'Picturesque Phobjikha Valley'. A quick tour to see more of Bhutan.

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The Phobjikha Valley, also known as the Gangteng Valley, is a vast U-shaped glacial valley. This expansive valley at an elevation of about 3,000 metres separates western and central Bhutan...


All of this and more was briefed to me by our guide Tenzing, during the wee hours of dawn before we left for Phobjikha. As the journey through the winding, bumpy, narrow roads began, the suprprise of the unparalleled, hypnotic landscape opened my sleepy eyelids wide.





The ride is a mesmerising spectacle interspersed with bumpy roads. As we leave Punakha behind we transit from a view of mountains laced with split-level houses to a panorama of natural green carpets. I see tall pine trees, grundgy mountain tracks and road workers braving inclement conditions to widen the limited sized roads. 







We meet with a little adventure. Our journey is punctuated with a roadblock. Tall bulky trees have fallen to the ground and they block our path to proceed. Road workers furiously use wood-cutting machines to chop the fallen trees into smaller pieces and make way for us to move on. The mood of camaraderie is in the air. All who are stuck in this long snake-like traffic jam get out of their vehicles to help roll off the smaller pieces of tree to the corner of the road. Finally with little sweat beads on my forehead and a bit of pant, the travel continues. The last thing I want, is to miss viewing the valley where the endangered black-necked cranes along with other birds visit to make it their migrating home. It is also home for nomadic shepherds and yak-herds that I luckily catch a glimpse of. 



A feeling of calm and zen engulfs as we approach the view of the valley. The mood is tranquil and undisturbed. Vast expanse of restful beauty and sparsely placed wooden houses maintain the undisturbed still.






These farmhouses have similar facades. They are mostly two storey high, white walls with wooden windows and long coridoors. Red chillies hang on these windows to be sun dried. They make for an essential vegetable in the Bhutanese cuisine. 



Within the warm interiors of a farmhouse we are served with tea and a hot meal. Savouring the view of the poised landscape and biting into the steaming food, I eagerly look out of the window hoping to spot the black-necked crane. 

Soon our guide informs us that the expected arrival of the black-necked cranes have been delayed. It is estimated to arrive only a couple of days later. Disappointed, I look out of the window and I see a genuine stroke of luck! A massive rainbow arching against the sky brightening up the valley and my mood.



Spectacular, dramatic, stunning are words that fall short to describe this experience. I quickly run out of the farmhouse to see the rainbow closely. It is almost a touch away and like a spell it disappears as fast as it had arrived. It leaves behind a cheerful mountainscape and a very dazzled me.



As I leave, I take back a feeling of bliss and a song hummning in my head.
Counting colours in the rainbow
when the sun has made the rain go
in all the colours I see above me
I count the blessings of someone who loves me...





About Post Author

Architect, Photographer, Bookworm.
Lifestyle and Design Hunter. In search of Pattern in Chaos.

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2 comments:

  1. Unknown24 November 2015 at 23:04

    superb!!! love your blog

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown25 November 2015 at 02:12

    What a wonderful interweaving of words and pictures. Just amazing. The elucidation takes the breath away from the readers as if on a live expedition through the magnificent Phobjikha Valley. The rainbow evokes a deep feeling of being indeed blessed with the joy of the charming visual delight. Love reading it over and over again.

    ReplyDelete

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In search of Pattern in Chaos.
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