Day 28 - April 5 - Thimpu to Bhumtang-Jakar

April05 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Plan is to get to Jakar at Bhumtang today. Still yet to catch the trip momentum start very late by 8.30. Get out of Thimpu and off towards wangdue. Did not expect an approaching pass DochuLa. The soon i got there, it was chilly too chilly. The Geomba at the pass was huge one with many small ones on top of a central convex land. It was misty all around and many tourists had come there to visit it. As i was packing myself with the winter gear, curious men dressed in traditional Bhutanese attair inquire with me and wish me luck ahead and was advised to be careful. The weather on the other side of the pass is dramatically different. Cold too cold. It improves as i loose altitude. Reach wanddue and take a left towards punakha. Why? am i going to vist the zongh there? may be not but what the heck. Lost altitude quite soon and it was hot at punakha all my riding gear catching sweat now. Not surprising as the altitude of Punakha is like 800 meters same as Bangalore! was in no mood to visit the punakha zongh and thus ride back towards wangdue.

Then gained altitude again approaching the Pele La. Nothing dramatic here blessed with sunshine this time. The day pretty much a ride through with no places to visit. catching an eye full of the huge mountains around. Reach tronga by like 4 pm. Find it a small town nestled in the hills. I expected a big city like Thimpu. It seems the entire east of Bhutan has only small settlements like this no cities! Also find out that Tashicell does not work in East. Get a new Bmobile sim and start off towards Bumtang. Nearing Bumthan have to cross yet another pass Yotang La. It got really cold and see mountains around smoking with mist. It was not a enjoyable ride with the dull environment around. After crossing the pass it gets bettor and sky clears up. Then the beauty of the Bumtang valley is seen. Was really nice ride in the late after noon. There are small villages in between. The standard living all around Bhutan seems to be high compared to india. Even small villages people of modernly dressed, lot of cars around and the scool even had basketball ground and the kids playing were wearing tipical citislickers dress!

Finally get to Jakar in Bumtang. Find the river lodge which the guy at Pheuntsholing had suggested, as it belonged to his father. Just go around the town and back to river lodge. As i park in the parking lot. Mr Pema dawa welcomes me. Said his son had called him and told that i will drop by as i go this route. Though the room charges were like 2k+ it was given to me at 500 as recomended by his son. Wow that's so nice of em. The entire lodge was made of wood and had this traditional heating system. That is there is a iron cabinet and wood is burned in it. Thus propagating the heat in the room. Nothing much be relaxed and went to bed pretty early.

My room at Hotel Tandin. Had a room heater as well!


At Dachu La, Just before this pass it was all Sunny...


Height at Dachu La, 10,026feet



Getting down from Dachu La





The Punakha Zongh. This day was basically a drive through with no places visited...


Horses at Punakha.


Typical Himalayan overhangs.



First proper of snow cap'd peaks...


The curious kids again...


At Pele La


Height at Pele La, 11030 feet...


The Pele kid...


Is that a Yak? Looks like a cow with more hair :D


Getting down from Pele La





One of the many immigration check posts...


The Trongza Zongh. Again did not visit it...


Enroute Bumthang...


Then the smokey mountains!


At Yotang La


Height there, 11030 feet same as Pele La ?!!


Nearing Jakar rode next to the river...



My warm room at the River Lodge with a traditional heater...