Mysterious Bhutan

“TRAVEL WITH US TO FEEL THE MYSTERY OF THE TEMPLES & MONASTERIES IN THE COUNTRY CO-IN-SIDING TO THE PEOPLE’S BELIEVE”

 

Day 01: Paro-Thimphu

Distance: 60kms, Driving Time: 1hour , Elevation: 2200mtrs-2300mtrs

Drive from Paro to Thimphu takes about an hour,on the way stop at Tachog to visit the Old Bridge that dates back to the 15^th century built by the Iron Bridge Builder(Thangtong Gyalpo).Continue your drive to Thimphu and when you reach Thimphu visit:

National Memorial Chorten: Built in 1974 by the Queen Mother Ashi Phuntsho Choden Wangchuck in the memory of her son the 3^rd Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Usually this place is most of the surrounded by thew old floks who come there in the morning and stay there the whole day circumambulating the stupa. Bhutanese belive that when they walk around the stupa they gain spiritual merits.

Weaving Center: Weaving is one the oldest traditional art and craft practiced in Bhutan. It is quiet popular still in Eastern and Central Bhutan. You would be able to see the ladies weaving and the collection of the textiles.

Takin Preserved Center: Here you would be able to see the National Animal of Bhutan which is commonloy known as Takin. The local believe that this animal was been made by one the famous saint who was known as the Divine Madman by joining the head of the goat to the body of the cow.

Zilukha Nunnery: The nunnery dates back to the 15^th century and has about 60 over nuns staying there.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 02: Thimphu

After breakfast drive straight to visit:

Buddha Point: Is the largest Buddha statue in the world of that image. The whole statue is made from bronze and is about 169feets(51 mtrs). You can also have the view of the whole Thimphu city.

Zorig Chusum: This school was opened up by the king to preserve the olden 13 different traditional arts n crafts of the country. The students here get specialized in any of those 13 different arts and crafts.

Post Office: The post office has the collection of one of the most beautiful stamps in the world. The most interesting thing about the post office here is the gives you the opportunity to make a personalized stamp of your picture which is one of the best souvenir from Bhutan.

Hand Made Paper Factory: Here they made paper from daphne plant and they made the paper without using any machine. The quality of the paper which is made here is considered as one of the finest paper.

Simtokha Dzong: Dzong actually menas a “Fortress”. This dzong is the oldest and the first dzong built in Bhutan by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1629. It use to the Institude For Language and Cultural Studies and the whole dzong was renovated in 2008. The dzong is used as the Central For Monastic Arts at the moment.

Simply Bhutan Museum: This museum show you the style of an old Bhutanese traditional farm house and their daily lives. The museum also gives you the opportunity to play archery, experience the traditional dancing, etc.

Weekend Market: This place is open on the weekends for the people of Thimphu to buy their vegetables and fruits from the farmers nearby Thimphu. The farmers whatever they grow on their farm they bring some small portion to this market to sell and buy back home the other necessary stuffs.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 03: Thimphu-Punakha

Distance: 72kms, Driving Time: 2 Hours, Evevation: 2300mtrs-3100mtrs-1300mtrs

Drive to Punakha after breakfast. Stop at

Dochula Pass: Stop here for a beautiful picture and wash room,tea and coffee. Dochula pass is the highest point between Thimphu and Punakha. On a clear day you would be able to view the Eastern Himalayan Range. The group of 108 stupas there is also known as the Druk Wangyel Chorten built in to commemorate the victory over the insurgents from Inida in 2003.

Continue your drive down for about an hour to get to Punakha. In Punakha visit:

Chimi Lhakhang: Popularly known as the “Temple of Fertility” built in the 15^th century by the Divine Madman. People also go to this temple for fertility blessing. Those couples who are not able to conceive go to this temple for the blessing from the Divine Madman.

Punakha Dzong: This dzong was built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is the ancient capital of Bhutan until 1953. The dzong here is considered to be the most beautiful and the importasnt dzong in the whole of Bhutan. It is situated just between the the two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, and is also the winter residence for the chief abbot of the country.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 04: Punakha-Gangtey-Punakha

Driving Time: 2hours, Distance: 73kms, Elevation: 1300mtrs-3300mtrs-2900mtrs

After breakfast drive to Gangtey,visit:

Gangtey Goenpa: The monastery was built in the 17^th century. The monastery is also one the biggest in westeren Bhutan that continues to practice Peling Tradition. The monastery was renovated and the whole monastery is taken cared by the chief known as “Gangtey Trulku”.

Hike from the Gangtey village down to Phobjikha valley through the Nature Trail. The hike takes about 2 hours through the pines trees and than gradually drops down to the phobjikha valley. The valley is also known as the winter residence for the Black-Necked Cranes that flies in from Tibet in the mid of October and flies back in the mid of Febrary. It is also considered as the most beautiful valley in the Himalayan region.

Drive back to Punakha in the late afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 05: Punakha-Paro

Driving Time: 3hours, Distance: 132kms, Elevation: 1300mtrs-3100mtrs-2300mtrs-2200mtrs

After breakfast drive all the same way back again to Thimphu and than to Paro. In Paro visit:

Paro Dzong: Built in the 17^th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Paro Dzong is also known as the “Paro Rinpung Dzong” also means “ Heap Of Jewel”. A popular Hollywood movie “Little Buddha” was shot here in this dzong.

Ta Dzong: Popularly known as the Ta Dzong which means the Watch Tower. Was built in the 17^th century to guard the Rinpung Dzong that’s why is known as the Ta Dzong, “Ta” means to see, “Dzong” fortress/tower. It was turned into National Museum in 1968 to keep the olden paintings, thangkas, artifacts, etc.

Kichu Lhakhang: One of the oldest temple in the whole country built in  the 7^th century by the first king of Tibet Tsongtsen Goenpo. Includes in one of the 108 temples built by Tsongtsen Goenpo. This temple was built on the left knee of the ogress.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 06: Paro Taktsang

After breakfast drive about 20 minutes to reach the base of the Taktsang. Hike up to Taktsang takes about 2-3 hours one way. Taktsang, popularly known as the “Tigernest” among the tourist is the icon of the country. It is also the dream of every Bhutanese citizen to go to this monastery ones in their life time. The monastery originally was built in the 17^th century wehile the site of the monastery was founded in the 8^th century after Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the cave there for 3months.

Leisure in the town in the late afternoon for the last and final shopping. Overnight at the hotel.