
22/05/2025
We left Thimphu behind and wound our way through the clouds, stopping at Dochula Pass. With a hot coffee in hand and 108 chortens framing the snow-clad Himalayas, the moment felt suspended in time.
A walk through the Lamperi Botanical Garden followed — a serene forest trail with beautiful orchids and rhododendrons, and sighting a Rufous bellied woodpecker.
But the real heart of the day? The unforgettable hospitality of Pema Tshomo. Her 400-year-old ancestral home welcomed us with the aroma of Suja (butter tea) and her wide, infectious smile.
And then came the feast — course after lovingly prepared course:
Ema Datshi, Fiddlehead ferns, Red rice, Shamu Datshi, Bean Datshi,..and so much more — each dish a celebration of Bhutanese home cooking.
As dusk approached, we stepped into the timeless majesty of Punakha Dzong, where monks chanted in memory of Zhabdrung, Bhutan’s unifier. The air echoed with devotion within this 17th-century fortress — once the spiritual and administrative capital of Bhutan.
We ended the day surrounded by elegance and calm at the Dhensa Boutique Resort, set in the beautiful pine forest.