Road to Paro

Dantak Confluence, three-way meeting point of the roads to Thimphu (31km), Paro (24km) and Phuentsholing (141km)	Chhuzom, where the Pachhu (Paro Chhu) and Thimchhu (Wang Chhu) Rivers join	Pagodas of Dzong Khang Junction	The merged waters of the Pachhu and Thimchhu Rivers heading south
Looking down from the bridge at Chhuzom	Chhuzom - view south from the bridge	Welcome to Paro Dzongkhag	Road marker at Chuzom, 31km to Thimphu and 141 to the Indian border
Road marker at Chuzom on the road to Paro and Drugyel	Market stalls at Chhuzom	Market stalls at Chhuzom	Guy at Chuzom, Bhutan
Dennis and friend at Chuzom	18 km to Paro Airport, the only one in Bhutan	Covered market stalls at Chhuzom	Three pagodas, Chhuzom
Three pagodas, Chhuzom	Three pagodas, Chhuzom	House with a red tin roof built on stilts, Chhuzom	Pachhu - the Paro River
Shiny, mineral-laden rock, Bhutan	The road to Paro along the Pachhu River	The road to Paro follows the south bank of the Pachhu River	The road to Paro
The first bridge between Chhuzom and Paro heads off to the right	Bend in the Paro River overlooked by a small temple	Small temple overlooking the Paro River 5km upstream from Chuzom	Bhutan National Highway SL-2 km marker 5
Our transport in Bhutan	Pachhu, the Paro River	Scenic spot along the Paro River with a pair of bridges and a small temple, Tamchhog Lhakhang	A wire suspension foot bridge and a traditional tower bridge over the Paro River, km 5
Bhutan #1!	Dennis along the Paro River, Bhutan	Pacchu - the Paro River, Bhutan	Pacchu - the Paro River, Bhutan
Panoramic view of the Paro River	Just as I mention to Tandin that we hadn't seen any monkeys, they appear in the trees behind us	Gray Langur (Hanuman Monkey) Bhutan	Gray Langur monkeys, Bhutan
Gray Langur monkeys, Bhutan	Gray Langur monkey, Bhutan	Gray Langur monkey, Bhutan	Gray Langur monkey, Bhutan
Gray Langur monkey, Bhutan	A tunnel entrance on the other side of the river, an old iron mine	Bridge tower on the north side of the Paro River at km5 from Chuzom	White water of the Paro River (Pacchu)
Tamchhog Lhakhang, the small temple overlooking the tower bridge at km5 on the road to Paro	As the road continues towards Paro, it crosses to the north bank of the Pacchu River over this modern steel bridge	Bridge across the Pachhu (Par River)	Looking downstream from the Steel Bridge
Roadside marker - 102RCC 19TF, Bhutan	Sports field on the north side of the Paro River	Sports field on the edge of Paro, around 6km southeast of the airport	Fields and farmhouses southeast of Paro
Traditional house with its open attic space on the road to Paro	For Bhutan, a large flat valley	I'm told houses are abandoned when there are no surviving heirs, hence all the phallus paintings to help ensure family continuit	Another abandoned mudbrick farmhouse slowly succumbing to the elements
The city-proper starts as the road approaches Paro Airport	The gate to Paro Airport, Bhutan	Continuing beyond Paro-City on the road to the Tiger's Nest	Broad flat valley northwest of Paro
Clouds obscure the peaks northwest of Paro	House outside Paro, Bhutan	Rinchen Ling Lodge - Jakarthang Paro	Rinchen Ling Lodge - Jakarthang Paro
Rinchen Ling Lodge - Jakarthang Paro	Rinchen Ling Lodge, our home in Paro located outside the city to the northwest along the road to Drugyel Dzong	Next to the Rinchen Ling Lodge, Paro	Traditional house of rural Bhutan