Himalayan Peaks And Trout In Bhutan

B hutan as a fishing               east, as far as the Tang Chu       destination is one of the       river, now the best trout stream   world’s best-kept secrets.      in the country. Fly-fishing        Bhutan, a land-locked kingdom         parties have been experiencing     high in the Himalayas, was closed     the unique joy of fishing in this  to the outside world for              paradisiacal setting since the     centuries and its wonders             mid-1980s.                         remained a mystery. Certainly                                            hardly anyone had any idea that       No comprehensive survey of the     it was a magnificent place for        other fish species has been        fly-fishing; some lucky people        undertaken, but about forty        have been admitted to the secret      species have been recorded, and    in recent times.                      new species are discovered every                                         year. Fishing spots range from     TROUT’S JOURNEY – FROM UK TO          crystal-clear streams, fed by      BHUTAN                                springs, to broad rivers, at                                             altitudes ranging from 1,200       Brown trout were taken from Loch      metres above sea level to 3,000    Leven, in the form of eggs packed     metres. As well as the brown       in ice, to Kashmir, to Assam and      trout, the snow trout (belonging   finally to Bhutan in the late         to the carp family) is to be       19th century. Loch Leven is now       found in plenty. The best times    polluted and shrunken, but the        for fishing are in spring (from    trout have flourished in Bhutan,      March to May) and autumn           as also in other parts of the         (September to November).           world where Victorians took trout                                        so that they could indulge their      WHERE TO GO FLY-FISHING IN BHUTAN  passion for fly-fishing. Seeded                                          first into streams in the west of     The Punakha valley, where the Pho  Bhutan, they were gradually taken     Chu and Punatsang Chu rivers run,  is more challenging than other        villages and charming towns to     places in Bhutan, but the biggest     enjoy.                             fish in the country are found                                            there. The beautiful Nikka Chu,       WHAT TO DO IN BHUTAN               set amid stunning scenery, is one                                        of the best fly-fishing areas.        Other activities include                                                 trekking, hiking, camping (under   WHAT TO SEE IN BHUTAN                 traditional Bhutanese tents) and                                         sightseeing. Some tour operators   Of course fishing is not all that     will provide you with your own     Bhutan has to offer. Haa is not       off-road car, guide and cook. The  only a splendid fishing               towns in Bhutan - Paro, Thimphu    destination, but it also has some     (the capital), Wangdi Phodrang,    very old gompas (monasteries),        Tongsa and Bumthang – are well     lhakhangs (temples) and dzongs        worth exploring too. The Punakha   (sturdy fortresses). Throughout       valley possesses enormous          this magical country, roadside        historical significance,           shrines, golden-topped temples,       featuring perhaps the most         stands of prayer flags and            impressive dzong in the country.   monasteries clinging to the sides     The Punakha dzong, dating from     of sheer cliffs, as well as           1637, was the winter residence of  breathtaking landscapes of            the central monk body, a           magnificent mountains, beautiful      religious and administrative       rivers and picturesque lakes all      centre and strategically built,    contribute to making a visit here     at the junction of two rivers,     an unforgettable experience. Much     for defence against the Tibetans,  of its existing culture is well       before Thimpu became the capital   over a thousand years old and         in 1955. Punakha Dzong houses      there are many historic sites,        sacred temples including the       exotic festivals, captivating         Marchen, where the embalmed body   of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal lies     Bhutan.                            in the state. Paro is one of the                                         holiest and most fertile, as well     WHERE TO FIND YOUR BEST FISHING    as the most populated places in       HOLIDAY?                           the country. The valley of Paro                                          contains a wealth of attractions      In short, fishing or no fishing,   including the elegant and             Bhutan is an incomparable          perfectly symmetrical Rinpung         destination for adventure          dzong, which stands above the         travellers.                        town of Paro.                                                                                                                                     WHERE TO BEGIN IN BHUTAN               building, which houses the throne     align="center">                room of His Majesty the King of        About the Author: Harish Kohli is an adventurer, explorer and a travel expert. His http://AwimAway.com, is the best place to look for Bhutan holidays. Here you can find walking, climbing, culture and fishing tours in Bhutan. http://www.awimaway.com is UK-based and promotes low-footprint adventure and experiential holidays Published At: www.Isnare.com