The weekend market is in a permanent set of stalls north of Changlimithang Stadium. Vendors from throughout the region arrive on Friday afternoon and remain until Sunday night. It’s an interesting place to visit, where village people jostle with well-heeled Thimphu residents for the best- and cheapest- vegetables and foodstuffs. This is the only time that fresh produce is easily available and the shopping is enhanced by the opportunity to catch up on the week’s gossip. Depending on the season you may find potatoes, onions, numerous varieties of chillies, red and white rice, buckwheat, flour, cauliflowers, cabbages, lettuces, eggplants, asparagus, peas, squash, yams, several kinds of mushrooms and ferns, strange species and herbs. Fruits come from local orchards and from the south of the country. You will find oranges, apples, pineapples, bananas, mangoes, apricots, peaches and plums. If you wander off into one corner of the market, you’ll find an odoriferous collection of dried fish, beef and balls of dates (homemade soft cheese that is used to make sauces). During the winter, you can even pick up a leg of yak (with the hoof still attached). At the northern end of the market is a collection of stalls called “the indigenous goods and handicrafts section”. Here you will find locally produced goods, including religious objects, cloth, baskets and strange hats from various minority groups. They are more than happy to sell these to tourists, but it’s mostly intended for local consumption. If you shop here, you may find a Bhutanese housewife or a monk from a near by monastery to advise you on the quality of your purchase. Bargaining is very much in order here.

Also known as the “Fertility Temple,” the single building site was originally built in 1499 on a short hill that had been blessed by rogue Buddhist leader Drukpa Kunley, known as the “Divine Madman.” Drupa Kunley, also known as “The Saint of 5,000 Women” worked overtime to spread enlightenment through an active sex life. He was known to live a truly bacchanal lifestyle full of wine, women, and poetry. He is also credited with bringing Buddhism to Bhutan, hence the common phallic imagery found throughout the country. The phallus became Drupa Kunley’s symbol, signaling both fertility and the power to bring enlightenment to those who… learned from its teachings. Because of this, his penis as a symbol is sometimes known as the “Thunderbolt of Flaming Wisdom.”

Black Necked Crane Information Centre is situated on the edge of the forest and wetland along the main road of Phobjikha valley, has an observation room equipped with high power telescope and spotting scopes for catching the best view of the cranes. The center also offers display information that outline the natural and cultural history of the area. There is a small gift shop, which sells handicrafts produced by the local people that local people can benefit from ecotourism. The center is also a place for recreation with crane watching equipment (binoculars, spotting scopes) and reference books. This is further supplemented with coffee shop where visitors can purchase hot and cold beverages (tea, coffee, etc) and snacks. The center has a gift shop where souvenirs that include local handicrafts and post cards representing the culture, tradition and landscapes of Bhutan and Phobjikha are available on sale. Other items in the gift shop include locally manufactured items, books, videos, etc.

The village of Talo is located on a plateau and is best known for its cleanliness and hygiene among all other villages located in the Punakha valley and is diffused among the hill slopes. It gives splendid views of the neighboring villages. It is situated above an elevation of 2,800 meters. The farm houses of this village have beautiful flowers blooming outside it while the hills are filled with sweet peas and corns. It is clear that the vegetation of Talo is lush and is abundant. The village is one of the attractive villages of Bhutan. The Talo temple, very much nearer to the village, is actually regarded as a summer retreat for one of the great Zhabdrungs who has a lineage of the present royal family of Bhutan. It is also said that the women of Talo are considered to be the most beautiful.

Jangtsa Dumgtseg Lhakhang is a Buddhist temple in western Bhutan. The temple is notable as it is in the form of a chorten, very rare in Bhutan. It is located on the edge of a hill between the Paro valley and the Dopchari valley, across the bridge from Paro.

Hike from Sang Choekor Buddhist College (2,800m) to yak pastures below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m). The adventure begins with an early morning drive up to the Sang Choekor to meet our ponies and while they are being loaded we may pay our respects at the college. Above and ahead the Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple) nestles in the mountainside 1-2 hours walk away. Our home for the night is tucked in under Bumdra Monastery (cave of a thousand prayers) making the most of the awesome views of the Himalayan range. After lunch we can visit the monastery (if it is occupied) and also climb the peak to the north (about 4000m) for even better views, returning in time for a slap up dinner. Duration: 4-5 hours to camp 2-3 hours return trek to peak (optional) Difficulty: Moderate to Hard. Overnight at Bumdra Wilderness Camp.

As we walk towards toward the Kyichu Lhakhang, we can see elderly pilgrims constantly walking around the Lhakhang and spinning the prayers wheels. We can see a wall painting onto the right side of the entrance way as we come near the internal courtyard. It is the wall painting of a king called Gesar of Ling who was a popular Tibetan warrior king. His epic poem is believed to be the longest in the world. The Kyichu Lhakhang conceals the statue of Jowo Jamba which is originally from the 7th century. It is considered as the greatest treasure of the valley. Outside the hall of the shrine, has the statue of Chenresig having 11 heads and 1000 arms. The main entrance door is beautifully covered with gold. We can see that in front of the statue are the grooves worn into the wooden floor by the generations of prostration. . Kyichu Lhakhang holds some of the oldest relics and the floor of the main temple which is made of wood is inlaid with turquoise, other precious gems and stones. Next to the main temple is the Guru Lhakhang. The Guru Lhakhang consists of 5 meter high statue of Guru Rinpoche and Kurukulla (Red Tara) which holds a bow and arrow made of flowers. We can see a chorten to the right side of Guru, where it contains the ashes of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He was an honorable Nyingma Buddhist and the spiritual teacher of the Queen Mother. His former quarters are closed to the visitors which is located at the left side. We can also see a heap of iron links in the corner of the Lhakhang which was faked by the famous bridge builder of Bhutan called Thangtong Gyalpo. Kyichu Lhakhang is a very important place for art connoisseurs, historians, pilgrims and visitors from all around the world because it is a place of culture and art. Outside the temple, we can see water pray wheels, small prayer wheels with Lenza script, Monks house, palace for Naga and Stupa for Naga. It is believed that the two orange trees which are in the courtyard of the Lhakhang bears fruit throughout the year.

Your Bhutan tour guide will escort you to the airport for your onward destinations. With a heavy heart, we wave you goodbye and until time we see you again.