Bhutan 2014: Rafting the Mo Chhu

The view from our window at the Uma Punakha on May 6th was worth studying. The small building in the foreground is the spa, behind it, a river -- the Mo Chhu.

The birds are most active in the morning. This black drongo was staring at me.

Our first activity today is rafting on the Mo Chhu. We'll float from just below our hotel to beyond the Punakha dzong, using the Druk Rafting Service.

We took some pictures on the adjacent suspension bridge while the rafting team inflated their rafts. First, one of Joan and me, taken by Tshering.

Then I took one with Joan and Tshering.

Then we discover that we are not the only pedestrians on the bridge.

The first raft is ready, now for the second one.

Ben in his rafting gear.

Tshering was familiar with my model of camera, so sometimes when he was in the better position he'd take a photo. This one is blurred from the motion of the raft, but I can't pass it up. The white-throated kingfisher is a spectacular bird.

It was along the slower, gentler portions of the river that I felt safe pulling out my camera. Sometimes we glided by buildings close to the waters.

This trip, taken before the summer rains, was comfortable, no more than a class 2 watercourse with just a couple of busy parts.

We see as we approach the Punakha dzong that today the monks are out bathing and washing out their robes.

The dzong is surrounded by the jacaranda trees, which we will admire more in the afternoon.

We passed under the cantilever bridge that connects the dzong to the parking areas.

Tshering in his helmet, with the dzong receding in the background. Joan and the front of the raft are visible in his sunglasses.

At the far end of the dzong the Po Chhu joins the Mo Chhu, and the combined rivers become known as the Puna Tsang Chhu. The waters spread out and we drift with the current towards Khuruthang, a town three kilometers or so downstream. Through a gap in the hills we can see the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup lhakhang (temple) and nunnery, which we'll visit after lunch.

We disembarked from the rafts at a rocky beach in Khuruthang.

There is more description of Khuruthang in the middle of this post about our December 2009 visit.