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Day 01
Arrive Paro (By Druk Air flight)
Representative from Bhutan Himalayan Holidays will receive you at the airport and drive to the hotel. After Tea, drive to the ruins of the Drukgyal Fortress- built in 1647 by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal(Father and unifier of medieval Bhutan). The Fortress was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. On the way back, visit Kichu Monestry, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo. This Monastery is one of the 108 monasteries built across the Himalayan region by the Tibetan King to subdue the Demoness that lay across the Himalayan region. Over night in Hotel.
Day 02
Paro, Excursion- Taktsang Monastery
After breakfast, drive to Satsam Temple, the trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees with moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. We stop for a rest and light refreshments at the Taktsang Cafeteria and then walk a short distance until we see, clearly and seemingly within reach, Taktsang monastery.
After lunch, visit to Ta Fortress (built in1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Rimpung Fortress (literally meaning “Heap of Jewels”), the centre of civil and religious authority in this valley, built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. In the evening, drive to Thimphu.Over night in Hotel.
Day 03
Paro -Thimphu Sightseeing
After breakfast, visit to the National Memorial Chorten (1974) built in honor of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk and the Dupthop Monastery one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan. We then visit the National Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts, and the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions in the art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls). After lunch we drive to the Traditional Medicine Institute where medicines are prepared according to ancient practices, and to Lungtenzampa to observe the Royal silver smiths and Bhutanese paper factory at work. Other highlights include a visit to the Tashichho Fortress, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan). We finally visit the Handicrafts Emporium followed by shopping for souvenirs in the shops of Thimphu. Over night in Hotel.
Day 04
Thimphu Sightseeing
After breakfast, visit Folk Heritage Museum, Textile Museum, Changangkha Monestry and Philatelic office. After lunch, visit Silver smith at work and Hand made paper factory. Over night in Hotel.
Day 05
Thimphu - Punakha: (72 Kms, 3 hours drive)
After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula pass. If the weather is clear, we stop for a while at Dochula pass to view Higher Himalayas. On the way, stop a while to view Chimi Monestry, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley in 15th century. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunder bolt”. The Temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”.
Lunch at Punakha. After lunch, visit Punakha Fortress 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 Fortress 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 Fortress Chu (Small Fortress) 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 Fortress, which in keeping with the tradition, was never committed to paper. The Fortress 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 Je-Khenpo and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the new national Assembly here in 1952. In the evening, hike to Khamsung Yulley Namgyal Choling Monastery. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 06
Punakha - Gangtey
After breakfast drive to the beautiful valley of Gangtey. Enroute sightseeing in the valley of Wangdiphodrang includes: visit to Wangdiphodrang Fortress built in 1638. Legend relates that as the people were searching for the site of the Fortress, four ravens were seen flying away in four directions. This was considered auspicious sign, representing the spread of religion to the four points of the compass. The Fortress is situated at the confluence of Mo Chu and Tang Chu rivers. Drive further to Gangtey. On arrival check in to Gangtey Gompa House. 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. Dinner and overnight at the Guest House.
Day 07
Gangtey - Trongsa - Bumthang
After breakfast, drive to Trongsa. Visit Trongsa Fortress, the most impressive Fortress of 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 Fortress is the ancestral home of the present Royal Family and first two hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this Fortress. Then Visit Ta Fortress, an ancient watch tower. The chapel inside the Ta Fortress is said to be dedicated to the Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal. After Lunch, drive to Bumthang. Over night in Hotel.
Day 08. Bumthang Sightseeing
After breakfast, visit Jakar Fortress, which literally means “The Castle of White Bird”. The current structure was built in 1667 and then visit Lamey Goemba, a large palace and monastery built in 18th century by Dasho Phuntsho Wangdi. Visit Jambay Monestry, built by King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in the year 659 on the same day as Kichu Monestry in Paro. The temple was visited by Guru Rimpoche during his visit to Bumthang and was renovated by Sindhu Raja after Guru Rimpoche restored his life force. Under the temple is said to be a lake in which Guru Rimpoche hid several Terma. In October one of the most spectacular festival, “Jambay Monestry Drup” is staged here. After lunch, Visit Chakhar (Iron Castle) Monestry, 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. We then visit Kurjey Monestry that is named after body print of Guru Rimpoche, built in 1652 by Minjur Tempa. Visit Tamshing Monestry (Temple of the good message), established in 1501 by Pema Lingpa and is the most important Nyingmapa temple in the kingdom. In the evening, visit Membarstho which literally means, “The burning Lake”. Over night in Hotel.
Excursion to Ura valley & back to Bumthang
After breakfast, Excursion to the beautiful valley of Ura. Dinner and over night in Hotel.
Day 10. Bumthang--Mongar
After breakfast drive to Mongar. Packed lunch will be served on the way. There you can see the typical Bhutanese farm houses. Dinner and over night in Hotel.
Mongar – Trashigang (3hrs drive)
After breakfast, visit Mongar Fortress. This Fortress was rebuilt in 1953 and is quite small. There are around 50 to 60 monks in the Fortress, many of them young boys eight to ten years old. The image of in the Fortress are Buddha of long live as well as Guru Rimpoche ( One who brought Buddhism in Bhutan) and drive further to Trashigang. On the way to Trashigang, we have to cross over Korila Pass. After lunch, witness the Festival. Over night in Camp.
Day 12-13. Trashigang
After breakfast witness the Chorten Kora Festival. Overnight in camp.
Early Morning drive to Trashigang Fortress. So after lunch, drive to Gom Kora. It is the small temple in the east and its correct name is Gomphu Kora. Gomphu means the sacred meditation site of Guru Padmasamva and Kora means circumambulation. The Guru meditated here and left a body impression on the rock, similar to that in Kurjey Monestry in Bumthang.Visit the Chorten and drive to Mongar. Dinner and over night in Hotel.
Mongar – Bumthang (7hrs drive)
After breakfast, drive to Bumthang. Packed lunch will be served on the way. If you have time in the evening visit the Wangdicholing Palace. where the residence for the 1st and 2nd Kings. In the evening, leisure in the town. Dinner and over night in a Bhutanese Farm House to see the Bhutanese way of Life.
Bumthang – Thimphu (9 hrs drive)
Early breakfast, drive to Thimphu. In the evening visit to the Handicraft shops. Over night in Hotel.
Thimphu—Paro (Departure)
Early in the morning drive to Paro Airport with our representatives and farewell.
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