Monasteries, Mountains, & Discovery: Vanndana’s Solo Bhutan Trip with Thrillophilia
Sometimes, life whispers to you softly, pushing you toward something bigger than yourself, and other times, it shouts.
In my case, it was a scream. I remember standing in the middle of intense traffic one Friday afternoon, feeling disturbed by the noise, the honking, the constant grind.
And that’s when I knew: I had to leave.
My destination? BHUTAN. The Land of the Thunder Dragon- a place that promised serenity, mountains, monasteries, and perhaps, just maybe, a bit of clarity.
I booked a group trip through Thrillophilia because, let’s face it, I wasn’t brave enough to go completely solo, even though a part of me yearned for solitude.
A compromise, I thought. Travel alone but within a group. The perfect solution to finding myself amidst strangers, in a land known for its peaceful vibes.
Arriving & Adapting
You know that feeling when you step off a plane and the air hits you differently? Bhutan felt like a clean, crisp breath- like opening the windows of your soul and letting fresh air rush in. I stood in Phuentsholing, breathing in the mountain air. There was a calm, a serenity that seemed to hug me from the moment I arrived.
Karma, our guide, greeted us, and my fellow travellers quickly began to introduce themselves- a couple, two sisters from Australia, a solo traveller from Rajasthan, and me, Vanndana.
Karma smiled, his eyes full of warmth. "Welcome to Bhutan," he said. "This journey will be one of many discoveries."
My first impression of Thimphu was like stepping into a painting- a clean, green, serene city nestled between mountains. And Karma wasn’t wrong. Bhutan’s charm was already working its magic. Every corner, every smile, every breath in this city was a moment of discovery.
Plans, often Unplanned…
Well, things didn’t exactly go as planned. There was a roadblock- a hiccup, as they called it- and the entire day’s itinerary went out the window. In another life, I would’ve been irritated. But here? In Bhutan? I was surprisingly okay with it. Maybe 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?"
We ended up at a museum, where traditional dances, art, and culture came to life in front of us. The colours, the music, the people- it all felt so real, so vibrant. It wasn’t part of the original plan, but in that moment, I realised that some of the best experiences are the ones that aren’t planned.
Awakening of the Soul Within
If I talk about the Punakha Monastery – well, it 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. I could feel the silence wrap itself around me as I stepped inside.
I found myself sitting 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, my mind wasn’t racing. Instead, I felt something shift inside me.
"The mountains echo with wisdom,
The rivers whisper peace.
In Bhutan, I found not silence,
But the music of a quiet breeze."
Deep Conversations, Deeper Impact
There’s something magical about travelling with strangers. You start as a bunch of random people, but after a few days, a few shared meals, a few hikes up steep trails, you begin to bond over the simplest of things.
Over one dinner, I found myself in a deep conversation with Liza, one of the sisters.
"I thought I came here to see monasteries and mountains," she said, as she stirred her soup. "But honestly? It’s the people here, their warmth, their way of living that has really moved me."
I nodded. "I came here for peace," I admitted. "But I think what I’m finding is that peace isn’t in the landscape or the quiet. It’s in the way we choose to live, just like the people here."
Living A Day, the ‘Bhutanese’ Style
One morning, Karma surprised us. “We’re taking a detour today,” he said with his evergreen smile. “I want to show you something special."
We spent the day walking along village trails, meandering through rice fields, and talking with locals who welcomed us like old friends. Children ran alongside us, laughing, their joy infectious. I was struck by how simple life was here without rush, noise, or stress.
At one point, I found myself standing in the middle of a field at sunset, the mountains casting long shadows over the land. I closed my eyes, arms outstretched, and for a moment, I felt weightless. I wasn’t chasing peace anymore. It had found me.
In the land of dragons,
Where the mountains kiss the sky,
I found a silence,
That made my soul fly high.
The rivers carried whispers,
Of stories old and wise,
In Bhutan, I discovered,
Peace in disguise.
Returning Home with – Silence Within
Returning to the city was indeed a shock to my system. The honking, the crowds, the pace, it all came rushing back. But I was different. My mind was still back in Bhutan, standing in that monastery, sitting by that river, laughing with the locals.
Whenever the noise threatened to overwhelm me, I closed my eyes and pictured the mountains of Bhutan, the silence wrapping around me once more.
I smile more now. I worry less. I breathe deeply, and I remember Karma’s words: “The mountains may be far, but the peace you found there? That’s yours to keep.”
Read more: Thrillophilia Bhutan Reviews