Drugyel Dzong

Paro Drugyel Dzong

Further in the north from Paro town, are the ruins of Drugyel Dzong built in 1647 (16th Century), which straddles a hill overlooking approaches from Tibet. Once a strategic fortress critical in repulsing invading Tibetan armies from the north, it was laid waste by a fire in 1954. A sheltered passageway, also in ruins, runs from the Dzong to the distant bank of the river to ensure adequate water supplies in times siege. A small hamlet surrounds the ruins on one side with its archery range crisscrossing the path up to the burnt out fortress. In good weather, on may glimpse the peak of the sacred Mount Jomolhari.

Bhutan: The 8th Happiest Country on Earth

The tiny kingdom of Bhutan was ranked the eighth-happiest country on earth in a study last year by a British scientist at the University of Leicester in England. It is probably no coincidence that the Bhutanese do not go in for white-water kayaking. Leave it to the West to import this perilous activity and make a documentary about it.

“Adventure: Bhutan,” which will be shown on the Discovery Channel tomorrow night, follows 24 intrepid types on a 10-day river trek from the Himalayas, south to the Indian border. Nobody has done this before, and there seems no reason to do it now, other than to make this documentary; the network assembled the team for that purpose.

The leader is Gerry Moffatt, a Scot who can say things like, “We’re all in the same boat together” and not sound corny — that’s how handsome he is. His impressive crew includes Greg Mallory, who is paralyzed from the waist down but paddles a mean kayak all the same, and Land Heflin, whose name alone destines him for macho adventure.

The members of the team start out among the gorgeous hillside temples of northern Bhutan, where they meet the locals and get a blessing that requires drinking alcohol from a human skull. They do more sightseeing than Matt Lauer, the globe-trotting “Today” show co-host, did on his recent Bhutan stop, but we learn less from them. These buff adventurers are here for one reason: the river.

Much of the scenery they lurch through, the narrator tells us, “has never before been seen by Western eyes.” Still, once those rapids start rolling, we could be in Colorado.

The usual trials follow. Will they make it to camp before dark? Will they get out of the gorge alive? Will the guy who’s having pure alcohol poured into his bone-deep leg wound stop moaning?

And will we driven Westerners ever learn the secrets of the East? Not in this documentary, that’s for sure. Everybody talks about the “mysticism” of the Buddhist culture that surrounds them, but, as Mr. Moffatt says, “I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

It’s simple. Just get out of the boat and walk away.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com

Driving distance within Bhutan

Mode of transport within Bhutan is by motor vehicles only. There are no domestic airlines or trains in Bhutan. The main highway runs from west to east connecting all the major towns and district of Bhutan.

Places Distance in KM Time (Duration)
From To

Thimphu - Paro - 65 km - 1 hr 30 min

Thimphu - Phuentsholing - 176 km - 6 hrs

Phuentsholing - Bagdogra (India) - 170 km - 4 hrs

Thimphu - Ha - 115 km - 3 hrs 30 min

Ha - Paro - 60 km - 2 hrs 30 min

Thimphu - Wangdue Phodrang - 77 km - 3 hrs

Thimphu - Punakha - 72 km - 2 hrs 15 min

Punakha - Wangdue Phodrang - 13 km - 30 min

Wangdue Phodrang - Trongsa - 129 km - 4 hrs 30 min

Trongsa - Bumthang - 68 km - 2 hrs 30 min

Bumthang - Mongar - 198 km - 6 hrs

Mongar - Lhuentse - 76km - 3 hrs

Mongar - Trashigang - 90 km - 4 hrs

Trashigang - Trashi Yangtse - 55 km - 2 hrs

Trashigang - Samdrup Jongkhar - 180 km - 6 hrs

Samdrup Jongkhar - Guwahati (India) - 110 km - 3 hrs

Samdrup Jongkhar - Phuentsholing - 380 km - 9 hrs 30 min

Radio and Television

For many years, Bhutanese prided themselves on keeping their culture clean from outside influences, and as such, modern technology arrived into the Kingdom many years after it was universally accepted in nearly all other countries. The first radio service was broadcast for thirty minutes on Sundays (by what is now the Bhutan Broadcasting Service) in 1973. Bhutan became one of the final nations to receive television service, in June 1999.

Medias in Bhutan

1. BBS Bhutan Broadcasting Service (Radio & TV)

2. Kuensel (Daily News Paper)

3. Kuzoo FM90 (Youths Program FM Radio)

4. Radio Valley 99.9 FM (FM Radio)

5. Centennial Radio 101 FM, 104 FM, 105 FM (Radio Station)

TENTATIVE FESTIVAL DATES FOR 2009

1 Punakha Dromche Punakha 3rd – 5th March

2 Punakha Tsechu Punakha 6th -8th March

3 Bulli Mani (Chummi) Bumthang 12th – 14th March

4 Tharpaling Thongdrol Bumthang 11th March

5 Tangsibi Mani Ura, Bumthang 11th – 14th March

6 Gayden Chodpa Ura, Bumthang 24th – 26th March

7 Chorten Kora Trashiyangtse 11th March & 26th March

8 Gomkora Trashigang 2nd – 4th April

9 Paro Tsechu Paro 5th – 9th April

10 Chhukha Tsechu Chhukha 7th – 9th April

11 Ura Yakchoe Bumthang 5th – 9th May

12 Nimalung Tsechu Bumthang 30th June – 2nd July

13 Kurjey Tsechu Bumthang 2nd July 10th

14 Wangdue Tsechu Wangdue Phodrang 26th – 28th September

15 Tamshingphala Choepa Bumthang 28th – 30th September

16 Thimphu Drupchen Thimphu 23rd – 27th September

17 Thimphu Tsechu Thimphu 28th – 30th September

18 Tangbi Mani Bumthang 3rd – 5th October

19 Shingkhar Rabney Ura, Bumthang 24th – 28th October

20 Jakar Dzong Tshechu Bumthang 26th -29th October

21 Jambay Lhakhang Drup Bumthang 2nd – 6th November

22 Prakhar Duchhoed Bumthang 3rd – 5th November

23 Sumdrang Kangsol Ura, Bumthang 13th -16th November

24 Mongar Tsechu Mongar 25th – 27th November

25 Pemagatshel Tsechu Pemagatshel 25th – 27th November

26 Trashigang Tsechu Trashigang 26th – 28th November

27 Namkha Rabney Tang, Bumthang 27th – 28th November

28 Nalakhar Tsechu Bumthang 2nd – 4th December

29 Chozam Rabney Tang, Bumthang 2nd – 5th December

30 Trongsa Tsechu Trongsa 25th – 27th December

31 Lhuntse Tsechu Lhuntse 25th – 27th December

32 Nabji Lhakhang Drup Nabji, Trongsa 31st Dec. 09– 4th Jan.10