Buddha Point hike

This is an excellent, easy and picturesque walk you can do in the morning, before the afternoon rains in monsoon season, or in the afternoon when the sun passes its highest point in summer. The path itself is in good repair, and while there’s no signage, the path doesn’t branch, so it’s difficult to get lost. The walk can be done in either direction – from Buddha Point to Changangkha Lhakhang or vice versa. We find that it’s best to start at the Lhakhang (Buddhist temple), where the view of the massive statue of Buddha poking through the trees and prayer flags at the other end is delightful.

The start point is above the Lakhang. Head to the car park at the top. Walk up the stairs to the right as there’s no way around from the left, and sometimes the Lakhang is closed to tourists. Be sure not to begin this trek from the sealed road at the bottom.

The path itself will take you through rainforest, brush, across a logging track and around quite a few points with unveiled views of the Thimphu valley. There are easy ascents and descents—it’s the flattest walk around this area by far. In summer, wear a bell or talk/sing a lot due to frequent bear activity.