THIMPHU FESTIVAL TOUR:THIMPHU TSHECHU

Date of this festival:Sept 25-27,2012

Main Highlights of Thimphu Festival Tour:

Thimphu festival is one of the most popular festivals in the country. During the mask dances known as cham and are performed to bless onlookers, to teach them the Buddhist dharma, to protect them from misfortune and to exorcise all evil. It is believed that merit is gained by attending the tsechus. The dances invoke the deities to wipe out misfortunes, increase luck and grant personal wishes.
A group of ladies perform traditional Bhutanese dances during the intervals between masked dances.
Apart from its religious implications, the Tshechu is also an annual social gathering where people dress in their finest clothing and jewelleries.
Bring you a closer contact with the people and give you an insight into the Bhutanese lives, beliefs and more.

Thimphu Festival Tour Program

 Day 01 : Arrive Paro, Paro-Thimphu

Distance: 55km
Estimated travel time: 1 hour

Arrive at Paro.You will be welcome by your Bhutan tour guide from Bhutan All Seasons tours-your local Bhutan tour operator at the Paro Airport and travel to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

On arrival at Thimphu, check into your hotel and after a refreshment visit Kuensel Phodrang where world’s largest Buddha statue is newly placed and also visit the Craft Bazaar where craftsmen and artisans across the Kingdom bring their own products for display and sale at the Centenary Farmers’ Market.Overnight at Thimphu.

 Day 02:Thimphu Sightseeing & Tour

Thimphu tour includes the following depending on your interests and time availability:

• National Textile Museum which is  a good place to see the art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibitions and has a good collection of old Bhutansese textiles which are rich in colors and designs. You will also see women weaving intricate designs.
• The National Institute of Traditional Medicine, where medicinal herbs are compounded and dispensed, and traditional medical practitioners trained. 
• The folk heritage museum, an outdoor museum that gives an insight into Bhutanese rural lives.
• The School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where students undergo a six-year training course on 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan which includes painting, embroidery works, wood carving,etc.
• The Takin Preserve, which houses the national animal - Takin which is only found in Bhutan. This is an extremely rare member of the goat family. Found in herds in the very high altitudes (13,125ft and over). They live on a diet of grass and bamboo. It can weigh as much as 550 pounds.
• Traditional Bhutanese paper making factory,the handmade paper making in Bhutan stemmed from the age old tradition originated in 8th century of Bhutanese history. Jungshi Paper Factory was established in November 1990 as an undertaking of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The unit now boasts as a major and sole dealer in handmade paper and its products.
• Tashichhodzong, the fortress of the glorious religion. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in the 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans.
• National Memorial Chorten, continuously circumambulated by the faithful, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of third king of Bhutan;His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who had wished to erect a monument for the world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace.
• Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, to browse through examples of Bhutan's fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, and other interesting items made from local materials.Overnight at Thimphu.

Day 03  Thimphu Tsechu

• Attend first day Thimphu Festival. Venue- Tashichhoedzong courtyard. This is the perfect occasions to witness the Bhutanese unique culture, religion and history. Overnight at Thimphiu.

Day 04: Thimphu Short Hike to Tango Monastery and Cherii Monastery

After breakfast, travel to the base camp of Cheri Monastery and hike up to the Monastery. The walk up to the Monastery is through the forest filled with Rhododendron flower trees which will be in full bloom during March/April . This is the place where monks undergo spiritual retreat with a duration ranging from 4 months to 3 years. The hike up will take approximately 45 minutes. At this place you will experience complete serenity.Visit the Monastery and enjoy the breathtaking view from the Monastery. Walk down and if interested or time permits hike up to Tango Monastery. Tango Monastery is the center for higher studies for monks. The hike up will take approximately 45 minutes. The view from Tango Monastery is breathtaking.
Overnight at Thimphu.

Day 05: Thimphu -Punakha /Wangduephodrang Travel & Tour
Distance: 77 km
Estimated Travel time: 2 ½ hours
After breakfast, travel to Punakha through Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft). If you have a clear sky, the view of the Himalayan Mountain ranges is spectacular. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hillock by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo ( Queen of Bhutan) for the security and well being of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan. Also visit Druk Wangyel Temple and enjoy a refreshment at Dochula Pass Resort. Then travel onto Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body.
Check into your hotel and afternoon visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the PhoChu (male river) and the Mochu (female river).

After that travel to Wangdue ( Punakha & Wangdue is about 25 minutes drive apart) on the way visit the Devine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where one can receive a special fertility blessing.
Then visit Wangdue Dzong, situated on a ridge overlooking a river junction. In the 17th century, Wangdue played a critical role in unifying the western, central and southern regions of the country.
Overnight at Wangdue/Punakha.

Day 06: Wangdue/Punakha-Paro Tour & Travel

Distance: 132km
Estimated Travel time: 3½ hours

After breakfast, drive through upper Punakha valley passing through farmhouses and walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 Mins) temple built by the Queen of Bhutan for peace and stability in this ever-changing world. This temple is situated on the hilltop overlooking the valley below.
After lunch travel back to Paro, visiting Simtokha Dzong en route. This dzong, built in 1627, is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.Overnight at Paro.

Day 07: Paro Sightseeing & Tour

After breakfast, visit the following:

• Ta Dzong rated as one of the finest natural Museum in South Asia, and is filled with antique thanka paintings, textiles, weapons and Armour.
• Paro Rinpung Dzong ( in the same location) 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.

After lunch,  drive up the valley to view the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, 18 km. from Paro town on the north side of the valley. It was from here that the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century. Evening at leisure to visit local shops. Overnight at Paro.

Day 08: Paro- Short Hike

After breakfast,drive up to the base camp of Taktsang and then  hike up to the most famous Monastery in the entire kingdom of Bhutan perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to the viewpoint will take about an hour and it will take 2 hours to the monastery. Lunch at the viewpoint. Walk back to the road and drive back to your hotel on the way visiting 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 demoness.

Overnight at Paro.

Day 09: Depart Paro

After breakfast,your tour guide from Bhutan All Seasons Tours will see you off at the Paro International Airport for your onward journey.