Built in 1637, Punakha Dzong (fortress) is the 2nd oldest in Bhutan and considered the most beautiful. All Bhutan Kings are crowned here. Honestly can't recall all the details we learned walking around, but I do know that we admired its beauty & significance.
Some highlights around the Dzong:
Suspension Bridge
Walk about 20 minutes behind Punakha Dzong and you find the Punakha Suspension Bridge,
At 145 meters long, this bridge is the longest of its kind in Bhutan. It connects the dzong with several villages on the other side of the Po Chuu river. These days it serves both locals and tourists.
While approaching the bridge we came across a large group of monks, all around the age of the girls. With Jamyang's green light, we asked if we could take a picture together and they kindly obliged. We've talked to many locals - including Jamyang, Kinley & his friends - about what it entails to be a monk, and how/when people enter the monk hood. According to tradition many families send one son into the monk hood. Nowadays new, young joiners are often under privileged and/or orphaned males; families see the monk hood as a better life/opportunity from the children. It was a little hard to see such young kids already funneled into a relatively narrow life path. But apparently monks are welcome to leave at any point once they become an adult; it does not have to be lifelong appointment/choice.
Bridge or Bust
Full disclosure, heights are not my thing. I always knew they weren't my preferred way to pass the time, but this trip has solidified that I definitely have a legit fear of heights. My earliest memory of grappling with heights on this trip was in Sintra, Portugal when I was convinced we were all going to be blown off the crazy steep, narrow cliffs of the castles. Walking timidly onto this suspension bridge is the latest such moment. I kept it together pretty well on the outside (am trying really hard not to rub my own insecurities/fears off on the girls), but there were shrieks inside me with each step I took. Doesn't help when the bridge planks have fairly wide gaps between them, enough that you can see clearly the river waaaay down below. I tried not to dilly dally too long; best to not spend more time than necessary on what is considered one of the world's oldest suspension bridges!!
Princess Sadie
Feet firmly planted back on the riverbanks, we made our way back to the car. On our walk back we encountered a bunch of armed security men on the path, followed by about a dozen guys on dirt bikes. Jamyang said he was pretty certain one of the men was the current King's younger brother, the Prince. That would explain all the security. Sure enough, when we walked past Punakha Dzong, there was the group of guys and the security to the side of the entrance. We were a few feet away and saw the Prince. Sadie was super excited because the prince smiled directly at her and gave her a little bow. Perhaps Sadie is a future Bhutanese Princess? :) Nice way to cap off a day of beautiful, iconic Bhutan spots!
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