi hills of Meghalaya and we decided to tick it off our travel plan by including it our itinerary. When Indian government launched the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) in 2014, little did we know that Mawlynnong is already way ahead of the curve. Mawlynnong was adjudged as the ‘Cleanest Village in Asia’ in 2003 by Discover India magazine and later popularized by BBC in 2005. The only reason Mawlynnong received this honour in 2003 and not earlier is because this is when a road was built connecting it to rest of the towns and cities. So this is when media reached Mawlynnong. This claim of such prestigious title stuck with Mawlynnong and today this village has become a source of pride to the country, the state and the villagers. Mawlynnong is, often, presented as a day-trip to be covered among a bouquet of Meghalaya destinations. However, this scenic village located in the Khasi hills is definitely a place to stay and soak in its essence. We decided spending a night in Mawlynnong and knowing more about the village, the villagers and the culture. Mawlynnong - The Village: Situated about 100 kilometers from the capital city of Shillong, the drive to Mawlynnong is picturesque with undulating hills and huge green farms. As we neared the village, we spotted hand-woven, cone shaped baskets used as dustbins placed at specific distance at both the sides of the road. At the entry gate, we were urged to pay a fee of INR 50 for our car to enter the village. We learnt that this money is used for further cleansing the village of the plastic waste and other forms of garbage produced by the visitors. As we drove inside, towards the village parking lot, we felt as if we had entered some 5 star resort. The road was well constructed with lots of greenery and flowering plants on both sides of the road. The bamboo basket dustbins were seen at every nook and corner of the village. No garbage, no plastic, no other form of waste was visible anywhere throughout. Our Home stay at Mawlynnong: A unique feature of Mawlynnong is that there are no hotels or resorts inside the village. The villagers give out a room or two in their house to the tourists as homestays. They take care of all the needs of the tourists and hence earn some money out of it. We had booked one such home stay in Mawlynnong after lot of research and we were going to stay at Ha-La-I-Trep Cottages catered by Mr. Lanphrange. Our homestay cottage was rustic but beautifully made out of bamboo. The room was just sufficient to have a bed and a small table. The bathroom was attached and had a geyser. We were even surprised to see a coffee maker and a heater in the cottage. The verandah in front of the cottage was full of colorful flowering plants and a few chairs to relax and have a good chat. Mr. Lanphrange was extremely hospitable and was patient to answer our curious questions about the village. Some quick facts about Mawlynnong: We learnt that the word Mawlynnong means ‘Cavities in a rock’ (caused by rainwater) and we were happy to spot so many Mawlynnongs (rocks with cavities) in Mawlynnong (village). Mawlynnong is a small village with roughly 100 households. A commendable feature of the village is that it maintains a perfect balance between their culture and modernization. The villagers have not sacrificed their tradition to suit the demands of the increased tourism. Agriculture is the main occupation of the villagers and betel nut is their principal crop. The village has one school and it boasts of 100% literacy. Almost everyone was able to speak and understand Hindi and English. Life in Mawlynnong: Cleanliness – The first question that intrigued us was – How did this village become a model of cleanliness and sanitation in the country where waste management has always been a major problem? Mr. Lanphrange proudly answered that the thought likely arose from a cholera outbreak 100’s of years back. Cleanliness was encouraged that time to control the spread of the deadly disease. Early Christian missionaries helped in implementing and encouraging the practice of cleanliness and sanitation. And since then this culture was ingrained in each child when they were young. In other words, it isn’t a habit, it’s an age-old tradition. The children since grade 1 or 2 are expected to keep their surroundings clean. Since more tourists have been visiting the village, many of whom have a habit of littering, villagers are employed on rotational basis to clean the common areas of the village. They are also held responsible for emptying all the dustbins throughout the village and separating organic waste from other non-biodegradable waste. In the village’s innovative waste management system, the biodegradable waste is buried and later used as manure and the non-biodegradable waste is taken far off from the village and is burnt. Each villager is responsible for the beautification of the village and dedicated village gardeners are responsible for growing and maintaining public plants and flowers that line up the footpaths. Sanitation – Mr. Lanphrange explained that around late 1980s, the village headman had decided there should be no open defecation and in couple of years every house in the village had a toilet in it. This is surely a big achievement in pre-liberalization days of Indian economy. The children are also taught basic rules of hygiene and sanitation. As for the individual houses, each homeowner is responsible for cleaning and maintaining his/her house and the surroundings. Rules regarding cleanliness and sanitation are set at the Village Panchayat and are followed by one and all; where the defaulters are strictly penalized. Another advantage is that the village, being a Khasi land, follows matriarchy (elaborated in introduction to Meghalaya) with women in dominant roles – who play a big part in keeping the home and surrounding neat and tidy and in order. Cleanliness is considered as playing one of major role in living a good life at Mawlynnong. Smoking and usage of plastics are strictly banned in Mawlynnong. Even the tourists are urged not to throw their plastic bottles in the waste bins and to carry them out of the village themselves. The village head assigns different tasks to each villager on Saturdays like cleaning school, ponds, and so on. These extra tasks are good for the society and the village. Most of the villagers are Christians and on Sundays, everyone takes a holiday, goes to church, relax, chat and enjoy. Our Experience in Mawlynnong: Several small lanes are formed from the main parking lot that takes one to the place of residence of the villagers. We explored the entire village by walking in these lanes. An evening and a morning walk for 2-3 hours each should be adequate to cover the entire village. While taking a stroll in the village we found that each and every house has clean and green surroundings. The patios are covered with colorful orchids and bougainvillea with perfectly maintained walkways and gardens. Once cobbled roads are now cemented pathways but most houses still prefer traditional wooden houses built on wooden stilts. We were surprised to see various flowering plants which we had only seen in school textbooks during childhood. Almost every house has a basin in their front yards for rain water harvesting. Just wandering in the village is incredibly pleasant. A beautiful church, a big football ground and a school adds charm to the beauty of the village. To us, Mawlynnong provides a perfect setting to stimulate the minds of writers and poets. Increasing tourism has helped the villagers in generating revenue by setting up small businesses – like souvenir stalls, home stays, guide services, eateries and restaurants. But often fame and popularity have downsides too and Mawlynnong is no exception. In peak travel season, Mawlynnong receives up to 300 tourists per day, degrading the simple lifestyles of the villagers and picturesqueness of the village. Increased complaints of noise pollution and air pollution have been received which has urged the village panchayat to construct a new parking lot further away from the village. But the good thing is that the villagers have accepted all these downfalls as part and parcel of their life and strive hard to maintain the title of Cleanest Village of Asia. Places to Visit in and around Mawlynnong: 1. Nohwet view point, Nohwet Nohwet viewpoint is a man-made skywalk or an observatory made of bamboo. It is located on the outskirts of Mawlynnong in a village named Nohwet. One can see hills and valleys from here and if you are lucky, fog and clouds can look magical. Nohwet viewpoint also has lovely seating areas made from bamboo. Despite being made of bamboo, the skywalk is extremely sturdy and has lot of strength to easily carry 5-8 people. We also learnt that every monsoon, the skyviews would be damaged and they create new ones once rains recedes. One can spend 15-20 minutes here. Entrance fee – INR 30 per head 2. Jingmaham Living Root Bridge, Riwai Similar to, but denser than, the Double Decker root bridge of Nongriat, this Single Decker living root bridge in neighboring village of Riwai is a must visit destination. While the Double Decker living root in Nongriat involves a full day of trekking, Jingmaham living Root Bridge is easy to reach. A small trek of about 150-200 steps takes one to the beautiful creation of nature. This bridge lies between the villages of Nohwet and Riwai. The trek is through lush green surroundings and dense foliage. We learnt that the bridge is 180 years old and is used to cross the Thyllong River (River of Gods) that flows beneath the living root bridge. The bridge is 30 meters long and one is allowed to walk on it to cross to the other side. Standing on the bridge is however prohibited. Visit to the living root bridge might take around 1.5 hours. There are also many small shops lined on the way to the bridge where you can buy gifts, souvenirs and eatables. Entrance fee – INR 10 per head 3. Balancing Rock in Mawlynnong This is a unique natural phenomenon where a small stone is balancing a bigger boulder. The structure has remained as such since ages and was worshiped as an ancient shrine by Khasi tribes before the advent of Christianity. It should not take you more than 10 minutes to visit this place. Entrance fee – INR 10 per head 4. Bangladesh viewpoints in Mawlynnong Skywalks similar to the one in Nohwet are also constructed in Mawlynnong. They are around 4 storeyed tall and rise above the tall trees to provide an incredible view of Bangladesh plains. It is ideal to watch sunrise or sunset from these skywalks. Note that these too would have entry fees of around Rs.20-30 per head. Apart from the above mentioned places to visit, there are a few waterfalls and many more living root bridges located inside the nearby forests. Local guides can be hired from the village who could take one deep into the forests to see these beautiful natural wonders. Depending on availability of time, we learnt these expedition deeper into forests can range from 2-5 days. How to Reach Mawlynnong: Local shared taxis to Mawlynnong charging INR 250-300 per head run from the capital city of Shillong. You can also hire a private cab from Shillong or Cherrapunjee to reach Mawlynnong. Duration of Stay in Mawlynnong: Tourists mostly visit Mawlynnong as a day trip from Shillong or Cherrapunjee. But to soak in the real essence of the village and learn more about its culture, we recommend spending at least one night in the village. Where to Stay in Mawlynnong: There are several homestays in Mawlynnong where the villagers welcome guests in their home and make arrangements for their comfortable stay. We certainly recommend staying in Mawlynnong with Mr. Lanphrange in his wonderful quaint cottages named Ha-La-I-Trep cottages. As mentioned above in the blog, we experienced clean rooms, spotless bed and extraordinary hospitality on our stay there. However, on one of our leisurely walk in the village we noted down the contact of a few of the homestays we came across. Please find the list below. Kindly note that we have not experienced staying with any of them, except Ha-La-I-Trep homestay, and hence cannot comment on the kind of stay they offer. Ha-La-I- Trep Bamboo Cottages - 9856161773 I Lajong Guest House – 9615043027 One Sister and two Brother’s Homestay – 8575262008 E.B & Sis Homestay – 8014908645 Sah Pyngngad Homestay – 9615724352 Ha-La-Tyngkong Homestay – 9615973768 Where to Eat in Mawlynnong – Two restaurants located right at the central parking area, serve simple yet delicious meals. We had our dinner – a mouth-watering Veg. Thali at the Dapbiang restaurant (Find the menu below). We savored breakfast of hot momos and Maggie at Naphi Food stall. You can even inquire with your home-stay if they provide any meals. Apart from these, a few tea stalls are scattered here and there in the village and may also serve some light snack. What to Expect in Mawlynnong: There isn’t any luxury hotel or restaurant or ATM or petrol pump in the village Mobile phones may not catch any network and there is no Wi-Fi The hospitality of the villagers will touch your heart and their kindness will touch your soul Try to learn their outlook of life and appreciate the innocence in their language You will learn that lifestyle and state of mind is a choice and has little to do with money You will learn that less is more You will be stared upon if you throw any rubbish on the roads or lanes PIN THESE IMAGES Hope this in depth guide to Mawlynnong would help you chart a detailed itinerary and make your bookings for stay. View more photographs of the cleanest village of Asia, Mawlynnong, in our photo blog here. Would you like to visit this beautiful village? Would you like us to add any other detail? Do let us know your thoughts in comment section below. #India #EastIndia #Meghalaya

Meghalaya, a north-eastern state in India consists of Garo Hills, Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. The Hills are named such based on the ethnic tribes that resides in these regions. While most places to visit in Meghalaya – Shillong, Mawphlang, Cherrapunjee, Mawlynnong and Mawsynram lie in the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills too has some beautiful spots worth visiting. In our last blog we wrote about Dawki, Shnongpdeng and adventure sports on Umngot River. Both Dawki and Shnongpdeng are actually part of Jaintia hills and it is the beautiful Umngot river that divides Jaintia and Khasi Hills. After our visit to Dawki and overnight stay camping at Shnongpdeng, we headed to towards places to visit in Jaintia Hills. In this ninth article of the series - The Meghalaya Odyssey we will detail out various places to visit in Jaintia Hills - the eastern part of Meghalaya and recommendations on stay options. 'The Meghalaya Odyssey' is a series of 10 travel blogs and 2 photo blogs. Check out other blogs in the series by clicking on the below mentioned links or photographs: 1. Introduction to Meghalaya 2. Plan your trip to Meghalaya 3. ​Shillong Travel guide 4. Mawphlang Travel guide 5. Sohra (Cherrapunjee) Travel guide 6. Sa-I-Mika Resort @ Cherrapunjee 7. Mawlynnong - A Photostory 8. Mawlynnong (Asia's cleanest village) Travel guide 9. Experience Dawki, Shnongpdeng and adventure sports on Umngot river 10. Amazing Dawki, Shnongpdeng and the river Umngot in Meghalaya - A Photo blog 11. A Complete Travel Guide to Jaintia Hills - This article 12. Mawsynram & Mawlyngbna The Jaintia Hills or the eastern section of Meghalaya is further divided into: Western Jaintia Hills having its headquarters in Jowai and Eastern Jaintia Hills having its headquarters in Khliehriat. Jowai is the biggest town in the Jaintia hills and hence is an administrative center of government offices, hospitals, banks and educational institutions. The Dawki-Jowai road is a National Highway (NH44) and is very scenic with beautiful wallpaper like landscapes and attractive countryside. The hills surrounding the road are of peculiar colors with brown, red and orange shades. Jaintia Hills is a land of limestone and coal mine owners and most of the minerals extracted is sold off to the neighboring country, Bangladesh via friendship gate at Tamabil. This part of the hills remain highly unexplored, hence the places to visit remain uncrowded. However, trekkers do explore the Jaintia Hills often owing to the many caves that this region possess. Places to Visit in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya: KrangSuri Falls in Amlarem, Jaintia hills - Located in the town named Amlarem, these hidden waterfalls are not visible from the road or the parking area. After having parked their vehicle, one has to descend down through a narrow but well maintained path for about 20 minutes to reach the KrangSuri Waterfalls. The sound of the water falling can be heard mid-way and as one approaches near, the noise becomes louder and louder. There is a viewpoint mid-way after descending some 50-70 steps from where one can have the bird’s eye view of the falls which seem just like Niagara Falls. For elderly, it is advisable to witness the majestic falls from here itself. The final path to the main falls is through big boulders from where the color of water seems to be blue-green. The waterfalls in multiple streams breaking into tiny water droplets that form a rainbow. With the sun shine, the blue water glitters brightly. The best part is one can walk towards the backside of the falls and view the water fall right in front of them. On the top, bathing and boating facilities are available. KrangSuri waterfalls were one of the best waterfalls we witnessed in Meghalaya and made heading to Jaintia hills totally worth it. Note: The entrance charges are INR 40 per person Thlumuwi Falls and Stone Bridge in Jaintia hills - The best thing about Thlumuwi Falls and the Stone Bridge is that they lie right on the NH44 road (that connects most of the places to visit in Jaintia Hills) opposite to each other. Thlumuwi Falls are at some distance on one side of the road. A path is made for the visitors to view these spectacular falls up close. The water from the Thlumuwi falls flows towards the Stone Bridge built right on the other side of NH44. The Stone Bridge was constructed for the Kings to pass through the Kingdom to Sylhet town which currently lies in the neighbouring country, Bangladesh. Though slightly broken today, the Stone Bridge still remains in its place. The water from the falls is crystal clear and together the waterfalls and bridge gives a breathtaking view of the valley beyond. Thadlaskein Lake in Jaintia hills - This 5-century old man-made lake was dug by thousands of warriors using their battle-bows as the only digging equipment. It also lies on the NH44 highway. The Lake was dug to commemorate the departure of a chieftain Sajar Nangli who had differences with the king of Jaintiapur and to avoid bloodshed by the Kings decided to leave the Kingdom. Before leaving, the Lake was built as a last memorable gift by the warriors to their motherland. The Lake is a popular picnic spot among locals and also includes boating facilities in the evening time. A boat house like restaurant near the lake adds to its charm. However as a tourist you might find not much to do here and can skip it if you do not have time. Nartiang Monoliths in Jaintia hills - Monoliths have a cultural significance in Meghalaya. The stone slabs placed are erected both vertically and horizontally to form a monolith. We had already come across some of these monoliths near the sacred forest in Mawphlang but Nartiang had something else to offer. Nartiang is one of the oldest towns of Jaintia Hills region. It was frequented by the Kings of the Jaintiapur Kingdom to escape summer heat. The biggest and highest monoliths at one place are found in the Nartiang. The erected stone slabs that form the monolith are known as menhirs or Moo Shynrang (Men) and the horizontally placed slabs are called dolmens or Moo Kynthai (Women). The women slab is supported by three or more stones at the bottom. The monoliths are believed to be erected to commemorate the events of the Jaintia Kings from 1500 – 1833 AD. A pathway is built in the monolith park where one can roam about and wonder what stories these century old stones have to tell. Durga Temple in Nartiang, Jaintia hills - The Durga Temple is located in the interiors of the Nartiang village. A verandah surround the temple that is painted red. The ceiling is supported by wooden logs. The temple is believed to be constructed by the Kings of Jaintia on their conversion to Hinduism. This Durga temple is infamous for human sacrifices to Goddess Durga done as a custom long ago. Even in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple there is a tunnel through which the heads of sacrificed human were rolled down. Unfortunately, the visit to temple made us feel uncomfortable with the mental picture of so many weird superstitions embedded in Indian society. But the presence of a Hindu temple in a small town of majorly Christian state was fascinating. Also interesting was the priest here who told us his family has been working and managing the temple for nearly 17 generations. Syntu Ksiar in Jaintia hills - Syntu Ksiar means ‘The Flower of Gold’ and it has earned such a name by the picturesque surroundings and the attractive landscapes amidst the place in which it is located. The beautiful valley lies on the banks of the River Myntdu. A memorial has been erected in memory of freedom fighter Kiang Nongbah, who led an uprising against the British and was hanged by the Britishers later. Today, this valley is a famous picnic spot in Jaintia Hills. Ialong Park in Jowai, Jaintia hills - Ialong Park is situated in a small village called Ialong in Jowai, Jaintia Hills. Apart from being a park it also harbours a sacred groove inside. The park provides the tourists ample space for family picnics and soothing walks. Situated atop a hill, it offers a panoramic view of the Pynthorwah Valley with Myndtu River meandering through. The vast valley is full of paddy fields and a lot of greenery. Syndai Caves and Rupasor Bathing Ghat near Amlarem in Jaintia hills - Syndai Caves are a group of 11 natural caves near Amlarem that draw a lot of tourist attraction. These caves were used as hideouts during the war between Jaintia Kings and foreign intruders. The 1000 meter long cave has several stalagmites and stalactites. Rupasor Bathing Ghat is a royal pool located near the Syndai Caves. It has sculptures of elephants very intricately carved out. The Ghat was used by the royal clan as a bathing zone while travelling. A bridge before the Ghat is very beautiful. Tyrshi Falls in Jaintia hills - This is yet another waterfall located 5 kilometers off the NH44 highway (that connects most of the places to visit in Jaintia Hills). It is a mighty and huge waterfall that involves a small trek descending down a pathway to the falls. The view of the falls and the paddy fields from the height is mesmerizing. Umlawan Caves near Jowai in Jaintia hills - Located near Jowai, Umlawan Caves are titled as the longest (21000 feet) and deepest cave (350 feet) in the Indian subcontinent. The Umlawan cave is further joined by two other caves, the Umskor and the Kot-Sati, which gives it its great length of 21 km. During monsoon, the caves’ entrance is flooded by water and hence used as a washing place by the locals. Umlawan Caves, in Jaintia Hills, are limestone caves and has 24 entrances. The caves are so deep that it becomes pitch dark inside and one has to move with headlamps. This cave is a trekker’s and an adventurer’s paradise. Restaurant and Stay Options in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya: Jaintia Hills is very less frequented by tourists; hence it has comparatively lesser stay options than the Khasi Hills. However, one can check out the following options for a night stay: Traveller’s Nest, Ialong Park – Located right inside the Ialong Park, the Traveller’s Nest has 3 quaint cottages to cater to the tourists. Though basic, the cottages are extremely clean and well maintained. HighWinds, Jowai – Located right next to Thadlaskein Lake, HighWinds hotel in Jowai is a semi-luxury stay option in Jaintia Hills. It houses 3 types of rooms – Deluxe, Executive and Standard. The multi-cuisine restaurant of HighWinds hotel serves excellent food. We had our lunch here and it was mouth-watering. Located right on the NH44 highway, this hotel is a great fit for all types of travellers and offers beautiful views of hills and the lake. MRK3 Tyrchi Inn, Jowai – Located near the Tyrshi Falls in Jowai, Tyrchi Inn is again a semi-luxurious stay option in Jaintia Hills. It is also right on the NH44 highway and offers delicious meals as well. As you read above, Jaintia Hills has a variety of places to see right from spellbinding waterfalls, century-old monoliths to beautiful valleys and lakes. The caving experiences add to the glamour of this land. Apart from these, less travellers frequenting these areas make Jaintia Hills a must visit during your trip to Meghalaya. PIN THESE IMAGES Hope this in-depth article to Jaintia Hills would help you chart a detailed itinerary and make your bookings for stay. While you plan your trip to this offbeat destination, we would be happy to answer any of your questions and would also love to know what you think of this article. Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. #India #EastIndia #Meghalaya

We all love short trips where we pack our bags on Friday evening just a couple of hours before our scheduled departure time, go there, be there and come back to city by Monday morning with sleepy face (kidding!) and tons of memories. Isn't it? The tough decision would be picking up a location to spend the weekend which can get tricky as you may need a lot of deliberation to pick the right place to suit your mood, interests and budget. After location, it may take another few rounds of online browsing sessions, phone calls to friends or recommendations from your favourite travel portals or blogs (like this one) to pick up the right flight/train and hotel to fit your needs like glove. And then comes your last step. Packing for the trip!!! This one should be easy and get done in shortest possible time like in less than 30 minutes. Not sure? I am sure you will be confident after reading the below steps that I have put together for you. Let's start. First Step - Think (5 minutes): Is that the actual name of the step? Yes it is and it is an important one. It is all about just thinking. Some serious thinking. Close your eyes and try to remember the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of your destination. Is it the beaches or hills or lakes or shopping malls or restaurants or casinos. Remember what comes to your mind and pick how do you want to feel in that place. Do you want to feel casual, relaxed, playful, tough, stylish, sexy or silly (no offense)? Choose and stick with it. If it hard to stick to, write it on a sticky notes and stick it to the wall or mirror you will look at frequently till your packing is complete. For more inspiration, you may check your pins from your travel board on Pinterest or those screenshots or collections saved using your Instagram profile. But, I am sure we all are capable of killing at least 90 minutes before making any decision with our phone in hand and social apps open. We are talking about quick packing here. So, come back to the reality as quickly as possible, put the phone aside and keep the chosen keyword in mind and go to next step. Pick your bag (2 minutes): This one is a no brainer. You already have your go-to bag in mind. Isn't it? If not, choose any small or medium sized bag with a couple of pockets that is easy to carry around. Backpacks work best, if you ask me. Pick your clothes (10 Minutes): Typical weekend getaways include day time activities planned for two days, a dinner, late night party or pool party or bonfire (depends on your destination and people travelling along with you), a sumptuous breakfast (if you are a morning person) and a little shopping session. A lot of variations are possible but to simplify, let us stick to the basics. Now think of the mood you chose and pick up the clothes that fit the theme. Start with your comfortable basic clothing item (favourite denim or short or dress) that can be easily dressed up or down with a simple add-on. Now throw in a couple of tops or shirts that go well with the first item chosen. You may begin to worry that they may not be enough but we are only talking about two days here. Come on and fret not. Footwear (2 Minutes): One to wear during travel and another pair for use at the destination. Again your choice depends on your destination and mood. Preferably, keep an extra pair of clean socks ready if it is winter or rainy season, just in case. Accessories (3 Minutes): Now this component can a add a lot of personality to you and the outfits your picked already. The options are plenty and girls don't need advice here but guys, you have no reason to be left behind. Pick up your go-to shades or cap or bracelet, any one of them is actually enough, to play it cool. Toiletries (Girls!!! read this as cosmetics) (4 minutes): The last and best piece of advice I can give is to stick to basics unless you have a special party/event planned during your trip that requires extra attention and care during packing. To keep things simple, begin packing for this section with a tooth paste, comb, soap (liquid or bar), moisturizer, hand sanitizer, pack of tissues and sunscreen. Girls can add their go-to lipstick, foundation, eyeliner and/or mascara that they use almost daily. Nothing more is required. So lets do a quick recap - Think (5 mins) + Pick your bag (2 mins) + Clothes (10 mins) + Footwear (2 mins) + Accessories (3 mins) + Toiletries (4 mins) = Complete packing in 26 mins!!! Ahem!! Now you are actually left with few minutes to add charger, water bottle, camera etc. as per need and close the zipper. Keep the bag aside and smile! You have done it. I said it is easy. Didn't I? Did this blog help you pack up quickly? Do you have any other tip which we could add to this list? Let us know your thoughts in comment section below. Would you like to write guest posts around Travel or Photography on Fairytale Studios? Reach out to us via email to throw your ideas and know the guidelines. #Guestpost #TravelPacking #TravelPlanning

When it comes to planning for a trip, every traveler spends time to search for deals to book tickets, research to make a perfect travel itinerary, browse through numerous hotels to book the best one and shop for clothes suited for the destination. What most of the travelers overlook is what to pack to make their overall trip comfortable. Research shows that 80-90% of travelers do not have a packing check-list and pack their bags in a frenzy at the very last minute. Hence they tend to forget carrying essential items and look out for them most of the time during the trip. So here’s a list of must have travel accessories for every kind of traveler. While some of these travel accessories add extra convenience to a traveler's experience, others make the trip easier, safer and enjoyable. 1. Neck Pillows Whether you are travelling on a flight, bus, car or train, the pillow provides great support to your neck and head and allows you to sleep peacefully during the journey. Not only while travelling but neck pillow is an accessory can be used to relieve pressure while working on a computer, reading a book, binge TV watching or while just lying on the couch. We bought a 100% memory foam neck pillow which is super light in weight, occupies less space when packed, comes back to its original shape even if used roughly and is very light on the pocket. Neck pillows are a must have in long-distance travel trips. Note that you get neck pillows that even start at Rs.500 or lower, but our experience with such cheaper neck pillows has not been good. They look good to start with but tear away very easily and you would end up regretting buying them in an effort to save some more bucks. 2. A multipurpose Swiss knife What would you prefer carrying for a prolonged trekking trip - a nail-cutter, a knife, a scissor, a screw driver, a key ring, a tooth pick all separately or a multipurpose Swiss knife? Our Victorinox Swiss Army knife is one of our most worthy accessory possession. It is a pocket size toolbox which gives lots of tool combinations that one can choose from. It is made up of stainless steel, sturdy to use and is the go-to product in all emergency situations. It is every hiker’s best travel companion. Not just during trekking, but even for road trips of any kind, we prefer keeping one in our pouch for any foreseen circumstances. You would be surprised to see so many situations come up where one of these could be handy. While poor quality ones are easily available, they tend to be little too rigid to open and use. It is easy to get hurt by swiss knives if you do not take care and so, a good quality swiss knife is advised to ensure they open up smoothly. 3. Universal travel adapter With the world becoming a small place, people often tend to travel to different countries. Most travelers struggle to fit the plug into a differently shaped outlet while travelling abroad. It is difficult to know which adapter is right for the country you are travelling to. Hence, the most popular travel adapter to adopt is the Universal travel adapter. We recently bought an ultra-portable adapter which is very compact. It works in more than 50 countries that includes most of Europe, Asia, Canada, Africa, Australia and the United States. Its built quality is excellent, fits the sockets very well and can be used in different combinations. We highly recommend this product. 4. Power bank As smartphones have replaced most of our gadgets, we use it way more than just calling - like internet browsing, taking and editing photographs, playing games, social networking, listening music, reading books etc. Smartphones are now ‘The Digital Swiss Army Knife’ replacing alarm clocks, watches, camera, laptops, etc. As the smartphone technology keeps on improving, we are increasingly finding that running out of battery can be a big problem especially when you are travelling and on the go. A power bank is a portable charger designed to recharge the batteries of electronic devices while on the move. A medium sized USB power bank with about 10000 mAh capacity which rapidly recharges 2 of phones when fully charged is adequate. However if you are someone who loves being outdoors and visits offbeat places often, getting a solar powerbank that is also waterproof would be ideal. You never know if you are going to get electricity in remote places. A portable solar powerbank gets charged whenever it is sunny and can easily charge 2 mobiles. Waterproof powerbanks are also a great option to have in monsoons. 5. Packing cubes These are small containers made of fabric used for packing clothes and accessories. Packing cubes are best accessories to stay organized and save space. It easily compartmentalizes the travel gear and comes with simple zip locks. With different sizes and shapes, packing cubes make finding exactly what you need easier. These are must haves if your luggage is a suitcase but can also be handy while traveling with a backpack. They make the task of packing and unpacking very easy we would definitely recommend one if you are on a trip where you hop from one destination to another every 1-2 days. We have lovely blue colored 6 piece packing cubes in different sizes. We use the bigger ones to pack clothes and winter wear & the smaller ones to pack under garments and accessories. During impromptu camping trips they can also double up as a pillow. We also have a separate packing cube for our footwear! 6. Multi-point power plug We could never travel without one of these travel accessories. While traveling, you often come across accommodations where you do not find many power outlets in hotels, hostels or B&Bs. Charging mobile phones, laptop, camera batteries, power banks etc. becomes a challenge here. Multi-point power plug comes as a savior at such times when your room has only one wall socket. We have a cube shaped multi-point power plug that has 5 sockets and 2 USB ports which plugs in various electronic devices all at once. Its cubical shape ensures that it does not occupy too much space in our bags. It also has a 1.5 metre long wire which means even if the socket in our hotel is little far from the bed, we can plug in our cube and charge our mobiles while still sitting on bed and using the mobile. 7. Silicone bottles for toiletries When we travel, we always want to have our favorite shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, body lotion, face cream, hand sanitizer and sunscreen. Packing all these toiletries separately may take up a lot of space. There are even chances of them leaking and spoiling all your travel gear or be removed because of the stricter airline policies for liquids. Hence, it’s important to have small travel bottles/ tubes that don’t leak, are strong to bear a long trip and occupy less space. This would especially help if you are traveling to higher altitudes where atmospheric pressure is less. You would often find bottles of lotion or cream suddenly pop open spilling out. Our refillable, 6-pack leak-proof silicone bottles with large openings are the best travel containers. They have 80 ml capacity and allow us to squeeze the very last drop of content in the bottle. We have labelled and color sorted them as per our must-carry toiletries. This is one of our very smart purchases. 8. Travel first-aid kit A first aid kit is an absolute essential for any road trip, adventure trip or backpacking trip. You never know when something can go wrong and you need a medication, so you should always be prepared for the worse. Little things like bruises, cuts and blisters are inevitable while on the move. And based on your immunity, you never know if water or some food item might affect your bowel movements. We never travel without our first-aid kit. It is a small pouch that we bought that contains 2-3 tablets/ capsules for general sickness like cough, cold, fever, pain, diarrhea and constipation. It also has a pain relief spray for quick application. Apart from these, band-aids, sterile cotton, crepe bandages, gauze, antibacterial cream/ ointment and antiseptic wipes are always present in our first-aid pouch. For camping, we also place a mosquito repellent cream such as odomos in the kit. 9. Reusable water bottle Staying hydrated can be a challenge while travelling. While a water bottle is available everywhere, it creates tons of plastic waste and sometimes gets heavy on the pocket. Hence, a sturdy travel ready water bottle is a must. It serves as an eco-conscious investment to the earth as well as your health. With water-bottle refill stations from companies like aquaguard coming up on all major railway stations and airports, having access to drinking water is no more a problem. We use a 1 liter leak proof, easy to clean, light weight metal water bottle for our travel purposes. It has ability to keep the drinks hot or cold which we absolutely love. Water filtering and water purifying water bottles are also in trend these days. 10. Quick drying micro fiber towel Budget hotels, B&B’s and hostels won’t necessarily provide towels to the guests. And sometimes if you are visiting smaller offbeat places, you never know if you will get a clean towel or not. Regular bath towels are heavy weight, super bulky and may take forever to dry. They also occupy a lot of space in your luggage. The micro fiber towel that we possess is really small and compress really nicely in our luggage. The best part is it dries really fast and doesn’t get too smelly. It came with a small travel pouch! It’s so small that we carry it in our hand luggage to beaches or on hiking. It’s super absorbent and extremely soft to skin. In a nutshell – microfiber travel towels were literally made for backpackers and travelers. Note that if you are using a microfiber towel for the first time, using it couple of times at home and washing it once before you travel outside is advisable. Micro fiber towels take little time getting used to but once you are comfortable using them, you would always carry one with you. Did you like our list of top 10 must have travel accessories? Do you think we have left out on some essential travel accessory? Do let us know in the comment section below. We would be glad to know what all you mandatorily pack in your travel trips! #TravelPacking #TravelAccessories

You know that we love travelling. So much that we travel someplace each month - that makes a minimum of 12 trips a year and sometimes even more. Being on the road, meeting new people, learning new things and seeing the landscape change every 50 kilometres are the highs of travelling. But hey, travelling is not all fun always! The worst part is packing and unpacking. Next comes arranging all the things. Over the years we have optimized a lot of our travel gear and use some essential travel accessories to suit our frequent needs of travelling. Recently we got ourselves a passport holder and believe us it has helped immensely in our document organization. Passports, visa, currency, boarding pass, credit cards and hotel confirmation vouchers - you need it all while travelling. After searching through our bags for all the documents one after the another at the airport and permit offices, the passport holder from Urby has proved to be our saviour. In this article, we are going to review the 'Wanderlust Passport Holder' that we received from Urby - a premium lifestyle and travel essential brand. All about Urby: We loved the story of Ashutosh, the founder of Urby. It seems he lost his favourite wallet in India - one that he bought from the US. The same wallet was being sold at double the price in India; hence he started to look for some alternatives. The alternatives that he found were cheap but hardly met his expectations of quality and design. After a long hunt for the perfect wallet, he ended up buying the same wallet by paying the double price but he never forgot the rip-off. And that's when the idea of designing and manufacturing essentials for an urban lifestyle at non-luxury prices struck him and Urby was born. Urby's approach is to cut through the traditional retail model where many middlemen are involved, and sell its products directly to the customers at fewer prices. What Urby sells and our experience on their website: Urby sells its premium essentials with the finest craftsmanship in India through its website www.urby.in. It's products are available online only. You can find products ranging from all kinds of wallets, passport holders, travel accessories and bags on its website. Selecting one passport holder from their limited edition was a difficult task. They come in all sorts of different colors and varieties.The prices of the passport holders started at INR 990. After scrolling endlessly through Urby's collection, we narrowed down on the 'Wanderlust Passport Holder' in Spanish brown colour. To make it more special we got our passport holder from Urby personalised with the name of our venture. The personalization can be done in your choice of foil colour from golden or silver at an extra cost of INR 150. Placing an order on the website is easy and smooth and Urby promises you free shipping and 1-year material guarantee. Their 15-day no questions asked return policy is another cherry on a cake. They deliver the products directly to their customers through FedEx in 1-5 business days. Receiving our 'Wanderlust Passport Holder' from Urby and its packaging: We received our 'Wanderlust Passport Holder' from Urby in the time slot that they had promised. The passport holder was beautifully packed in a black box embossed with the brand name - Urby. Inside the black box was a cute canvas drawstring pouch which held our new passport holder. The quality of packaging was superior and classy and we received our product absolutely undamaged thanks to so many layers of packing. The 'Wanderlust Passport Holder' by Urby: The very first look of the passport holder that we received from Urby and we were sold. It has a sleek design and the finishing is neat. Stitches are clean and seamless. No threads dangle around from any corner of the passport holder. It's like a booklet made of genuine leather. It felt like a luxury product to us and we were so happy and glad to have chosen the neutral and unisex Spanish brown colour. On opening the booklet like passport holder, we found that the inner material was more soft and smooth tanned leather. Our venture name was embossed on the left side of the booklet in golden colour. It is highly commendable of Urby to give its customers such a personalised experience - we would love to gift our friends such personalised products from Urby in future. On both the sides of the Urby passport holder booklet, there are slots to store various different documents. Yes, it is not only a passport holder but it can easily accommodate a few other documents. Towards the left there are 5 slots in total - 3 slots in the middle for credit cards or licence; one slot towards the bottom for loose cash, passport size photographs or any other important document; and one bigger slot at the top for storing visas and boarding passes. The biggest slot is on the right side of the booklet to store passport. The passport holder slot is basically a slide-in section where one can slide the last outer back cover of the passport. And there's room for more. The back side of the booklet of this sleek 'Wanderlust Passport Holder' from Urby has a bonus additional slot for any other document like hotel receipts, business/ visiting card etc. Specifications of the 'Wanderlust Passport Holder' by Urby: Our 'Wanderlust Passport Holder' from Urby is very tough and durable and we are sure that it is handcrafted to last for long. The suede leather looks classy and adds style to our travel gear. Moreover, the price range of all the passport holders on Urby are extremely affordable and did not put a hole in our pocket. You can check out Urby's passport holders' collection here. We recommend all the frequent travellers out there to get one such passport holder from Urby. You can also browse through their site - www.urby.in for more of such premium and affordable products. PIN THESE IMAGES After having a satisfactory experience with Urby's passport holders, we now plan to try out their wallet section. Urby has various types of lovely men's wallets and women's wallets and we cannot wait to get our hands on one. Do you own a passport holder? How does your passport holder look like? Do you think it is an essential travel gear to possess? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. #ProductReviews #TravelAccessories

Bhutan is one of the most beautiful countries packed with fascinating history, vibrant culture, gorgeous landscapes, Buddhist shrines, sleepy rural villages and lush mountains. It has something for every type of traveller. No matter how much time you have, you will never run out of things to do and places to see in Bhutan. Bhutanese people are friendly, kind and welcoming. In our previous blog, we wrote about 'Places to visit in Thimphu'. From Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, we proceeded to Phobjikha valley/ Gangtey valley located in Central Bhutan. In this fourth blog of the series, we will write about the Phobjikha valley, the village, places to visit and things to do in Phobjikha and our home-stay experience in Phobjikha. Read our previous blogs of the series - The Bhutan Odyssey, by clicking on the photos below: 1. Introduction to Bhutan and why you should visit it 2. Plan your trip to Bhutan 3. Places to visit in Thimphu 4. Travel to Phobjikha or Gangtey Valley (This article) 5. Punakha - The winter capital of Bhutan 6. Paro Taktsang (Tiger's nest monastery) – A complete travel guide 7. Places to visit in Paro 8. 20 Best places to visit in Bhutan 9. Photoblog: People and culture of Bhutan Phobjikha Valley is an expansive bowl-shaped glacial valley, meaning a glacier flowed through the valley centuries ago giving it the present U-shape. It is also sometimes called as Gangtey valley after the name of a monastery that is located on a ridge of a mountain above the valley. Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley separates Western Bhutan from Central Bhutan. It is located at an altitude of 3000 metres above sea level and is surrounded by Black mountains towards the western part. The valley houses miles and miles of flat fields that are so picturesque that even a photographer will be confused about what to click and what not! Phobjikha is home to the rare black-necked cranes that migrate to the valley from Tibet every winter. Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley is still untouched by excessive tourism and is strictly a place for nature and trek lovers. One can witness the raw beauty of nature and the people while travelling through the valley. Location of Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley is located in Central Bhutan on the borders of Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park. It is approximately 135 kilometres from Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan and 80 kilometres away from Punakha, the former capital town of Bhutan. Phobjikha valley is 13 kilometres off the Bumthang-Ura highway. How to reach Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: No buses run to Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley. Hence, the best way to reach Phobjikha is by hiring a car. However, the buses running to Trongsa and Bumthang will stop at the de-tour point on the highway, from where Phobjikha is 13 kilometres. You can either hitchhike or walk from here if you wish to. However, this is not recommended as the road is pretty deserted. It takes around 6 hours to reach Phobjikha from Thimphu city. The journey is arduous and bumpy, especially towards the end. Our journey from Thimphu to Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: We had hired a car for our entire trip through Bhutan. We started from Thimphu early in the morning and stopped for a bit at Dochula Pass (more about it in Punakha blog). We had our lunch on the highway near Punakha town and again resumed our journey towards Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley after crossing the Punakha River. We felt the temperature drop by a few degrees as we drove the winding roads towards Phobjikha valley. The roadside hills were thickly forested with blue pine and other conifers, oak, magnolia and rows and rows of varied colours of rhododendrons. We drove parallel to Dang Chhu river for a very long time and admired the beautiful suspension bridges burdened with colourful Buddhist flags on the way. As we neared Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley, we spotted horses and yaks herding in the huge valleys of green grass. We stopped at Lawa-La Pass after taking the right turn from the highway to Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley. The pass is at an altitude of 3360 metres and is marked with a whitewashed small stupa in the centre decorated with colourful Buddhist prayer flags surrounding it. The pass offered a beautiful view of forested hills on one side and huge green valleys on the other side. This was the most picturesque stretch of our journey and it is difficult to express the beauty of the valley in words. The valley was full of green pasture dotted with bright red rhododendrons. The green carpet was covered with dainty little Lilac primulas swarming the entire floor of the valley. The misty clouds and thick fog passed through us as we awed at the beauty of the valley which was completely deserted besides the herding yaks. After crossing the Lawa-La pass the winding road then descended to the Phobjikha valley. Our Home-stay at Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: We opted for a home-stay at Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley as we wanted to understand the people and culture up-close. Our home-stay was located deep in the valley across many trees, meadows and rivulets. It was a traditional Bhutanese house with carved wooden lintels, small arched windows and multi-coloured window frames. Our rooms were on the first floor with a common hall in between. The rooms had cosy and comfortable mattresses sprawled on the floor and the windows opened to gorgeous views all around. A tandoor heater in the middle of the common hall provided us with a much-needed respite from the severe cold. The house belonged to the Chief of the village, still seemed simple and minimalistic. The home-stay had no TV, WiFi or any kind of modern amenity, making it a perfect place to relax and unwind. We sat beside the hot tandoor for long hours petting the house cat and catching up with everyone’s life. The lady of the house did not understand Hindi or English and we tried conversing with her through sign language and the little Dzongkha that we knew. Be it sipping hot butter tea or gulping down glasses of warm water to keep our body warm, we enjoyed every moment in the wooden farmhouse. She prepared delicious meals for us that included red rice, ema datshi, and kewa datshi and we all savoured it together with her. Our home-stay also had an outdoor hot stone bath arrangement. The traditional hot stone bath is believed to have medicinal powers and cures joint pains and helps in relaxing physically and mentally. The stones are generally collected from the riverbed and are rich in minerals and wood from an oak tree or pine tree is used to heat water. Medicinal herbs are added to the water before soaking. The Phobjikha Village/ Gangtey Village: The village of Phobjikha/ Gangtey is under-developed and sparsely populated. The modern facilities are minimal and transportation, as well as communication facilities, are inadequate. The village is full of beautiful and colourful carved wooden houses. Each house has a beautiful front yard where they sow beautiful flowering plants and white flower laden apple trees. Owing to the fear that electric poles would harm the black-necked cranes that visit the valley each winter, the people in Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley did not prioritise having electricity, except for solar-generated electricity, solar heaters, solar powered cells or fuel-generators until recently. In 2009, the underground electricity project was started that led to the electrification of Phobjikha. The transmission lines that supply electricity is buried in the ground and no overhead lines are allowed in the valley. The rooms are heater with tandoor heaters. People in Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley live a semi-nomadic life. They are extremely welcoming and have red cheeks due to low oxygen level at this altitude. They migrate to lower places in winter to escape the cold taking their cattle along with them. The residents of the Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley are mostly farmers with agriculture as their main occupation. There are two rivers that flow through Phobjikha valley – Nakay Chhu that represents a snake and Gay Chhu that represents a boar. There’s a folklore that once a racing competition was conducted between the snake and the boar under an agreement that if the snake wins the race, rice would be grown in the valley and if the boar wins, no rice will ever be grown in the valley. Eventually, the snake lost and till today rice is never cultivated in Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley. The valley has marshy land and is ideal for growing potatoes and turnips. Large potato fields can be found all across the valley. A special kind of dwarf bamboo plant grown in Phobjikha valley attracts the black-necked cranes to the valley upon which they feed. We went for a stroll in the village, walking along the wooden planks that were placed to cross the small rivulets. We visited Phobjikha school where the students were practising dance moves that were to be performed on the upcoming Bhutanese Teacher’s Day. The school was pretty, had a big playground and Buddhist flags adorned all the surrounding poles. We also visited a nearby temple located across a water stream where we saw a small building housing a big prayer wheel. The wheel was whirling constantly without anyone rotating it. It was also producing a ringing sound at constant intervals. We soon realised that the water from the stream diverted the prayer wheel to run. Black-necked cranes of Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley: Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley is home to hundreds of rare migratory black-necked cranes every winter season from October to February. A well-designated centre named Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) monitors activities and count of the migratory birds. The cranes fly from Tibet and come to regions like Bumdiling, Bumthang and Lhuentse but the highest number of cranes come to Phobjikha valley. The black-necked crane is whitish grey in colour with a black head as the name suggests. It has a red crown, black legs and white patch surrounding the eye. An adult crane is about 3-4 feet tall, weighs up to 5.5 kg and makes loud shrill noise. During the year 2018, 458 black-necked cranes made way to Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley. It is said that while coming from Tibet in October and while leaving Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley in February, each crane encircles the Gangtey monastery situated on a hill above the valley three times in a clockwise direction. It is believed that this helps them to get rid of the negative energy. Some people believe that these cranes are reincarnations of the monks of the monastery, while some believe that their arrival promises a good harvest. The conservation efforts by the residents have been very successful in increasing the crane population in Phobjikha valley. Places to Visit and Things to do in Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: 1. Visit the Royal Society of Protection of Nature (RSPN) or The Black-necked Crane visitor centre, Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: Our visit to Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley did not coincide with the black-necked crane migration, but a visit to the RSPN centre helped us gain a proper understanding of the bird’s behaviour, habitat and their conservation efforts. The centre, established in 1987, displays the detailed information about the birds, their migratory patterns and the valley. We also saw a short film at the centre about the cranes that visit Phobjikha valley and the night photos of other animals like leopards, red foxes, Himalayan black bears and wild pigs, that visit the valley and hunt the cranes. Powerful spotting telescopes are placed at the RSPN centre’s huge glass walls from where one can sit and view the activities of the cranes up-close. The Royal Society of Protection of Nature centre also houses one female black-necked crane named Karma. Karma is a crane that was found injured in the valley in 2016. It is believed that she was injured by dog bites. The crane has recovered from its injuries under the protection of RSPN but is unable to fly due to its left wing being damaged; hence is looked up by the local protection centre. Entry fees: Nu 100 for SAARC country tourists; Nu 120 for International tourists; and Nu 15 for local Bhutanese visitors Visiting Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM; open on all days 2. Visit the Gangtey Monastery, Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: The Gangtey monastery also known as Gangtey Gompa is situated on a hill-ridge overlooking the U-shaped glacial valley of Phobjikha/ Gangtey. The monastery was established in the 17th century. Recognised as one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, Gangtey monastery is the largest Nyingmaoa monastery in Bhutan. The head lama of the monastery is the ninth incarnation of Pema-Lingpa who was a 14th-century saint. The road that leads to the monastery is lined by wooden houses beautifully carved in exquisite designs and colours. The monastery complex consists of central Gompa, monk quarters, a butter lamp house and a meditation centre. From inside, the monastery has colourful artistic sculptures and the monastery walls are painted with rich paintings with intricate details. The monastery also houses murals, relics and treasures of spiritual and religious significance. Photography is not allowed inside the monastery. The monastery is supported by large and intricately carved wooden pillars. The monks stay at the monastery during summer months. The monastery hosts a festival during winter that celebrates the arrival of black-necked cranes. The annual festival (tsechu) is celebrated on the first day of the ninth month of the Bhutanese calendar. The Crane Festival is celebrated with great pomp and valour with masked dances. The children dress up in crane costumes imitating the loud noises made by cranes. 3. Stroll in the vast Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley is filled with Lilac primulas and several other varieties of flowers. It is so vast that we felt like we were just a tiny little dot in the entire valley. It reminded us of the valleys of Switzerland. Horses, cows and yaks were grazing aside the streams flowing by the valley. We walked and walked, up the hills, down the slopes and crossed water streams till we were too tired and felt cold. We wanted to hike up and roll down the green hills and slopes but there were horse and cow poop everywhere. We were informed that the valley hibernates beneath a blanket of white snow each winter. That is when the cranes arrive. We promised ourselves that we will visit this valley again. While leaving we left our hearts to the green pastures, blue water, purple and yellow wildflowers, chirping birds and the utmost silence. 4. Trek the ‘Gangtey Nature Trail’, Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley: There are multiple trails that start from Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley and takes one through the thick pine forests. But Gangtey Nature Trail is amongst the most popular one. It takes you through remote villages and ancient temples and monasteries across the vast fields. It is a short trek that takes 2 hours in total. Phubja valley trek is another 3-day long trek that starts from the Phobjikha valley. Best time to visit Phobjikha/ Gangtey Valley: Nature is at its best in Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley during the spring season with the beautiful flowers in full bloom and green meadows everywhere. However, Phobjikha valley is often visited by hundreds of tourists in the months of October to January when the black-necked cranes arrive. If you want to witness the Crane festival celebrated at Gangtey monastery, November is the best time to visit. Whichever time you plan to visit Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley, your reason to visit should be to immerse in the astounding natural beauty and disconnect with the world. The incredible symbiotic relationship between the community and nature that we saw in Phobjikha valley and the integrity and harmony in the lives of the residents has taught us invaluable lessons. They have adapted to the comforts and convenience that modern technology has brought them, yet they have lost none of their capacity to enjoy the simple, pastoral pleasures of village life, or to take on its challenges. Nature Tourism – Bhutan: We booked our customized trip to Bhutan with Nature Tourism – Bhutan who specialise in providing unforgettable journeys. Karma Jamtsho, the founder of Nature Tourism – Bhutan, believes that travelling, experiencing different cultures and getting close to nature is an essential part of human life. Phobjikha/ Gangtey was not a part of our itinerary when we planned our trip to Bhutan. It was Karma who suggested and insisted that we do not miss out on visiting this magical place and we are truly grateful to him for that. Our tour guide, Dorji, strived hard to make us cover major places and experience as many things as we can during our short 1-night trip to Phobjikha/ Gangtey valley. He even acted as a translator between us and the host of our homestay, with whom we conversed for so long. You can also book your trip with Nature Tourism – Bhutan through their website. We highly recommend their service and commitment. PIN THESE IMAGES Have you ever visited a place where there is a deep respect for spiritual life, a close communion with nature and its elements and where strong ties of family and community survive and thrives? Let us know your experiences in the comment section below. #Bhutan

Bhutan is the only country in the world that measures the nation’s progress using the index of ‘Gross National Happiness’ instead of ‘Gross Domestic Product’. In our quest to understand Bhutan, we travelled extensively through Phuentsholing, Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha and Paro and we found entire Bhutan to be a photographer’s paradise. We clicked many photographs of people and places that we weren’t able to put in our previous blogs, but they are essential in understanding Bhutan, its people and its culture. So, we decided to create this photoblog so that we can share all those beautiful pictures with you. Stay tuned. This is the 9th article of the series - The Bhutan Odyssey. If you have missed out on our previous articles of the series, read them by clicking on the links or photos below: 1. Introduction to Bhutan and why you should visit it 2. Plan your trip to Bhutan 3. Places to visit in Thimphu 4. Travel to Phobjikha or Gangtey Valley 5. Punakha - The winter capital of Bhutan 6. Paro Taktsang (Tiger's nest monastery) – A complete travel guide 7. Places to visit in Paro 8. 20 Best places to visit in Bhutan 9. Photoblog on people and culture of Bhutan (This article) Till 1950, education in Bhutan was mainly monastic. Bhutan opened its first secular school borrowing its curriculum from India under the rule of second King. The third King made English language as the official language of instruction. Today, you can see plenty primary, secondary and post-secondary institutions across Bhutan. We were fortunate to visit a school in Phuentsholing. And what struck us the most is their attention to sports. It was refreshing to see that sports-participation was compulsory for girls, unlike India. While we were able to witness a girls’ volleyball match, we were surprised to see how enthusiastically the boys cheered for the girl’s team. We also got a chance to interact with the kids who happily showed us their colourful classrooms and their textbooks. Bhutan, being located at high altitude, has thinner air. Due to an increased fraction of red blood cells in the bodies of the locals, their cheeks are always flushed with redness. Bhutanese children generally are fair-skinned and have round faces with flushed cheeks. We came across some kids wearing the Bhutanese traditional dress and we couldn’t adore them more. The kids were lovely, cute, kind-hearted and innocent, just like any other kid and we weren’t able to stop ourselves from clicking their playful smiles. They held our hands, played with us, even sang for us and melted our hearts. Another school that we were fortunate in visiting was in a remote village in Phobjikha. The children here were practising dance moves that was to be performed on an upcoming Teacher’s day celebration. They were all dressed in Bhutanese national dress - (Gho for males and Kira for females) and sang together in chorus while dancing. We sat there in the big wooden hall that they performed in, watching them giggle and dance. Their school was located in an extremely beautiful setting surrounded by green valleys and hills. And we were forced to admire and think ‘If only we had such a stunning setting around our school, we would have hardly concentrated on studies’. Traditionally, Bhutanese families, if they were able to, would send one of their children to join a monastery. We met many Buddhist monks and nuns in Bhutan; especially while visiting the dzongs and temples. In one of the monastic schools, we also got to know their daily schedule that started at 4 AM and continued till 10 PM. This entire period included reciting prayers in the morning and evening, reading religious scripts, studying, playing, extracurricular activities like singing, making candles, participating in sports and playing musical instruments. And after going through such a busy ordeal, they sustained their infectious smiles. We played football with kid monks at Chimi Lhakhang in Punakha, got in deep conversations about Buddhist religion and Bhutanese culture with adult monks at several places and peeked into the daily life of nuns at Sangchen Dorji Lheundrup nunnery in Punakha. While most of them were very shy, some were extremely friendly and the others were non-affected by our presence and continued reciting their prayers and performing their rituals. In Bhutan, the elderly people are respected immensely for their wisdom. Most of the elderly population spend their days praying and visiting a temple. They are very strict with their religious practices. We did not come across old beggars or for that matter any beggar at all. All the old people that we met were active and kept their lives busy in some or the other way. Respecting and taking care of the elderly is one of the important aspects of Bhutanese culture and Buddhism. We are not sure of what they thought when we clicked them, but they made excellent portraits. Most of them were welcoming and smiled as we took their pictures. Majority of Bhutanese are staunch followers of Buddhism. In fact, Buddhism is inscribed in every place that we visited in Bhutan – be it colourful prayer flags, prayer wheels, white stupas, dzongs, monasteries, temples or even the traditional houses. Spirituality is embedded in the daily life of every Bhutanese. It won’t take you too long to grasp the basics of Buddhism when you visit Bhutan. We enjoyed clicking these religious aspects of people in Bhutan where they prayed with utmost innocence and were loyal to the King Another set of people that we loved clicking were the working class. We photographed men and women working in shops, factories and street markets. We saw the flag unfurling ceremony at Thimphu dzong where soldiers dressed in formal attire marched before unfurling the Bhutanese flag. We saw nuns washing utensils and clothes and watering plants all by themselves. We saw men selling fruits on the street-side. We also saw working men and women on the streets, all dressed up, commuting to their offices. We were delighted that women formed a big chunk of the working force and there was no discrimination. We hope you enjoyed going through the pictures in this photoblog. We thank Nature Tourism Bhutan for all the support and assistance they provided us in making our trip to Bhutan unforgettable. You can book your customised tour to this Himalayan nation with Nature Tourism Bhutan by contacting them through their website. PIN THESE IMAGES Let us know what you think about our pictures or whether they helped you in understanding the people and culture of Bhutan in the comments section below. #Bhutan #Photoblog

Bhutan is one of the least travelled destinations in the Himalayan mountain range. But, it's monumental fortresses, grand mountains, Buddhist monasteries, historical museums, verdant valleys and ancient temples are all worth a visit. 71% of the entire land of Bhutan is under forest cover and that adds to the beauty with abundant flora and fauna. This fairytale land has been successful in striking a perfectly right balance between tradition and modernisation. Bhutan is magical in ways that are unimaginable. You have to see it to believe it. So here, in this article, we have compiled the 20 best places to visit in Bhutan. If you missed out on our previous blogs of the series - 'The Bhutan Odyssey', read them by clicking on the links or the photos below: 1. Introduction to Bhutan and why you should visit it 2. Plan your trip to Bhutan 3. Places to visit in Thimphu 4. Travel to Phobjikha (Gangtey) Valley of black-necked cranes 5. Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital of Bhutan 6. Paro Taktsang (Tiger's nest monastery) – A complete travel guide 7. Places to visit in Paro 8. 20 Best places to visit in Bhutan (This article) 9. Photoblog: People and culture of Bhutan So here is a compilation of 20 places to visit in Bhutan you must not miss out on - 1. Paro Taktsang or Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro Paro Taktsang or the Tiger's Nest monastery is the most sacred Buddhist site in Bhutan. It is said that a trip to Bhutan is incomplete without a visit to this holy place. Paro Taktsang is basically a group of temples clinging to the brink of an unimaginably steep and rocky cliff. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) flew on a tigress's back to this monastery site in the 8th century; hence the name Tiger's Nest monastery. One has to hike on a trail for 3-4 hours to reach the monastery that hangs some 800 metres above the valley. The hiking trail is extremely beautiful and dotted with colourful Buddhist flags, bright red rhododendrons and some breathtaking views of the Paro valley. Read more about Paro Taktsang and the experience of our hike to the monastery with some handy tips in our separate article on Paro Taktsang - A complete travel guide. 2. Buddha Dordenma Statue, Thimphu The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in Thimphu is the largest statue of sitting Buddha in the world. This 169-foot-tall statue of Buddha is made of bronze and is coated with gold. A meditation hall on which the statue sits houses another 125000 smaller statues of Lord Buddha. The population of Thimphu is 1.25 lakhs and the number of Buddha statues at Buddha Dordenma site itself is 1.25 lakhs, which interestingly means that there are more Buddha statues in Thimphu than the number of people. The walls of the meditation hall are painted with beautiful paintings depicting the life story of Lord Buddha from birth to enlightenment. Read more about the Buddha Dordenma statue in our separate article on Places to visit in Thimphu. 3. Punakha Dzong, Punakha Punakha Dzong is an impressive fortress built on a small island at the confluence of two rivers - Po Chhu and Mo Chhu flowing through the Punakha valley. The magnificent dzong hides behind the purple blooms of jacaranda trees. The dzong that was built in the 16th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (The Beard Man), can be accessed by crossing a suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu river. It has three courtyards in total and houses important relics like Rangjung Kharsapani that was brought to Bhutan from Tibet by the Beard Man. The Last royal wedding of the 5th King of Bhutan took place at this majestic dzong. Read more about Punakha dzong and stories attached to it in our separate article on Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital. 4. Phobjikha Valley, Phobjikha Phobjikha valley is a vast bowl-shaped glacial valley located in Central Bhutan. It is also referred to as Gangtey valley. The valley is home to the rare species of black-necked cranes every winter. These birds migrate to Phobjikha valley from as far as Tibet. To protect the birds from being electrocuted by electric poles, the villagers of Phobjikha village have buried the transmission lines supplying electricity under the ground. No overhead electric lines can be seen in the entire valley. The valley is full of green pasture dotted with red rhododendrons and purple Lilac primulas. It has multiple trekking trails that are still untouched by excessive tourism. Read more about Phobjikha valley, black-necked cranes and the Phobjikha village in our separate article on Phobjikha - Valley of black-necked cranes. 5. Rinpung Dzong, Paro Popularly known as Paro Dzong, Rinpung Dzong is located on a small hill overlooking the Paro valley. It houses the government and monastic bodies of Paro district. The dzong is situated beside the Paro Chhu river and can be accessed after crossing a cantilevered wooden bridge on the river. Rinpung Dzong houses the finest examples of Bhutanese art. Every year, an annual festival is held at the dzong called as the Paro Tsechu. It is a grand celebration that involves masked dances and local folk songs. Read more about Rinpung Dzong in our separate article on Places to visit in Paro. 6. Bhutan Postal Museum, Thimphu Bhutan Postal Museum is one of the most unique museums in the world. One can get personalised postage stamps printed here. The postage stamps can be printed with one's own photograph and then postcards can be shared by using those stamps to one's family and relatives; just the old-fashioned way! It is an absolute pleasure to put the postcards in the red coloured post box. Read more about Bhutan Postal Museum and its entrance charges in our separate article on Places to visit in Thimphu. 7. Chimi Lhakhang, Punakha Offering prayers at Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the Fertility temple, is believed to induce fertility to couples who wish for a child. The temple houses a big statue of the Beard man and 10001-armed Lord Avalokiteshwara. Chimi Lhakhang safeguards an original wooden effigy of the Divine Madman's thunderbolt that he used to subdue the demons. The effigy is in the shape of a phallus. It is said that phallus brings good luck and prosperity. Wooden phalluses are even sold outside the temple. Read more about Chimi Lhakhang and stories related to it in our separate article on Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital. 8. Gangtey Monastery, Phobjikha Gangtey Monastery is perched at the cliff of a hill overlooking the enormous Phobjikha valley. The monastery houses a central prayer hall surrounded by butter lamp house and monk quarters. It is said that when the rare black-necked cranes migrate to the valley during winter and when they leave the valley after 5 months, each crane encircles the Gangtey monastery three times in clockwise direction. The villagers of Phobjikha believe that these cranes are reincarnations of the former monks of the monastery. The monastery hosts a 'Crane festival' annually to welcome the arrival of cranes. Read more about Gangtey monastery and the black-necked cranes in our separate article on Phobjikha - Valley of black-necked cranes. 9. National Museum of Bhutan, Paro The National Museum of Bhutan located in the town of Paro is a cultural museum that beautifully depicts the history of Bhutan and the Kings and the rulers. It houses various masks used in Cham dances, antique utensils and vessels, huge thangkas and large posters imparting knowledge on the flora and fauna in the country of Bhutan. The artefacts in the museum are as old as 1500 years. Read more about the National Museum of Bhutan in our separate article on Places to visit in Paro. 10. National Memorial Chorten, Thimphu National Memorial chorten is a Tibetan style religious stupa erected in the memory of the third King of Bhutan. It is a whitewashed monument with gold spires. The stupa is located in the centre of the town of Thimphu and is surrounded by well-manicured gardens. It is revered as the monument of great religious significance by local Bhutanese. Read more about National Memorial Chorten and stories related to it in our separate article on Places to visit in Thimphu. 11. Sangchen Dorji Lheundrup Nunnery, Punakha Sangchen Dorji Lheundrup Nunnery is a Buddhist nunnery cum temple located on a hill in Punakha district. It houses a Nepalese styled stupa and a temple dedicated to the female form of Lord Avalokiteshwara. The temple is surrounded by quarters where the nuns stay and pursue higher Buddhist studies. One can get a chance to peek into the daily life of a nun by visiting the nunnery. Read more about the Sangchen Dorji Lheundrup Nunnery in our separate blog on Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital. 12. Dochula Pass, Thimphu Dochula Pass is a group of 108 chortens built in the middle of road crossing between Thimphu and Punakha. These 108 chortens are arranged in a circle with 3 tiers of 45, 36 and 27 smaller chortens encircling the main chorten. The chortens were built to ward off evil spirits and to mark an important event or victory in Bhutanese history. 108 is an auspicious number representing the no. of prayers in Buddhism that make up a cycle. Read more about Dochula Pass and stories related to it in our separate blog on Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital. 13. Royal Society of Protection of Nature (RSPN) Centre, Phobjikha The RSPN centre is like a mini-museum located in Phobjikha valley that educates the tourists on the black-necked cranes, their behaviour, their habitat and the conservational efforts by the locals. The centre showcases detailed information about the birds and their migratory patterns. They also display a short documentary film on the migratory black-necked cranes. The centre also houses telescopes that can be used to view the activities of the cranes. Read more about the RSPN centre and their conservational efforts in our separate article on Phobjikha - Valley of black-necked cranes. 14. Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu Tashichho Dzong, popular as Thimphu Dzong, is located on the banks of Wang Chhu River in Thimphu. The dzong was built in the 16th century by the Beard Man. It looks spectacular with its whitewashed walls adorned with red and golden roof. Tashichho Dzong houses administrative as well as monastic bodies of the Thimphu district. The dzong houses a monastery, secretariat, King's throne and ministry of finance and home affairs. Read more about Tashichho Dzong in our separate article on Places to visit in Thimphu. 15. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, Punakha Khamsum Yulley Namgyal chorten is a religious stupa that can be accessed by hiking a hill in Punakha valley. The hike is 45-minute long, firstly through the paddy fields and then through pine forests. At the top are the chorten, a large Bodhi tree and huge prayer wheels. The chorten is 4 storeyed with an accessible roof that provides incredible views of the Punakha valley with zigzag Mo Chhu river flowing through. Read more about Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten in our separate article on Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital. 16. Takin Nature Preserve, Thimphu Takin, the national animal of Bhutan, is a hybrid of a cow and a goat. The mammal is brownish-black in colour, has short legs, elongated nose and fat body. Motithang Takin Nature Preserve in Thimphu is a wildlife conservation park that houses takins, sambar deer, barking deer and varieties of birds. Read more about Takin Nature Preserve in our separate article on Places to visit in Thimphu. 17. Punakha Suspension Bridge, Punakha Punakha suspension bridge is the longest man-made walkable suspension bridge in entire Bhutan. The suspension bridge hangs over swiftly flowing Po Chhu river and is laden with plenty of colourful Buddhist flags. The bridge sways with strong wind and one can have fun time crossing it from one side to the other. Read more about Punakha Suspension bridge in our separate article on Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital. 18. Norzin Lam Market, Thimphu One can buy souvenirs for their family and relatives at a reasonable rate from the Norzin Lam market in Thimphu. The several lined-up shops sell authentic handicrafts, perfumed soaps, handmade bags, traditional paintings, magnets, artefacts, key chains, postcards and textiles. The owners are ever-smiling and welcoming. Read more about Norzin Lam market in our separate article on Places to visit in Thimphu. 19. Kyichu Lhakhang, Paro Kyichu Lhakhang is the oldest temple in the Kingdom of Bhutan. It was built in the 7th century by a Tibetan emperor. Kyichu Lhakhang houses a statue of Lord Avalokiteshwara with 11 heads and 1000 arms. It is believed that the temple was built to ward off evil spirits that threatened Buddhism in Tibet. Read more about Kyichu Lhakhang in our separate article on Places to visit in Paro. 20. Chelela Pass, Haa Valley Chelela Pass is located at an altitude of 3990 metres above the sea level in Haa Valley. It is the highest motorable pass in the country of Bhutan. The entire Himalayan mountain ranges, particularly Mount Jomolhari, can be viewed from Chelela Pass on a clear day. Chelela Pass is a 2-hour drive from Paro city. Are you planning a trip to one of the happiest nations in the world? Do you wish to cover all these top 20 places to visit on Bhutan? You can book a hassle-free trip customised as per your requirements with Nature Tourism Bhutan, just as we did. PIN THESE IMAGES Do you think we missed out on some must-visit place in Bhutan? Do let us know about it in the comments section below. #Bhutan

Bhutan is a country located almost entirely in the Himalayan mountain range. It was isolated for a long time from industrialisation and has just begun to open its doors to the modern world. Paro, a quaint town, is one of the widest valleys in Bhutan. It is a land of forgotten customs and pristine wilderness. From fortresses to ruins, from sacred monasteries to holy temples, and from soul-quenching treks to picturesque landscapes, Paro has something for all types of travellers. In our previous blog of the series ‘The Bhutan Odyssey’, we have attempted to introduce the Kingdom of Bhutan to our readers, along with tips and recommendations on planning a trip to Bhutan, places to visit in Thimphu and Punakha and the village life of Phobjikha. In this blog, we will list down the places to visit and things to do in Paro. If you missed out on our previous blogs of the series - 'The Bhutan Odyssey', read them by clicking on the links or the photos below: 1. Introduction to Bhutan and why you should visit it 2. Plan your trip to Bhutan 3. Places to visit in Thimphu 4. Travel to Phobjikha (Gangtey) Valley of black-necked cranes 5. Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital of Bhutan 6. Paro Taktsang (Tiger's nest monastery) – A complete travel guide 7. Places to visit in Paro (This article) 8. 20 Best places to visit in Bhutan 9. Photoblog: People and culture of Bhutan Paro is a town located in the wide and verdant valley of Western Bhutan surrounded by pristine hills and mountains. The Paro valley is like a sudden opening in the wall of the mountains. The silver river, Paro Chhu, flows swiftly winding through the valley. Beauty of Paro is difficult to describe. The paddy fields dotted in the middle of green landscapes in Paro is surrounded by soft grasses along the river banks and is a sight to behold. The valley is further patterned with fruit orchards loaded with pink and white blossoms. The hillsides are cloaked with colourful flowering rhododendrons and wild roses. With its large, fertile and well-watered fields, Paro has historically been the richest area in the Kingdom of Bhutan, and much of its wealth has gone into the building of temples and monasteries. The town of Paro is located at an altitude of 2200 metres from the sea level. Paro is home to Bhutan's sole international airport and to some of the oldest temples and monasteries in Bhutan. Places to visit and Things to do in Paro, Bhutan: 1. Hike to the Paro Taktsang or the Tiger’s Nest monastery The Paro Taktsang popularly known as the Tiger’s Nest monastery or the Taktsang monastery is an iconic monument perched on a cliff 800 metres above the Paro valley. It is said that a trip to Bhutan is incomplete without a visit to the Paro Taktsang. Visiting the Tiger’s Nest monastery takes a full day or 6-7 hours. The hike to the Taktsang monastery is 3 kilometres one way and the trail passes through rocky and steep terrain. Till midway, the path is unpaved, muddy and rocky. Post that, the trail becomes steeper and narrower leading to the viewpoint. This is the spot from where the monastery is seen perched on the mountain top and most awesome photographs are taken from here. From the viewpoint, one has to descend 700 stairs and then ascend another 200 stairs to reach the monastery. Read more about the history of the Tiger’s Nest monastery and our hiking experience with some very handy tips and recommendations in our separate blog post on Paro Taktsang. 2. Visit the Paro Dzong (Fortress) While Thimphu dzong and Punakha dzong are located in a commanding position on the valley floor, Paro Dzong occupies a strategic site on the top of a small hill with a panoramic view of the Paro valley around it. It looks like a castle in the air. Paro dzong is popularly known as the Rinpung Dzong and houses the government and monastic bodies of Paro. The dzong is located beside the river Paro Chhu and can be accessed by crossing a traditional cantilevered bridge over the river. Paro dzong houses some of the finest examples of Bhutanese religious art. Among them are cosmic mandalas and a towering Buddha statue in the monk’s assembly hall. The dzong has 14 shrines and chapels in total. Paro Tsechu – an annual festival is held at Paro Dzong in April or May. The spectacular masked dances and processions attract many foreign visitors to Paro Tsechu. A giant thongdrel (silk banner) of Guru Padmasambhava, which covers an entire wall of the dzong is displayed for the public in early morning hours during the festival, still keeping the tradition that sunlight should not fall on the thongdrel. Note: Similar to the other dzongs in Bhutan, you are mandated to keep your feet and arms covered and your head uncovered at all times while visiting the dzong. If you have time, do visit the dzong again during the night. Though you will not be allowed to enter in the night time, you will be able to photograph the dzong sparkling in beautiful lights. 3. Dress in Bhutanese National Dress and get yourself photographed with Paro Dzong The most delightful feature of the Bhutanese culture is their attire. To the west of the Paro Chhu River, just downstream from the cantilevered bridge of Paro Dzong is a small shop where you can get dressed in Bhutanese national dress ‘gho’ and ‘kira’. The staff at the shop will help you select a gho/ kira out of the many options they have and will also help you in wearing it. All of us got dressed up in beautiful Bhutanese attire and got ourselves clicked with the Paro dzong in the background and also on the cantilevered bridge. The shop also displays and sells various Bhutanese handicrafts and artefacts. Note: The staff at the shop charge Nu 200 per hour per person for wearing gho/ kira. 4. Spend time at the National Museum of Bhutan and learn about the Bhutanese people, their culture and their lifestyle Situated right above the Paro Dzong is the National Museum of Bhutan. Initially, the museum was an unusually round building like a conch shaped fortress which was destroyed in the 2011 earthquake. The museum exhibits were then shifted to an adjacent building since then. The cultural museum houses several galleries depicting the history of Bhutan, ancient teachers, saints, rulers and Kings, various masks used in Cham dances, a beautiful collection of thangkas, natural flora and fauna of Bhutan, antique vessels and utensils, and an impressive short documentary. The National Museum of Bhutan in Paro also houses artefacts dating back to 1500 years. Note: Photography is not allowed inside the museum. Cameras and mobile phones are to be deposited in a locker outside the museum. The museum remains closed on Mondays and national holidays. It can be visited between 9 AM and 4 PM from Tuesday to Saturday and between 11 AM and 4 PM on Sundays. The visitor entry fee is Nu 10 for locals, Nu 50 for SAARC tourists and Nu 200 for foreign nationals. 5. Gaze at the Paro valley from the viewpoint alongside the museum Just a short walk from the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro is a viewpoint that provides spectacular views of the Paro valley with meandering Paro Chhu River surrounded by tall hills and mountains. This panoramic view is right in front of the old round-shaped museum. The international airport of Paro can be seen from this viewpoint. The entire runway is visible and one can also experience the thrill of flights landing and taking off from this point. 6. Visit Kyichu Lhakhang Kyichu Lhakhang is the oldest temple in Bhutan. It was constructed by a Tibetan emperor in the 7th century to ward off evil spirits and demons threatening the Buddhism in Tibet. The temple compound is adorned with beautiful prayer wheels. The ancient temple is whitewashed and has a 3-tiered roof. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses a statue of Chenrezig (Lord Avalokiteshvara) with 11 heads and 1000 arms. A small chorten or a stupa just outside the Kyichu Lhakhang contains remains of an ancient spiritual leader – Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Elders keep flocking the temple premises to pray and spin the prayer wheels. Make sure that you have enough time to visit all of these above-mentioned places when you visit Paro. Believe us, all these places to visit in Paro are certainly worthy of your precious time. Nature Tourism - Bhutan: Nature Tourism - Bhutan organised our customised trip to Bhutan. They specialise in nature, adventure and cultural trips across Bhutan. Mr. Karma Jamtsho, founder of Nature Tourism - Bhutan and Dorji, our tour guide, helped us in understanding the people and culture of Bhutan in a very insightful manner. With the very limited time we had in Paro, they helped us to see and experience as many things as possible. You can book your trip to Bhutan with Nature Tourism - Bhutan through their official website. PIN THESE IMAGES Have you been to Paro in Bhutan? Did you find this article helpful? Let us know in the comments. #Bhutan