Airport Paro in Bhutan from Druk Air

Bhutan, the hidden Himalaya paradise

In this set I post my favorites photos from three visits in Bhutan 1996, 1998 and 2000. On all my trips in Bhutan I value again the kindness of the beautiful people, their honest smiling, the cooperativeness, and the nice educated kids who have much fun when I captured them without asking me for money like in other countries people do it every time. The mentality isn't spoilt from this bad side ef…  (read more)
Serious landslide

Serious landslide

15 Feb 2008 391
Every bodies heart beating higher when the rocks rumbled down the hill with loud "bangs". (The pointers show the highway route leading through the hillslide.)
The highway route along the rocks

The highway route along the rocks

05 Oct 2013 1 583
The line you see from the highway is interrupted by landslides and rockfall all the way to Mongar. The drive was risky and the driver had to go very attentive.
Up to the highest pass on the transnational highway

Up to the highest pass on the transnational highwa…

15 Feb 2008 1 555
We nearly reach the pass called ThumsingLa (3800 m). This is the highest point can reached by bus or car.
At the highest point of the highway (3800 m)

At the highest point of the highway (3800 m)

15 Feb 2008 433
This pass called ThumsingLa (3800m) is the border line between the Bhutanese districts Bumthang and Mongar. (Photo captured with the self-timer)
Road down the Djendebji pass (2525 m)

Road down the Djendebji pass (2525 m)

15 Feb 2008 1 493
Very narrow road and sharp hairpin curves challenged our bus driver quite hard.
Mongar village center

Mongar village center

15 Feb 2008 514
Children playing soccer in Mongar

Children playing soccer in Mongar

15 Feb 2008 744
Soccer is common in Bhutan every where. Bhutan is in the list of FIFA Nr 197.
Highway before Tashigang

Highway before Tashigang

14 Feb 2008 413
Being alert of stone and rock falls all the time
Falling rocks short before Tashigang city

Falling rocks short before Tashigang city

15 Feb 2008 587
Only some few kilometers before we reached Tashigang city heavy rocks fell down in before our faces, blocking the road for the next hours. A catarpilar pushed all the rocks into the valley with an loud thunder noise and lead us to pass the damaged road part .
The road from Mongar to Tashigang

The road from Mongar to Tashigang

15 Feb 2008 675
Arriving Tashigang district

Arriving Tashigang district

15 Feb 2008 4 676
After we passed a small village called Dametsi we entered a amazing valley and had a fantastic view to the Drangme Chhu (river) and the many paddy fields.
Welcome statue at the Chagzam (iron bridge)

Welcome statue at the Chagzam (iron bridge)

14 Feb 2008 544
An Indian native wearing thick horn-rimmed glasses was painting the white onto the lion with a very little hair brush. We thought he needs some years to paint the whole statue.
Tashigang Dzong

Tashigang Dzong

14 Feb 2008 3 1146
Tashigang Dzong The dzong stands at the extreme end of the spur, overhanging the Gamri River by more than 400 metres (1,300 feet). Unlike most other dzongs, it has only one courtyard. It serves as the administrative seat for the district. A Drukpa monastic community also occupies part of the dzong. The dzong was built in 1659 by Pekar Choepel on orders from the Tongsa Penlop, Minjur Tenpa, after Eastern Bhutan had finally been conquered by the Drukpas. The dzong was named Tashigang, the 'fortress of the auspicious mountain'. The site had probably been occupied since the 12th century when Serdung, one of the kings of Eastern Bhutan, settled there and built a fort which he named Bengkhar. The dzong commands a remarkable view over the surrounding countryside. Furthermore, it is practically impregnable, being protected on three sides by the river and ravines, and from behind by the mountain. The dzong was enlarged by the Fourth Desi of Bhutan, Tenzing Rabgye (r. 1680-94), and restored in around 1950 by Dasho Dopola.
Tashigang Dzong

Tashigang Dzong

14 Feb 2008 1 959
This dzong, or fortress, was built in 1659 by the third Druk Desi to defend against Tibetan invaders. Because of its altitude invading armies remarked that “it is not a dzong on the ground, it is in the sky”.
Tashigang at the Stupa

Tashigang at the Stupa

14 Feb 2008 410
On the right side was located the entertainment establishment of Tashigang. Students from the nearby Sherubtse College come from Kanglung down to Tashigang to enjoy drinking, dancing and chatting in two pubs.
Tashigang city place

Tashigang city place

14 Feb 2008 1 599
The traditional architecture and narrow streets give the town a quaint and snug feel, not unlike an Italian or Cornish fishing village.
Tashigang city center

Tashigang city center

14 Feb 2008 506
Tashigang also spelled Trashigang, is Bhutan’s easternmost district. It lies in the far east of Bhutan, and is the country’s largest district. Tashigang town, on the hillside above the Gamri Chu (river), was once the center for a busy trade with Tibet. Today it is the junction of the east-west highway, with road connections to Samdrup Jongkhar and then into the Indian state of Assam. This town is also the principle market place for the semi-nomadic people of Merak and Sakteng, whose way of dress is unique in Bhutan.
At the hill of Tashigang

At the hill of Tashigang

14 Feb 2008 473
Some viewers may recognize the plants in the foreground which do not cause any problems to the people in Bhutan. It just grows everywhere in Bhutan and nobody cares in a stupid and senseless way like in many other "developed" western countries.
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