Pomola

Route Description for Pomola

The Pomola track follows the river down below Phajoding. The start point is above the Takin Reserve, at a small tea shop. It winds through blue pine forest, with varying plant and animal life, including the famous rhododendron. Sometimes the horses from the Druk Path use this track. Let them pass or they might push you off. This is a yak herding path and you will come across a number of grazing fields. Sometimes the path is trampled to mush by the beast traffic, but the plus of this is that this action creates a clear trail.

There’s a clearing with a large ‘picnic’ rock in the middle just after the trail rejoins the creek. It’s a good place for a lunch or a snack break. Cross the creek and head to the left, following the path. It splits and rejoins frequently so it doesn’t matter which route you take. If you lose the path when it crosses a meadow, just keep heading up and you should be able to find it again.

Once you reach the Pomola Pass, denoted by a chorten, there are a number of options, each of which will take you to a different end point. To the right is the gompa and the path that joins the Phajoding track; the track straight ahead will take you to Paro, parallel to the Druk Path (some horsemen take this track back to Paro in a day after supporting groups on The Path – it is not recommended to try this without a guide); the path to the left will take you back to Thimphu Buddha Point. Whichever path you choose, ensure you have enough time.

Insider Hints for Pomola

• Because the tracks invariably lead to Thimphu, it’s easy enough to hail a taxi once you finish the hike.
• Parts of this track go next to Royal property, if you see a fence with a hole that you think might cut down your walking time, don’t take it unless you want to explain what you’re doing there to the Royal Guards.