Thimphu to Punakha

Our vehicle for the week in Bhutan	Roadside marker - 19TF DANTAK RCC	Roads Information - distances from Thimphu	Leaving Thimphu for Punakha via the National Highway past Simtokha Dzong
Simtokha Dzong - 1629, now a language institute	Simtokha Dzong outside Thimphu	Simtokha Dzong outside Thimphu	Simtokha Dzong
Traditional house along the National Highway - Kencho Bar Shop Hongsu	Bhutanese folk tradition for fertility	Dennis with a giant penis - Hongtsho, Bhutan	Phallus painting are common in rural Bhutan since the 15th Century
Pine trees along the National Highway of Bhutan	National Highway of Bhutan	Logging is severely restricted in Bhutan	Roadside fruit vendor
Climbing Dochu-la Pass	Roadside shrine on the way to Dochu-la Pass, Bhutan	Dochula Pass (3140m), about 30km from Thimphu	First view of the snow-capped Himalaya forming the Bhutan-Tibet (China) border
On top of Dochu-La Pass with the first real snow of his life	The highest mountain in Bhutan, Gangkhar Puensum 7570m	Masang Gang (7165m) on the Bhutan-Tibet (China) border	Jichu Drake, on the western border of Bhutan (6809m), seen from Dochu-La Pass
Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple on top of Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan	Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Donchu La Pass	Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan	Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan
Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan	The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass	The 108 Chortens were built in 2005 as a memorial to the violence forcing Assemese guerrillas out of Bhutan	The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass
The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass	Buddhist prayer flags, common to all the Himalayan countries	The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass	The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass
The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass	Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass	Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass	Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass
Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass	Bhutan - Dochu-La Pass	The Sanskrit mantra - Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ	Slate relief of Buddha on one of the 108 Chortens
Slate relief of Buddha on one of the 108 Chortens	Among the 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass	Among the 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass	Bhutan2009 1580.jpg
Dennis on top of Donchu-La Pass, Bhutan	Dennis on top of Donchu-La Pass, Bhutan	On Top of the World!	The rare photo of me, Bhutan
The noble dandelion, Bhutan	Donchu-La Pass	108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass	108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass
Dennis at Donchu-La Pass	108 Chortens (Stupas) Donchu-La Pass	108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass	Donchu-La Pass
Coffee Shop, Donchu-La Pass	Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, built in 2005	Green banner	Donchu-La Pass
Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple	Tiny pavilion, Donchu-La Pass	Temple detail	Temple detail
Painted and carved wooden pillars	Painted and carved wooden pillars	Snow Lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple	Dragon, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple
Tiger, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple	Snow Lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple	Carved dragon, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Donchu la Pass	Mural painting of the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass
Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass	This new temple, built in 2005, has modernized the traditional temple themes for its murals	Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass	Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass
I wonder if real models were used by the artist	Wood carving, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple	Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers	Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers
Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers	Temple paintings in the traditional format, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple	Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple	Carved lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple
Wood carving, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple	The 108 Chortens from Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Dochu La Pass	Smoky offerings, Dochu La Pass	The guide, Tandin Dorji, with the driver Jimi (left)
Dennis with our Bhutanese hosts	Tandin and Dennis	Driving down the north side of Dochu La Pass	Bhutan is small, but it's still 525 windy km to Trashigang in the east of the country
Roadside Bhutan	Descending through the mountainside forest, Trashigang-Semtokha Highway	Waterfall on the north side of Dorchu La Pass	A small stupa along the National Highway
Tiny Roadside house	Descending into the agricultural area with its rice terraces	Rice Terraces along the National Highway	Rural Bhutan
Tiny hillside farmhouse with green rice terraces, Bhutan	Bhutanese farmhouse	Rice terraces and farmhouse, Bhutan	Rice Terraces, Bhutan
Rice terraces and farmhouse, Bhutan	Man weaving a basket, Bhutan	Large farmhouse near Lumisawa, Bhutan	Rural scenery between Dochu La Pass and Lumisawa
Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan	Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan	Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan	Bhutanese phallic house art - Lumisawa
Wooden penises on a house in Lumisawa, Bhutan	Lumisawa, Bhutan	Road work along the National Highway - it wouldn't take much of a landslide to cut off half the country	Roadside erosion along the National Highway
Fruit at a roadside stand, Bhutan	Strange vegetables, Bhutan	Gyeltshen General Shop, Thinley Gang	Thinley Gang
A small monastery near Thinlaygang, Bhutan	A small monastery near Thinlaygang, Bhutan	Thinlaygang, Bhutan	Basic Health Unit, Thinlaygang, Bhutan
View of terraced fields from the Trashigang-Semtokha Highway, Bhutab	Panoramic view - Thinlaygang, Bhutan	Thrinleygang, Bhutan - 500 km to Trashigang	Thinlaygang, Bhutan
A monastery high on a hill on the opposite side of the valley	A famous fresh-water spring along the road to Punakha	Natural mountain spring water, Bhutan	A truck driver collecting spring water
Rice terraces, Bhutan	A pair of hilltop stupas	The fields around Chimi Langhkhang	Small villages near Chimi Langkhang
Chimi Langhkhang	Large farmhouses near Chimi Langkhang	Descending into the valley at Chimi Langkhang	Descending into the valley at Chimi Langkhang
Village at the intersection of the Thimphu-Punakha Highway and the road to Wangdue	Koffee House Bar & Snooker, Lobeysa, Bhutan - starting point for the short trek to the temple at Chimi Langkhang	Chiles drying on a rooftop	Chiles drying on a rooftop
Chiles drying on a rooftop	Metsina, Bhutan	Lobesa, Bhutan	After the visit to Punakha, a drive downstream along the Puna Tsang Chu River before returning to Thimphu
A new village being constructed on the opposite bank of the river	The houses will surely look traditional when complete, but have concrete pillars and floors	Residential construction, Wangdue Phodrang	Puna Tsang Chu River, Wangdue Phodrang
Simple wooden house along the river by Wangdue Phodrang	Wangdue Phodrang Dzong overlooking the Puna Tsang Chu River	Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, founded 1638	Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong	Wangdue Phodrang Dzong	Sign for Dragon Nest Resort, Wangdue Phodrang	Pumps taking water from the Puna Tsang Chu River, Wangdue Phodrang
Bhutanese half-timbered architecture	Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, Lobesa Regional Office	FCB - Food Corporation of Bhutan, Lobesa	Bhutan Post Letter Box