Day 01:
Arrival Thimphu – Drive to Thimphu:
Distance: 50 KM
Time: 1 ½ Hrs
Altitude: 2350 m
As the plane banks over the mountain slopes, the Paro Valley greet you with luminous paddies rippling in the breeze and tiny houses sprinkled on the bank of the meandering river. The air is crystal clear, light translucent and on horizon, snowcapped mountains frame the idyllic like painting. It does not matter how many time you land in Paro, the bucolic valley unfolds like a dream. If you are lucky, you will have a glorious view of the Snowcapped Himalayas. After visa formalities and collection of baggage, you will meet by our representative, who will drive through Paro valley for lunch.
After Lunch visit Paro Dzong built in 1646, which houses the administrative center of the Paro district and religious institute for monks. The Paro Dzong may be familiar to people who watched Bertolucci’s film “The Little Buddha” walk down to the coach crossing over the traditional wooden covered bridge called “Nymezampa” which spans over the Paro River. Thereafter, we will take a 1 ½ -hour leisurely drive towards the Capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. Enroute you will view Tachogang monastery, “the temple of excellent horse” built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Iron chain builder in Bhutan) before reaching to Chunzom (confluence). At the confluence of Paro – Thimphu River, stop for vehicle registration, you will see three forms of Chortens in different styles i.e. Nepalese, Tibetan and Bhutanese. We drive following the Thimphu River upwards passing through several villages. Upon reaching Thimphu, you will be taken to the best hotel available in the country. Evening you will have free time to explore Thimphu Main Street. Dinner and Overnight: Hotel
Day 2:
Thimphu-Punakha
Distance: 70 km
Time: 2 ½ Hrs
Altitude: 1250 m
In the morning Visit the place of intrest in Thimphu as follow:
The Arts and Craft Institute: This is a vocational training institute where the art of painting, woodcraft and sculpturing are taught to students with the objective of preserving the rich and pristine heritage.
The National Memorial Chorten, a monument dedicated to the Third King of Bhutan, His Late Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The inside paintings and statues provide a very rare insight into Buddhist Philosophy.
Flok Heritage Musuem to experience the Bhutanese way of living.
Their After drive to Punakha over the Dochula. Lunch will be served at Dochu la Pass. Drive over the Dochu La (3050 m) is one of the most beautiful drive in Bhutan. On a clear day you will be able to see a spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayas from this pass. The pass is dotted by many colorful prayer flags and 108 chortens.
Thereafter we descend through the forest of rhododendrons and magnolia. After several stops on the way, you pass the village of Lumitsawa; Thinleygang and reach the fertile valley of Lobesa. Enroute you will have a view Chimi Lhakhang, the “Temple of Fertility,” built in 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kuenley also popularly known as “Devine Mad Man.”Drive for another 20 minutes to your hotel for the night. Upon reaching at the hotel, you will check in at the hotel and evening at leisure.
Dinner and Overnight: Zangdopelri Hotel /Dragon Nest Resort.
Day 3
Punakha Halt:
The day in Punakha Valley begins with a beautiful hike to Khamsum Yueling Namgyel Chorten along the Mo Chhu thru terraces of rice, chillies and cabbage, This monument was built by the four queens of Bhutan.
After the hike drive back to to visit the Punakha Dzong, which is one of the most architecturally impressive Dzong in the country. It is ideally located between two rivers Pho Chu “Male River” and Mo Chu “Female River”. It was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyel and it has served as the seats of the Government till 1953. The construction of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoch, who predicted “a person named Namgyel will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. At the time there was a smaller Dzong “smaller Dzong” that house a statute of Buddha. It has said that Shabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep, to sleep in from of the statue. While Palep was sleeping in front the statue; the Shadrung took him in his dreams to Zangtopelri and showed him the palace of Guru Rimpoche. From this 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.”
Punakha is still the winter residence of Je-Khenpo "Chief Abbot” and central monk body. Here the war materials captured during the battle with Tibetans are preserved. In 1952 The Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the new national Assembly here.
Day 4:
Punakha –Thimphu – Paro
Distance: 130 km
Time: 4 hrs
In the morning take a gradual hike through the Lobesa village and rice fields to visit the Chimi “Lakhang” monastery “Temple of Fertility) built in 15th Century by Lama Drukpa Kuenley also popularly known as “Divine Madman. It is a popular pilgrimage point for all Bhutanese especially revered by women for its fertility powers. Their after drive to Thimphu for a lunch and continue your journey to Paro. Dinner and Over night at Hotel.
Day 5
Paro Halt:
Altitude: 2280 m
Morning:
Today will be a very special day, with an excursion to visit the spectacular Taktsang Monastery (Tiger Nest). we take a short drive to the north of Paro Valley to Ramthankha, from where we start our hike to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s Nest). The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of tress festooned with Spanish moss and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. Visitors are permitted to hike up to the viewpoint from where you can see the monastery hanging on a cliff. We will obtain a special permit to allow you to visit the monastery. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche, founder of Buddhism flew from Eastern Bhutan on a tigress, bringing Buddhist teachings and meditated here in this cliff. This is one of the most venerated and sacred of all Buddhist sights around the world. We can arrange a horse ridding till the cafeteria, if you feel that you would prefer to have take are horse ride. After visiting the monastery, we will walk down to Taktsang cafeteria for lunch.
Afternoon:
We will walk down to the base and drive to visit Paro National Museum, which will shed further light to some of things that you will see on your trip. Then drive to visit Paro Dzong built in 1646, which houses the administrative center of the Paro district and religious institute for monks. You will walk down to the coach crossing over the traditional wooden covered bridge called “Nymezampa” which spans over the Paro River. Dinner and Overnight at Hotel
Day 6: Depart Bhutan
Depart for Paro airport for your onward flight. Thank you for your visit, we wish you a wonderful flight and safe journey back Home.
Tashi Delek
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