After a quick visit to the nearby Chhundu Lhakhang (monastery) we walked along the Haa river valley from upper Haa, through local villages, into the main town (3 hours) where we lunched. Then proceeded to drive to Thimpu with great views of the lush and green Haa valley. Stopped to view the confluence of the Paro and Thimpu rivers then drove the short distance into Thimpu. Thimpu was surprising large with "high rise apartment buildings" which are restricted to 5 levels.

Also stopped along the way to view Dobji Dzong, built in 1531, which served as Bhutan's central prison from 1976 (the death penalty prisoners were said to have been thrown off the cliff into the river below), but is now a small religious school.

26 April 2013 Thimpu

We started off going to the National Memorial Chorten which for many Bhutanese is the focus of their daily worship. It was built in 1974 as a memorial to the 3rd king. Throughout the day people circle the chorten, whirl the large red prayer wheels and pray at a small shrine inside the gate. All the old folk in the city seem to drop in during the day and meet up, so it is also quite a social thing.

Then on to the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre produces hand woven textiles and you can watch the weavers at work. A finely embroidered kira (womens' traditional skirt) can take up to a year to make and cost over UD$1,000.

Visit to the National Institute for Zorig Chusum which is also known as the 'painting school' that provides instruction in the traditional arts and crafts with the sole objective of preserving the culture and tradition of Bhutan. Students are trained in the Zorig Chosum - the 13 traditional arts and crafts. The thirteen crafts are paper making, stone work, black smithing, clay art, painting, bronze casting, wood slate and stone carving, wood turning, wood working, weaving, silver and gold smithing, cane and bamboo work, and needle work. The institute operates 4 to 6 year courses.

On to the Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory which produces traditional Bhutanese paper handmade from the Daphne bush. You can see the whole paper making process from soaking and boiling to sorting, crushing, pulping, layering, pressing and drying.

After lunch we visited the Buddha Viewpoint - a huge 51 m tall Buddha which was made in China, cut into pieces and then shipped and trucked into Thimpu and reassembled.

Also visited the Motithang Takin Preserve which is a wildlife reserve area for Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. They are rather odd mammals which look a bit like a cros between a gnu and a bison. Legend has it that the Takin was created by Lama Drukpa Kunley "the divine madman", by sticking the head of a goat onto the body of a cow.

Had a great dinner with the group at the Bhutan Kitchen restaurant which served excellent Bhutanese food. The mushroom dish with chillies was voted the best.

We then drove the short distance to view and take photos of the splendid Trashi Chhoe Dzong which is lit up at night.