The End of the Harvest in Bhutan
Rice Harvest :: Teoprongchu, Bhutan
Post of the Day: Adding a bit of light to the darkness as we get through the pandemic together.
This series features travel photos from my archives, shared with you as we shelter in place.
June 20th, 2020
Today we’re visiting a village in Bhutan called Teoprongchu centered between Thimphu, Punakha and the Phobjikha Valley. The landscape tapers across the plain in a series of terraced rice fields leading down to the Puna Tsang River.
Teoprongchu, Bhutan
Rice Harvest :: Teoprongchu, Bhutan
Rice Harvest :: Teoprongchu, Bhutan
It’s the end of the harvest, with the rice fields trimmed down and the stalks stacked neatly in circular forms. A few large disheveled piles remain for the three women here finishing up their work. An armful of cut stalks are gathered into a bunch, then held overhead and hit repeatedly against a stone on the ground to release the grain. The force and motion of this technique surely makes for a strong but aching back.
Rice Harvest :: Teoprongchu, Bhutan
Rice Harvest :: Teoprongchu, Bhutan
The grain is collected on large tarps sitting in the sun, waiting to be bagged up for storage or sale. The dried stalks will feed the livestock through the winter. The valley is a picture of tidiness with the growing season complete and the dry terraces ready for cold weather.
Walking though the village, Kinga takes us inside the home of a local woman he knows. A skillet and a pot fit on two fire pits formed from dried mud. The fire burns from the end of a log and a basket of grain sits to her side. She’s toasting rice to make candy for her children as the afternoon light pours in through the wooden window frame.
See you tomorrow for our last stop at Tiger’s Nest.
Kelly
Rice Harvest :: Teoprongchu, Bhutan
compassandcamera.wordpress.com 
Nothing better than a field of grain! I love them all, no matter the country or the crop! These are beautiful.
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Hi there! Thank you, Lex! As I was editing photos I was wishing I could see this valley in the springtime. I can’t imagine how beautiful it must be in that season as well. Great to hear from you!
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I can attest that these fields were a brilliant green last April! But I like the looks in any season.
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Beautiful photos. A life of hard work close to nature, and to family. Rich in all the right ways – except toasted rice would be no substitute for candy for me 🙂
Alison
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You’ve said it perfectly, Alison. Just wish I had more for you than rice candy in return, LOL! 🙂
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Thanks for sharing. I’m there!
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Woohoo! Happy to take you there. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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The scenery here is rural and pleasant. I love working farms and fields, especially golden ones. What an interesting country to visit. Before your posts, I thought it might be an OK place to see, but now I’m convinced I should have made this a priority when I was in that part of the world. Maybe someday!
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Thank you, Rusha! This is exactly what I love about connecting through travel blogging — it brings you closer to places you’ve never been before and inspires new ideas. I hope you visit Bhutan someday but if not, I’m so happy to have shared my trip with you!
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I’m definitely the lucky one. Thanks.
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