Day
01:Arrive at Paro, Paro - Thimphu
In clear weather, Druk Air’s flight to Bhutan provides a
wonderful view of Himalayan scenery. Whether flying along the
Himalayan range from Kathmandu or over the foothills from Kolkata,
it is a breathtaking journey, culminating in an exciting descent
past forested hills into the kingdom.
Visit the
Ta Dzong rated as one of the finest natural Museum in South Asia,
and is filled with antique thanka paintings, textiles, weapons
and Armour. Drive to see the Rinpung Dzong, built in 1645 to defend
the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now use as an
administration center and school for monks. Then walk down to
Rimpung Dzong Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Bhutan.
Drive to
Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Check into hotel. Walk around
the National Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in honor of the late
King. Drive to see the Takin Zoo, which houses the national animal
the Takin that is only found in Bhutan. Then drive further up
to Sangaygang to enjoy the bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley.
Day
02:Thimphu Sightseeing - Wangdue
Thimphu,
perhaps the most unusual capital city in the world, is the seat
of government. This bustling town is home to Bhutan’s royal
family, the civil service, and foreign missions with representation
in Bhutan. It is also the headquarters for a number of internationally
funded development projects.
Thimphu Sightseeing includes visits to the following:
Morning:
In the morning,
visit the following;
Tashichhodzong,
the main secretariat building which houses the throne room of
His Majesty,he King. Tashichhodzong is also the summer residence
of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the central monk body.
The National Library, which houses an extensive collection of
Buddhist literature, with some works dating back several hundred
years.
The Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting
School), where a six year training course is given in the 13 traditional
arts and crafts of Bhutan.
The National Institute of Traditional Medicine, where the medicinal
herbs abundant in the kingdom are compounded and dispensed.
In the afternoon,
drive to Punakha through Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft). If you
have a clear sky, the view of the Himalayan Mountain ranges is
spectacular and you can even see the Gasa Dzong as a white dot
in the horizon. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the
hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo for the security and well
being of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.
Drive onto
Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence
of the central monk body. Visit the Punakha Dzong, located on
the island of the Pho - Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female)
river.
Evening,
walk through the Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through
the rice fields to the Devine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi
Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where couples
unable to concieve come here for blessing. Overnight at hotel
in Wangdue.
Day
03:Wangdue -Trongsa -Bumthang
Drive to
Trongsa via Pele la pass at an altitude of 3,150 metres, a wonderful
opportunity for photographs. Commanding the Mangde Chu at an altitude
of 2,200 metres Trongsa Dzong is the most impressive dzong in
Bhutan. Built in 1644 by the Shabdrung, the dzong is an architectural
masterpiece.
Drive to Bumthang, this is one of the most spectacular valleys
in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. Here the great teachers
meditated and left in their wake, many sacred grounds. The Guru
and his lineage of Tertons, treasure finders, have led to the
sprouting of many temples in the valley. Visit Yatha Weaving Center
a cooperative of the National Women Association of Bhutan where
the women of the region sell their textiles and Yatha specialty.
Check into Hotel.
Day 04: Bumthang Sightseeing
The sightseeing
in Bumthang includes the visits to the following:
Jambay Lhakhang,
built in the 7th century by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet.
In his effort to propagate Buddhism he had a plan to build a total
of 108 temples in Tibet and neighboring kingdoms.
Chakhar Lhakhang. Besides the main road, a short distance beyond
Jambay Temple is Chakhar (Iron Castle) Lhakhang. Although it is
easy to mistake it for a house and drive right by, this is an
interesting temple and is worth a short visit. It is one of the
108 monasteries built by him to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan
region.
Kujey Lhakhang (Kujey means, "Body imprint"). The temple
to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652.
It was built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated
and left his body imprint.
Tamshing Lhakhang. This temple is also known as Tamshing Lhendrup
Chholing (Temple of the Good Message).
Jakar Dzong, "castle of the white bird". According to
legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site
for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and
settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important
omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery and
for Jakar Dzong. The fortress is now used as an administrative
center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa monks.
In the evening stroll around the beautiful landscape of the Bumthang
valley. Dinner and overnight in Bumthang.
Day
05:Bumthang - Gangtey - Wangdue
After breakfast,
drive to Gangtey Gompa with a picnic lunch. Visit Gangtey Gompa,
which now houses one of the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan.
The valley is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes
(Grus Nicorocolis), which migrate, from remote parts of Tibet,
China and Siberia during winter to this valley. Drive to Wangdue
for overnight stay.
Day
06: Wangdue - Paro
After breakfast,
walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 Mins) temple built
by the Queen Of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing
world.
Visit Wangdue
Dzong and drive back to Paro driving through the idyllic countryside,
dotted with villages and paddy fields, crossing rivers and natural
forests to Paro.
Evening, free for strolling around Paro Town, shopping, etc.
Day 07:Paro - A Day Hike
After breakfast,
drive to the base camp and then hike up to the Taktsang Monastery
(Tiger's nest). The climb up to the viewpoint will take approx.
3hours. Enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava
flew on the back of a tiger and landed there in the 8th century,
and meditated for three months. The monastery was later built
in this holy place in 1684. After tea in the cafe', walk back
to the road point and drive to hotel for lunch. Drive to Drukgyal
Dzong (fortress) now in ruins, which were built in 1646by Shabdrung
to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan invaders, led by Mongolian
Warlord, Gushri Khan. Historically and strategically this dzong
withstood all its glory and had captured western eyes in 1914
in National Geographic magazine.
In the afternoon,
visit Kichu temple one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century
by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant
demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and
was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen
Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all
the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in
accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about
the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over
the very heart of the demon. Visit the Dungte Lhakhang.Overnight
at hotel in Paro
Day
08:Paro - Departure
In the morning,
your guide will escort you to the airport for your onward destinations.