Happiness Ride to Bhutan – Day 5
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Today’s route – Punakha – Dochula Pass – Thimphu – Paro. Distance – 150 km.
Today we were going to Paro. The saddle and roll time was 9 am. All had got up in a relaxed mode, after a wonderful breakfast of Aloo Paratha and usual stuff was a blessing in a different country. All enjoyed the sumptuous breakfast. All were on time to start. Ride Captain Ajit had shared the riders sequence with grouping. He briefed today’s route and gave riding instructions. Requested Manjunath sir to offer the prayer for today’s success.
Slowly both the groups left with our tour lead and sweeps, it was decided to visit two important sightseeing spots of Punakha before we left Punakha. The first stop was after 20 km at the famous Punakha Fort. All wanted to visit it inside and bought tickets. We had our guide who explained the importance and significance of the fort. The fort is not an abandoned one or not in use, it is used by Buddhist monks on a daily basis. All took many pictures and spent over an hour at the fort. The next stop was at the popular suspension bridge of Bhutan.
It was a great feeling walking on the bridge, great tourist spots in Bhutan. Again all got busy taking many pictures and slowly all were back on the bikes for Paro. Immediately after that it had started raining and few who were not wearing rain gears stopped for putting their rain gears. The next 30 km to Dachula Pass was foggy and raining. All wanted to take a tea break at the Cafe in Dachula Pass and stopped for the same. Close to 1 pm, started for the final leg of the next 70 km to Paro bypassing Thimphu City. Slowly and steadily our convoy of 23 bikes reached the beautiful city of Paro, could see the Paro Airport from the highway itself, very scenic and beautiful.
As we entered the city, all stopped at an upscale restaurant in Paro, close to our hotel. All had a great lunch and shifted to the hotel around 5 pm. All went to rooms to rest and freshen up. Fortunately our hotel for the next two days in Paro is in the City centre, all decided to laze around the shopping area for buying a few Bhutanese Souvenirs. All were back at the hotel for an early dinner around 8.30 pm due to tomorrow’s program for Trek to Tiger Nest Monastery in the early morning. All retired to their rooms for a good rest and sleep.