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Day 1:
Kathmandu-Paro- Thimpu: There is a flight from Kathmandu to Paro at 9:55 Hrs. and reach Paro at
1100 hrs. Flight No. KB 203. Our representative
will receive the group at the airport and then
drive to Thimphu. Over night in Hotel.
Day 2: Thimphu-Bumthang. (8 hrs. drive) After
breakfast, drive to Bumthang. Lunch will be
served on the way. Over night in Hotel.
Day 3: Bumthang: After breakfast, full day
Sightseeing. After breakfast, sightseeing in
Bumthang: visit Jakar Dzong, which literally
means "The Castle of White Bird". The current
structure was built in 1667 and is said to be
the largest Dzong in Bhutan and then visit Lamey
Goemba, a large palace and monastery built in
18th century by Dasho Phuntsho Wangdi. Visit
Chakhar (Iron Castle) Lhakhang, it is the site
of the palace of the Indian King, the Sindhu
Raja who invited Guru Rimpoche to Bumthang. The
Original palace was made of Iron and hence the
name Chakhar. The saint Dorji Lingpa built the
Current building in 14th century. Its correct
name is Dechen Phodrang. Later visit Kurjey
Lhakhang that is named after body print of Guru
Rimpoche, built in 1652 by Minjur Tempa. After
lunch, visit Membartsho that literally means
"the Burning Lake" where Pema Lingpa discovered
many of the Guru Rimpoche's hidden relics. Over
night in Hotel.
Day 4: Bumthang: After breakfast, drive to Ura
and witness the Festival. In the evening, drive
back to Bumthang (1 hr. one way).
Day 5: Bumthang: After breakfast, drive to Ura
and witness the festival.
Day 6: Bumthang - Gangtey: After breakfast,
drive to Gangtey. Enroute visit Trongsa Dzong,
the most impressive dzong in Bhutan, built in
its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa,
the official who was sent by Shabdrung to unify
eastern Bhutan and enlarged at the end of the
17th century by Desi Tenzin Rabgay. Trongsa
Dzong is the ancestral home of the present Royal
Family and first two hereditary kings ruled
Bhutan from this Dzong. Then Visit Ta Dzong, an
ancient watch tower. The chapel inside the Ta
Dzong is said to be dedicated to the Trongsa
Penlop Jigme Namgyal. Lunch at Trongsa. After
lunch, drive to Gangtey. Visit Gangtey Gompa
Monastery, from outside. Gyaltse Pema Thinley,
the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema
Lingpa founded the Temple in 1613, and Tenzin
Legpai Dhendup, the second re-incarnation, built
the temple. The present Abbot, Kunzang Pema
Namgyal is the ninth re-incarnation. It is a
Nyingmapa monastery and is affiliated to other
Nyingmapa monasteries including Tamshing in
Bumthang. Explore Phobjikha valley, famous for
the Black Necked Cranes during winter. Picnic
Lunch will be served. Over night in Guest house.
Day 7: Gangtey - Punakha - Thimphu : After
breakfast, drive to Punakha via Wangdi. Enroute,
visit Wangdi Phodrang Dzong from outside. Lunch
at Punakha. While in Punakha, visit Punakha
Dzong visit Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is situated
between Pho Chu (Male river) and Mo Chu (Female
river). For many years until the time of the
second king, it served as the seat of the
Government. The construction of the Dzong was
foretold by Guru Rimpoche, who predicted, ".a
person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that
looks like an elephant". There was a smaller
building here called Dzong Chu (Small Dzong)
that housed a statue of Buddha. It is said that
Shabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep, to
sleep in front of the statue, while Palep was
sleeping, the Shabdrung took him in his dreams
to Zangtopelri and showed him the palace of Guru
Rimpoche. From his vision, the architect
conceived the design for the new Dzong, which in
keeping with the tradition, was never committed
to paper. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang
Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). The
war materials captured during the battle with
Tibetans are preserved here. Punakha is still
the winter residence of Jey-Khenpo (The Chief
Abbot) and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened
the new national Assembly here in 1952.
On the way to Thimphu, stop a while to view
Chimi Lhakhang built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley also
called "The Devine Mad Man" in 15th century. He
subdued the demons with his "Magical Thunder
bolt" and built a Temple here. The Temple is
also known as "the Temple of Fertility ". Over
night in Thimphu.
Day 8: Thimphu, After Early breakfast drive to
Thimphu. Visit Memorial Chorten, Folk heritage
Museum, Painting School, National Library. After
Lunch, Visit Simtokha Dzong, Vegetable market
and Tashi Chho Dzong. In the evening, free for
shopping in Handicraft Emporium. Over night in
Hotel.
Day 9: Thimphu- Paro, After breakfast drive to
Paro. In Paro visit the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong
16 km up the valley. Built in 1647 by the great
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of
medieval Bhutan, the dzong was destroyed by
accidental fire and left in ruins as an
evocative reminder of the great victories it was
built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and
on a clear day experience an unforgettable view
of Mt. Jhomolhari (7,314 m). On the way back,
visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the
Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo. After lunch, visit
Ta Dzong (built in1656 and renovated in 1968),
an ancient watchtower, which now houses the
National Museum. Below the museum is the Rimpung
Dzong (literally meaning "Heap of Jewels", built
in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the centre
of civil and religious authority in this valley.
Over night in Hotel.
Day 10: Paro, Excursion to Taktsang Monastery. A
very special day, with an excursion to view the
spectacular Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) monastery -
After breakfast a short drive takes us to Satsam
Chorten, from there a 2 hour horse ride till the
viewpoint point of the monastery. The trail
climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of
the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an
occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. We
stop for a rest and light refreshments at the
Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a
short distance until we see, clearly and
seemingly within reach, Taktsang monastery. The
primary Lhakhang was built around Guru
Rimpoche's meditation cave in the 1684by the
Penlop of Paro Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay, this
incredible monastery clings to the edge of a
sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into
the valley below. Legend has it that Guru
Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought
Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a
flying tiger, Dorji Drolo, said to be his
favourite consort. Lunch will be served at the
cafeteria. After Lunch, we go back to the Hotel,
check out and drive to Thimphu . Over night in
Hotel.
Day 11: Paro - Katmandu, Early morning, drive to
the airport and farewell.
For
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