K-Trail -hiking around Thimphu

                                                                Start of the K-trail

We got up at the crack of dawn and after filling our day packs with "grubs" for the day, we set out to discovery a new hiking trail. Our trail was to start from Kuenselphodrang aka Buddha point (famous amongst young couples during weekends for romance and to some, a place for nitty gritty things in life, not to forget the line of tourists and Thimphu residents who go there for sightseeing).

                                                                  The Trail is marked in red

Kuenselphodrang (K) is on a spur commanding the Thimphu valley below. About 10 minutes drive from down town Thimphu its a perfect place to go biking or even on a leisurely walk. Kuenselphodrang has the tallest statue of Buddha is the world, it was donated by a Singaporean millionaire. Buddha point one of the must-see sightseeing places in Thimphu.

The sun hid behind a thick blanket of cloud threatening to pour heavy shower any moment but it was a perfect day for a hike.  We hitched our back packs over our shoulders and started the hike. For almost two hours the trail passed through sparse vegetation of mostly pine trees with few rhododendrons and other species of broad leaved trees. The trail is all uphill for almost two and half hours till we reached a saddle. The surrounding view from this point is breath-taking. Little further up at almost 3400mts we had our lunch. From here the climb got easier and the forest got much denser on both the sides leaving a corridor of pasture and in some places beautiful meadows.

We reached the highest point (3700 mts approx) at 1.30 in the afternoon. From here for kilometers the forest is covered with five different species of rhododendrons. The best time to hike here for flower lovers would be early May.

The walk through the forest is beautiful with birds singing and squabbling over best place to start a new generation and continue their species. Standing on the summit with the arms stretched, the scene from the movie Titanic was vivid on my mind. There could never be a better place to sit and contemplate. Looking down from this point we come to know the encroachment of the concrete jungle. Paddy fields have slowly disappeared, traditional earth rammed houses have given way to modern grotesque "match-box"type buildings. The families that once knew people of the whole valley today hardly know their next door neighbour. So much water has flown out of the Thimphu Chu (river) since my childhood.

Amid all the chaos and hustle and bustle we still find a place which has hardly changed for thousand of years.

Wild boars and deer still roam this place as it was evident from the fresh deer dropping and freshly dug earth. In some places we tried to track some animals but were clueless when the hoof-mark entered some grassy patch. Just a week back i returned to the gym after almost two years break and now plan to hike every weekend. The beauty of our country still lies in the wilderness.

                                                            Drink break on the trail

                                                              Nearing the highest point

                                                                 A good place for a picture