Into Mysterious Bhutan

1. March 27th: A day of mountains, rivers, and stupas! 🗻 Our journey from Thimphu to Gangtey (Phobjikha Valley) covered 128 km, with stops—5 hours total—climbing to 3,312m. What a ride! 2. Highlights? Let’s dive in. First up: the 108 Chortens. 🏯 Built by Bhutan’s 4th King to honor peace after an Indian uprising, they’re stunning. On clear days, Himalayan peaks (6,000-7,000m!) tower in the distance—breathtaking. 3. Phobjikha Valley: a hidden paradise. 🌲 After hours of winding roads, we reached this gem—pine forests, grasslands, yaks, cows, and traditional houses painting a postcard-perfect scene. Just needed greener grass and sunshine to make it flawless! 4. Phobjikha is home to black-necked cranes. 🦢 They fly from Tibet (October-November) to winter here (warmer than Tibet!) and return in spring. We only spotted two protected ones—next time, we’ll time it right! 5. Gangtey Temple: magic in every corner. 🙏 We watched monks debate, listened to chants, and explored secret rooms—treasures included relics of the 2nd Rinpoche, ritual tools, and *Lama Tsongkhapa’s hat*! Guides are key here; solo travelers might miss these wonders. 6. The temple, built by the 2nd Rinpoche, has a quirky tale: cranes circle it 3 times when arriving/departing. No one knows why—spooky cool! 🌀 We visited at 5:30 PM: 100 monks (even 5-year-olds!) debated, then dined, then chanted at 6:30 PM. The drone of prayers and法器 music? Unforgettable. No photos during chants, though. 7. Overnight at Gangtey Tent Resort: 2,910m up, in a pine forest. 🏕️ Ten cozy cabins—rustic outside, luxe inside. Dinner? A delicious, fancy buffet. Perfect end to the day! 8. Day 2 wins: Wearing traditional Bhutanese clothes for blessings, and spotting the 4th King’s motorcade—maybe we brushed shoulders! 👑 #WorldTravel #BhutanDiaries #HiddenGems #TravelStories #GangteyMagic