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Day 1 : Arrival Paro
Your flight to Paro will be either from Calcutta / Bangkok / Kathmandu / Dhaka / Delhi
or depending on one’s international flight connection via
Road from Phuentsholing southern part of Bhutan. Druk Air
flies from these destinations. When you are about to land
Paro you will see the spectacular beauty of our country. In
clear weather, views of the world’s highest peaks, including
Chhomolhari (mountain Goddess) and other magnificent
Himalayan snow peaks to the beautiful Paro valley as you
land. The representative from our travel agent will escort
you to the hotel.
After lunch we will visit National Museum (watch Tower) this
museum has the very interesting assortment costumes and
different treasures and world-renowned stamps, it will bring
the history of Bhutan from the 6th century onwards. Visit
Paro Dzong (Fort), Headquarter of Paro District and walk
down to the cantilever bridge over the Pa-chu River. Paro altitude: 2250 meters.
Day 2 : Full day Paro Sightseeing and hike to Tiger Nest.
Based on the mirror- like cliff at a height of 900 meters
above the lush valley of Paro is one of the most sacred
places in Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche, the second Buddha, flew
here on a flying Tigress and meditated here for three months
in the 8th century. Here he propagated Vajrayana- Mahayana
Buddhism (Larger Wheel) that was prophesied by the Buddha at
the time of attaining Nirvana.
In April 1998, a fire destroyed the main structure of the
buildings and its religious contents. A complete restoration
was done and resulted in a carbon copy of the original. This
place beholds the history of The Hidden Land. The return
walking time is approximately five hours. Then we proceed
further to visit the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong. Which
it was by built Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1649. It
was caught fire in
1951.
On the way back you will have the pleasure to visit one of
the oldest monasteries we have in Bhutan, The first King of
Tibet Songtsen Gampo built Kyichu Lhakhang in 7th century to
introduce Buddhism into our country, while our country was
still influenced by the Bon beliefs.
Day 3 : Drive to Thimphu and sightseeing.
After breakfast drive to Thimphu is 2 hours through winding
roads following the Pa-Chu (Paro River) down stream to its
confluence with the Wang-Chu (Thimphu River) and with good
views of the forests, Rocky Mountains & scattered villages.
As we enter the Thimphu valley we will pass through Semtokha Dzong
built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (The man who
unified Bhutan) Semtokha now houses a language and cultural
schools where scholars of all the ages study Dzongkha
(National Language).
In afternoon drive to the memorial Chorten (Stupa) built in
the memory of His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. He is
regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. Visit the National
Library, which holds ancient Buddhist texts, historical
books, and some very famous manuscripts written with gold
ink and see the world’s biggest picture book.
A three-minute drive to the Traditional Medicine Institute
will show you where medicines are prepared from plants,
flowers and animal’s bones according to ancient practices
and acupuncture is its main discipline. Visit the Art &
Painting School, where the students learn the 13 different
kinds of Bhutanese Arts. Thimphu altitude 2350 m. Driving
time: 2 hours.
Day 4 : Fullday Sightseeing Thimphu. (Lot of hikes depends on
one’s interests)
In the morning visit Changangkha monastery (Temple), which
was built in 12th century, visit the viewpoint where we can
get a birds eye view of the capital Thimphu, visit Takin our
National animal, visit Nunnery, which is NGO in the Kingdom.
Afternoon some of the highlight visits will be, Textile
Museum, Folk heritage museum and Bhutanese traditional
handmade paper factory. Visit Dechen Phodrang monastic
School; visit General Post Office, where you will see the
finest stamps of Bhutan and capital building of Bhutan (Tashi
Chhodzong) except after 5 p.m. & holidays.
Day 5 : Drive Thimphu to Punakha.
Drive to Punakha via Dochula -Pass 3150m above sea level
overlooking the high Himalayas and the lush green valleys of
Talo and Mendigang, lunch at Punakha and sightseeing
including a visit to the exquisite Punakha Dzong, which it was the old capital of Bhutan. On the 17th December 1907,
the first king of Bhutan was crowned here and every
consecutive year on this date we celebrate national day in
Bhutan. After visiting the Dzong drive further to do a mini
hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten and once you reach
the top you will see the winding view of the Mo-Chu River
and villages below. If you look towards the north you will
see the snow capped mountains. Punakha altitude: 1350M, Driving time: 3 hours.
Day 6 : Punakha to Paro via Thimphu.
In the morning, after break fast drive towards Wangdue
Phodrang another district that is half an hours drive from
your hotel. Before you reach there, take little hike to the
Divine Madman Monastery and this is the only monastery we
have in Bhutan belonging to him and by visiting this you
will know about his unorthodox teachings.
This Saint from Tibet who came to Bhutan in 15th century to
introduce the Drukpa Kagyugpa sect of Buddhism to our
country built this monastery; he is known as the Lama Drukpa
kuenley and called the divine mad man. His sexual nature and
jokes were to be a very unique of spreading the religion to
the local communities
Wangdue Phodrang is another district and the Dzong was built
in 1638 a year after Puankha Dzong. The fourth temporal
ruler of Bhutan, Gyse Tenzin Rabgye, enlarged it in 1683.
His reincarnation is now 15 years old and lives in Thimphu
Tango Monastery.
Just before you cross the Punatsangchu checkpoint, here they
check the passes of passengers and vehicles. You will see
the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong believed to built on the back of
sleeping giant an elephant as the legend says. After
crossing the bridge if you happen to look back you will see
the beautiful village of Rinchengang, nestled on a vertical
hillside and famous for its stonemasons. Buffeted by
afternoon winds, Wangdue Phodrang is an important stop off
point. Drive back to Paro for tomorrow’s departure.
Day 7 : Departure.
In the morning your Tour guide will bid you farewell at Paro
Airport.
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