Ani Tsultrim Wangmo: A Pilgrim’s Reflection

During the event of my pilgrimage, I was most challenged by the lack of signboards on the roads; it was difficult to know where to head at junctions. In a place like Bhutan, where sometimes you don’t see any settlements or people over long stretches of the mountainous road, it can make one feel totally lost and desperate. Many times I had to call people in Thimphu and ask for directions; then I would have to follow some vague instructions. Being Bhutanese, I suppose I managed somehow. The trouble with mobile calls is, in many places, we do not receive network connection, especially in remote areas; this is why we need road directions to nunneries. Fortunately, once at the nunneries, I found that all nunneries receive mobile network connection. This made me wonder how a foreigner would maneuver such a road in the wilderness.

When traveling away from the main road, do not expect to even buy a cup of tea! There are no restaurants or shops of any sort. This is to remind pilgrims to make necessary travel arrangements for your comfort on the road. However, once you reach the nunnery, the nuns provide you with all the necessary comforts for your stay. It would be worthwhile to call the nunneries and inform them of your visit. If you are interested in important puja days, your call can help you know when it will be most beneficial to make your visit.

The road to the nunneries may often be bad, but it’s worth the visit. The nunneries are most often located on beautiful mountain outcrops; you might feel as if you have reached the Pure Land. The highest located nunneries are Paro Kila Gonpa and Pema Choling in Bumthang. The rest of the nunneries are located at lower altitudes with warmer weather, and pilgrims do not have to worry about altitude sickness. As intended, I hope this brief guide to nunneries helps people who are interested in nuns and nunneries get the information they need; as a result, may any merit accumulated out of this action be beneficial to all sentient beings.