Monasteries, Mountains, & Discovery: Vanndana’s Solo Bhutan Trip with Thrillophilia
Sometimes, life whispers softly, pushing one toward something bigger than themselves, and other times, it shouts. In Vanndana’s case, it was a scream. She remembered standing in the middle of intense traffic one Friday afternoon, feeling disturbed by the noise, the honking, and the constant grind. That was when she knew she had to leave.
Her destination was BHUTAN, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, a place that promised serenity, mountains, monasteries, and perhaps a bit of clarity. She booked a group trip through Thrillophilia because, though a part of her yearned for solitude, she was not brave enough to go completely solo. It was a compromise: travel alone but within a group, the perfect solution to finding herself amidst strangers in a land known for its peaceful vibes.
Arriving & Adapting
Stepping off the plane, Vanndana felt Bhutan’s air differently, like a clean, crisp breath opening the windows of the soul. She stood in Phuentsholing, breathing in the mountain air. There was a calm, a serenity that seemed to hug her from the moment she arrived.
Karma, their guide, greeted them, and the fellow travellers quickly introduced themselves: a couple, two sisters from Australia, a solo traveller from Rajasthan, and Vanndana. Karma smiled, his eyes full of warmth. "Welcome to Bhutan," he said. "This journey will be one of many discoveries."
Vanndana’s first impression of Thimphu was like stepping into a painting, a clean, green, serene city nestled between mountains. Karma had not been wrong. Bhutan’s charm was already working its magic. Every corner, every smile, every breath in the city was a moment of discovery.
Plans, often Unplanned…
Things did not exactly go as planned. There was a roadblock, a hiccup as it was called, and the entire day’s itinerary went out the window. In another life, Vanndana might have been irritated. But in Bhutan, she was surprisingly okay with it. Perhaps it was the altitude or the way Karma handled it, so calm, so zen, so professional.
He adapted quickly, suggesting, "Let’s explore something different today. How about we experience the true soul of Bhutan?"
They ended up at a museum, where traditional dances, art, and culture came to life in front of them. The colours, the music, and the people all felt so real and vibrant. It was not part of the original plan, but in that moment, Vanndana realised that some of the best experiences were the ones that were not planned.
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Awakening of the Soul Within
The Punakha Monastery felt less like a place and more like a moment suspended in time. The monastery perched on the edge of a river, surrounded by mountains, with the wind carrying soft chants from the monks inside. Vanndana felt the silence wrap itself around her as she stepped inside.
She sat in the courtyard, eyes closed, listening to the wind, the distant murmurs of prayer, and the occasional flap of prayer flags dancing in the breeze. For the first time in a long time, her mind was not racing. Instead, she felt something shift inside her.
"The mountains echo with wisdom,
The rivers whisper peace.
In Bhutan, she found not silence,
But the music of a quiet breeze."
Deep Conversations, Deeper Impact
There is something magical about travelling with strangers. One starts as a bunch of random people, but after a few days, shared meals, and hikes up steep trails, bonds begin to form over the simplest of things.
Over one dinner, Vanndana found herself in a deep conversation with Liza, one of the sisters. "I thought I came here to see monasteries and mountains," Liza said as she stirred her soup. "But honestly? It is the people here, their warmth, their way of living that has really moved me."
Vanndana nodded. "She came here for peace," she admitted. "But she thinks what she is finding is that peace is not in the landscape or the quiet. It is in the way we choose to live, just like the people here."
Living A Day, the ‘Bhutanese’ Style
One morning, Karma surprised the group. “We’re taking a detour today,” he said with his evergreen smile. “I want to show you something special.”
They spent the day walking along village trails, meandering through rice fields, and talking with locals who welcomed them like old friends. Children ran alongside, laughing, their joy infectious. Vanndana was struck by how simple life was here, without rush, noise, or stress.
At one point, she stood in the middle of a field at sunset, the mountains casting long shadows over the land. She closed her eyes, arms outstretched, and for a moment felt weightless. She was not chasing peace anymore. It had found her.
In the land of dragons,
Where the mountains kiss the sky,
She found a silence,
That made her soul fly high.
The rivers carried whispers,
Of stories old and wise,
In Bhutan, she discovered,
Peace in disguise.
Returning Home with: Silence Within
Returning to the city was indeed a shock. The honking, the crowds, the pace, all came rushing back. But Vanndana was different. Her mind was still in Bhutan, standing in that monastery, sitting by that river, laughing with the locals.
Whenever the noise threatened to overwhelm her, she closed her eyes and pictured the mountains of Bhutan, the silence wrapping around her once more.
She smiled more now. She worried less. She breathed deeply, remembering Karma’s words: “The mountains may be far, but the peace you found there? That is yours to keep.”
Read more: Thrillophilia Bhutan Reviews