{"id":12659,"date":"2025-11-17T11:16:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T10:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/once-upon-atime.com\/?p=12659"},"modified":"2025-11-17T11:46:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T10:46:38","slug":"bhutan-the-hidden-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/once-upon-atime.com\/en\/2025\/11\/17\/bhutan-the-hidden-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"Bhutan: the Hidden Kingdom"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Prologue<\/h4>\n

This account follows the first part of our journey,<\/strong><\/span><\/a> dedicated to Nepal<\/strong>, with its temples, valleys, and luminous encounters. After a few intense days in Kathmandu, Patan, and Nagarkot, we continued on our way (or rather, took to the skies) toward Bhutan, the hidden kingdom where our adventure carried on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Day 1: Waiting and Wind<\/h4>\n

Bhutan<\/strong> does not reveal itself without patience. A cyclone swept through the region, grounding all flights. We stayed one extra day in Kathmandu<\/strong>, suspended between two worlds, between the memory of Nepal and the impatience of discovering the neighboring kingdom. The sky rumbled, plans shifted, yet the spirit of the journey remained perfectly intact.
\nThe following day, at last, the wind calmed. We were able to take off, flying above a sea of clouds before catching sight, in the distance, of Bhutan\u2019s snow-covered peaks. The silence on board said everything: the journey had found its breath again.<\/p>\n

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Day 2: Thimphu, Peace in Motion<\/h4>\n

Our first day begins in Thimphu<\/strong>, the gentle and quiet capital of the kingdom. We visit the Tashichho Dzong<\/strong>, an impressive fortress-monastery with white walls and golden roofs, where the fervor of monks in prayer still resonates. We then head toward the hill of the Great Buddha Dordenma<\/strong>, a majestic statue dominating the entire valley and glowing in the morning light.<\/p>\n

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On the road to Punakha<\/strong>, we stop at the Temple of Fertility<\/strong>, a place that is both sacred and joyful, famous for its colorful paintings and unusual symbols. The atmosphere is at once playful and deeply spiritual, a perfect reflection of Bhutan\u2019s unique character.<\/p>\n

Further along, we visit a monastery reserved for nuns, a peaceful sanctuary nestled in the hills. We were fortunate to witness their philosophical debates, a traditional exchange where speech becomes art. The raised voices, the smiles, the lively energy of the discussions revealed a faith that is both joyful and sharp of mind.<\/p>\n

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\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

The day ends with a yoga session<\/strong> in the heart of the mountains as the sun disappears behind the peaks. The body grounds itself, the mind becomes still, and Bhutan welcomes us at last.<\/p>\n

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Day 3: Valleys, Rivers and Blessings<\/h4>\n

This morning, we set out on a several-hour hike through breathtaking landscapes. The mountains unfold under a nearly unreal clarity, the villages fade behind us, and only the rustle of leaves, the distant song of a stream, and the steady rhythm of our steps remain. Here, Bhutan<\/strong> reveals its purest face, between sky and silence.<\/p>\n

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\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

We pause for a picnic<\/strong> by the river, surrounded by blue-tinted mountains and Himalayan pines. The icy water rushes over the stones, clear and vibrant, as if it carried time away with it.<\/p>\n

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\n
\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

In the afternoon, we visit the Punakha Dzong<\/strong>, a masterpiece of monastic architecture resting at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. It is a place of striking beauty, where spirituality seems to soak into every golden wall. Each courtyard, each painting, each whisper of wind through the prayer flags tells an ancient story.<\/p>\n

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We are then granted the rare privilege of entering a monastic school normally closed to visitors. The master of the monastery welcomes us with kindness and offers us a purification ceremony, a moment of silent intensity filled with respect and gentleness.<\/p>\n

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The day ends in light and laughter: a yoga session at sunset, followed by a joyful evening celebrating Daniela<\/strong> and Nadia<\/strong>\u2019s birthdays. Between the songs, the laughter, and the candles, even the mountain seemed to smile.<\/p>\n

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Day 4: From Punakha to Paro, Between Traditions and Encounters<\/h4>\n

This morning, we leave the Punakha<\/strong> valley to reach Paro<\/strong>, the final stage of our journey in Bhutan. The road winds between mountains and pine forests, crosses misty passes, and follows peaceful villages where time appears suspended. Every turn offers a new perspective, a different light, a silence filled with presence.<\/p>\n

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Upon arrival, we visit the Paro Dzong<\/strong>, a majestic fortress rising along the river. Its white and ochre walls reflect the kingdom\u2019s tranquil strength. Inside, the frescoes recount the legends of tantric Buddhism, while saffron-robed monks chant mantras whose vibrations fill the entire space.<\/p>\n

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Day 5: The Tiger\u2019s Nest, the Sacred Ascent<\/h4>\n

Today is the big day. We set off at dawn for the mythical ascent to the Tiger\u2019s Nest,<\/strong> the Taktsang Monastery<\/strong>, clinging to a cliff more than 3,000 meters above sea level. The morning light warms the peaks, the valley awakens slowly, and already our first steps echo along the path.<\/p>\n

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\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

The climb is demanding, but each turn offers a breathtaking view: mountains stretching into the mist, prayer flags dancing in the wind, and the monastery slowly revealing itself like a mirage suspended in the air.<\/p>\n

According to legend, Guru Padmasambhava<\/strong> reached this place in the 8th century, riding a flying tigress, to meditate in a cave and introduce Buddhism to Bhutan. The monastery, built around this sacred cave, has since become one of the country\u2019s most revered sites.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Emotion fills the air when we finally reach the summit. Silence, devotion, the wind\u2026 everything blends together. And above all, everyone made it. Each at their own pace, carried by the same energy, the same simple and quiet joy of completing an ascent that is as inner as it is physical.
\nThis final day in Bhutan<\/strong> closes in golden light, our hearts at peace, our gaze turned toward the infinite.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Day 6: New Delhi, Last Stop Before Returning Home<\/h4>\n

This morning, we said goodbye to Bhutan<\/strong> with a hint of nostalgia. The mountains slowly disappeared behind the clouds, the kingdom of happiness faded from view, yet the energy of the journey still pulsed within us. We flew to New Delhi, our last stop before the group separated.<\/p>\n

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Some stayed a few more days in India, while others prepared to head home. Since our Delhi\u2013Brussels flight left late in the evening, we made the most of these precious hours with a whirlwind visit of the Indian capital. One of the highlights was the Sikh Golden Temple<\/strong>, where we were welcomed in an atmosphere of profound peace. We explored the temple\u2019s immense kitchens, bustling with volunteers preparing thousands of free meals every day for visitors of all backgrounds. After this immersion in the spirit of seva, the selfless service, we ate on site, sitting among the pilgrims and enjoying a simple, warm, deeply human meal. A brief introduction to Sikhism shed light on this generous and egalitarian tradition.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Epilogue<\/h4>\n

This journey was incredible, intense, luminous, shaped by spirituality, grand landscapes, and unforgettable encounters. In response to the enthusiasm of the group and the many requests, I will be organizing two trips next year.
\nIf you would like to experience this adventure yourself, send me an email<\/span><\/a>:<\/strong>. I would be delighted to guide you between sky and earth.<\/p>\n

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\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
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