Tales from the hills

On an offbeat journey across Bhutan, actor Kelly Dorji and his father will take bikers and campers through the country's myriad tales

Bhutan has always been more than a mere backdrop for the annual Mountain Echoes festival, organised by the India-Bhutan Foundation in association with Siyahi. Since the inception of the festival, this picturesque Himalayan kingdom has provided a context for creation of newer dialogues in art and culture, with the spotlight on emerging and established Bhutanese writers and litterateurs. This year, as part of the seventh edition of Mountain Echoes, the festival directors - Namita Gokhale, Pramod Kumar KG, Siok Sian Dorji and Tshering Tashi - have tried to take this a step further by forming fresh narratives around travel and travel writing. This year, the festival will host the inaugural edition of "Bonfire Tales", a cultural journey through the lush landscapes of Bhutan led by actor Kelly Dorji, an avid biker and owner of Terton Travel.

It was last winter that Mita Kapur, festival producer and founder of Siyahi, approached Dorji for a travel-based concept for the festival. "And thus, the idea of mixing literature and travel was born. Bonfire Tales is a classy campier holiday, using a mix of our partner properties and taking guests on an adventure into the scenic black mountains of Bhutan for a few nights," explains Dorji. The guests have the option of either driving a motorcycle, riding pillion or travelling in SUVs on the journey, which will take place three days prior to the festival. They will ride through Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Wangduephodrang, stay in the best of hotels and lodges, and settle down by the bonfire at night to listen to stories by Dorji's father, Dasho Benji Dorji, who has been a royal advisor on environmental issues. Festival directors hope to make this an annual feature. "We are excited to see the stories that will emerge from Bonfire Tales. I even foresee an anthology from the journey in the near future," says Pramod KG.

The Mountain Echoes will be held in Bhutan between August 25 and 28

 

BHUTAN CHECKLIST

Paro: Situated on the banks of the river Paro, this bustling town is populated with quaint shops and restaurants. However, there are numerous trails that emerge from Paro, which lead you to undiscovered hamlets in the countryside. "Having spent a childhood in and around Paro, I can assure you that there are many parts which are little explored," says Dorji, who surprises travellers with little-known secrets and offers a different perspective of the valley.

Gogona Valley: August is the ideal season to visit this glacial valley, one of the few such landscapes in Bhutan. The route, a favourite with bikers and trekkers, takes one to the mountains east of Wangduephodrang and past the village of Phobjikha and ancient monasteries such as the Gangtey. If you are lucky, you just might spot the rare black-necked cranes, which migrate to Gogona every year from the Tibetan Plateau. "This is quite literally off-the-beaten path. I have come to love it tremendously and my guests have always appreciated this recommendation," says Dorji, who is part of the charity motorcycle club, the Bhutan Dragons.

Trashiyangtse: Though it is not part of the itinerary this year, Dorji highly recommends a visit to this district headquarter in the eastern part of the kingdom. The town offers a cultural cornucopia, of sorts, with one getting a glimpse of the religious and social practices of several tribes such as the Tshanglas, Bramis, Khengpas and Kurtoeps. With its lush alpine forests, Trashiyangtse is also home to Ludlow's Bhutan Glory, the national butterfly of the kingdom.

Takila: The journey to Takila will take you to the ancient kingdom of Lhuentse, located on a rocky outcrop with sheer cliffs, steep gorges and lush forests. Takila is a sacred site for most Bhutanese, with the biggest Guru Rinpoche or Guru Padmasambhava statue located here - it's 173-feet high, with the face measuring 14 feet in length, made in bronze and coated with pure gold.