My first international biking tour. We transported our bikes to Siliguri and then rode through the gorgeous country of Bhutan. The people, the calmness, the terrain, the roads, the air, every single thing about this country was stunning.
From Phuentsholing, to Paro, to Phobjika, to Thimpu, each town had its own magic and charm. The warmth of the people left us with a deep sense of gratitude.
Part 1 of 4
Border Crossing
After unloading the bikes in Siliguri and completing the basic checks, we were excited to start our ride to Phuentsholing. The following day, we started our ride towards the border town in hopes of reaching as early as possible to complete the immigration formalities for both us and our bikes. The hot and humid day ensured that by the time we reached Phuentsholing, we were baked in our riding jackets. Nonetheless, we had fun on the way, and the immigration process was smooth (barring a minor hiccup in my case). We had a leisurely stroll around the hotel and were amazed by how peaceful and orderly the Happiest Country in the world is - how a few meters of border changes from Chaos to Calm. We rested that night, eager to actually start our ride through Bhutan.
Part 2 of 4
Phuentsholing to Paro
Bhutan - What a beautiful country. Common sense prevails here, as evidenced by the absence of traffic signals in the city. We made our way through the city and along breathtaking highways and passes from Phuentsholing towards Paro. We had preplanned halts along the way to ensure we were not stretching and tiring ourselves out. The roads and views never made us tire anyway. We got some rain on the mountain passes, and by the time we reached our hotel in Paro, we were drenched, but our souls were so full.
The following day we hiked up the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery. It sure took our breath away - quite literally. No one should miss this one. After the descent, we were treated to a traditional Hot-stone bath, followed by the local cultural show in which we participated as well.
Bhutan has been charming us since our arrival, and each passing day we are falling head over heels for it. If only we could settle down here :)
Part 3 of 4
Paro to Phobjika to Thimphu
When we continued our journey to Phobjika, we weren't aware of the beauty that awaited us. Phobjika is how I dream heaven would be like, if I can call it that. Stunning, picturesque, and every adjective that you can use to describe beauty will still fall short of how I could describe it, so you better experience it yourself.
We spent only a night there and then made our way to the capital city, Thimphu. On our way, we stopped at famous sites and monasteries. It was part of our tour, and we loved observing and learning about the history, culture and architecture.
Part 4 of 4
Thimphu and Back to base.
The following day, we took a day off from riding and explored the capital city. In the morning, we made a point of visiting the famous Sitting Buddha and the shrine. Next, a city tour and shopping were on the agenda. A day well spent in cafes and the local market. A pause in the riding also meant time for a checkup for our bikes and our bodies.
The following day we started our return journey back to Siliguri. It was a two-part journey: part one was getting to Phuentsholing as early as possible for immigration, and then the long way back to Siliguri. We started early in the morning and reached Phuentsholing by lunchtime. The process went smoothly again, and after a quick lunch, we started our journey back to Siliguri. We reached our designated hotel in Siliguri by late evening.
The stark difference in civic sense was so evident at the border. On one side: chaos, potholes, honking, shouting, traffic jams; and exactly the opposite on the other side of the border. We were already missing everything about Bhutan. Connected on intercom throughout, everyone expressed their anguish as we made our way back into India :)
The following day, we loaded our bikes into the transport truck and made our way to the airport, from where we caught the flight back to Pune and our homes.
