Entry and exit: Paro, Western Bhutan
Districts covered: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangduephodrang, Trongsa, Bumthang
Duration: Nine days
Day 1: Bangkok/Delhi/Kathmandu/Singapore/Kolkatta – Paro
In a business class seat preferably on the left side of the plane, as it enables one to have a breathtaking view of the Himalayan Jewels, such as Mt. Everest, Mt. Jitchu Drake, and Bhutan’s own “Mountain Goddess”, Mt. Jomolhari and others, relax and enjoy flying to one of the world’s most challenging airports. While the spectacular views will enthral you, the landing will be a thrilling experience.
At the airport, our representative will receive you in the traditional Bhutanese way. As we attend to your luggage, you can rest at the airport’s restaurant.
A luxurious vehicle will take you to your hotel. Be prepared for another Bhutanese tradition, the offering of a welcome drink, mainly traditional Bhutanese home-made liquor (ara). Bhutanese call it Phepchang (Arrival Drink).
If ara is not your type, you can choose traditional butter and salted tea (suja) or any other drink of your choice.
Check in, refresh yourself and then get ready for lunch; a variety of cuisines to choose from; Continental, Chinese, Indian, Thai and special Bhutanese dishes.
It is time for your luxurious visit and our first destination is Paro Kyichu Lhakhang (temple). Built in 659 AD, by the great Tibetan King and Buddhist icon, Songsten Goempo, Kyichu is said to be one of 108 temples built within a day across the Himalayas. Legend says Kyichu was built on a site that resembled the left knee of a giant ogress. Several Buddhist Saints and Masters, including the Tantric Master Guru Rimpoche visited and blessed the site.
The next destination is Paro Rimpong Dzong (Fortress on a Heap of Jewels), a 17th century structure that today serves as the district’s administrative centre and home to the monk body. The nearby national museum, which was formerly a Tower (Ta Dzong), will be visited. Crossing a wooden bridge over the Pa Chu (river), we will drive to Paro town and take a short stroll.
We will also visit a farm house. Before you wrap up the day, a cultural program will be organized, followed by a hot stone bath and dinner.
Night halt at the hotel.
Day 2: Taktshang Excursion – Thimphu
A visit to Bhutan is incomplete without exploring Taktshang (The Tiger’s Lair), which is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world. Hundreds of people visit the place and Buddhists believe that one must visit Taktshang at least once in a lifetime.
Apart from its religious connections, Taktshang is also an architectural wonder, for it is built on a sheer rock face some 1000 meters above the sea level and overlooking the valley. It is a photographer’s delight, a historian’s attraction and a wonder for modern architects, for it is believed to have been built in the 7th century.
Our trek to Taktshang will begin after breakfast. It is not a very strenuous hike and one would take about five hours to get up and back.
Legend has it that the great Tantric Master Guru Rimpoche came riding on a Tigress in one of his most wrathful forms to subdue evil forces that were obstructing the spread of Buddhism. He achieved this by meditating in one of the caves. Several Saints have meditated and blessed Taktshang, including the Great Terton (Treasure Discoverer), Pema Lingpa.
Lunch will be served as we return from Taktshang at one of the places that offers a beautiful view of the Paro valley.
We will be moving to Thimphu after our Taktshang trek. En-route, we will drive to visit the ruins of Drugyal Dzong (Fortress of the Victorious Drukpa), which was built to commemorate the victory of Bhutanese forces over the Tibetans in the 17th century. On a clear day, we can see Mt. Jomolhari (Mountain Goddess) from the site.
The drive to Thimphu will take us one hour. It is one of the best drives, as the road follows the Pa and Thimphu Chhus (rivers).
Our representatives will welcome you at the hotel. A welcome drink will be served again, after which you could go for a sauna or a steam bath.
A special cultural show, comprising of religious masked dances called Chhams, will be performed in the evening to entertain you. These are usually performed during religious festivals called Tsechus all over the country. Most of the dances invoke Guru Padma Sambhava and all have special meanings; the essence being the triumph of the good over evil.
Night halt at hotel.
Day 3: Exploring Thimphu
Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu is not only the country’s biggest city but also a natural museum harbouring some of the country’s most historic and important places.
We will begin to scour Thimphu after breakfast and the first visit will be to the National Memorial Chorten (Stupa), dedicated to Bhutan’s Third King, Jigmi Dorji Wangchuck, popularly known as the “Father of Modern Bhutan.” The Stupa is one of Bhutan’s most beautiful and divinely revered.
The next visit will be to Kuenselphodrang, where construction of the world’s largest Buddha Statue is nearing completion. From there one can have a 360 degree view of Thimphu valley.
Third on the list is Changangkha Lhakhang, a 12th century structure. It is believed that all the people born in the Chang gewog (sub district) of Thimphu are protected by deities of the temple. Thus, newborns and others regularly visit the Temple invoking the deity and praying for a peaceful life.
We will then visit the Takin (Bhutan’s national animal) Zoo and drive to Sangaygang, from where you can have a beautiful glimpse of Thimphu valley. If the weather is fine, Lunch will be organized at the spot, and you can relish having your meal at the top of Thimphu city.
The next visit will be to a nunnery, followed by the National Institute of Traditional Medicines. Bhutan places equal importance to traditional medicine and in earlier days Bhutan was known as the “Southern Land of Medicinal Herbs.” (Lhojong Menjong). You could buy some medicines, especially cordyceps sinesis.
We will then move to the National Emporium, followed by the School of Traditional Arts. A visit to local handmade paper factory will also be on the menu.
Towards evening, we will visit the Tashichhodzong (Fortress), built in 1642 by the Zhabdrung and Bhutan’s centre of politics, which houses the King’s Office and the Throne Room. The Fortress is also the summer residence of the Chief Abbot (Je Khenpo) and the central monk body. It also houses some ministries.
Before the day ends, we will have a quick visit to the Gross National Happiness (GNH) centre. If you wish, you could meditate for sometime or listen to scholars of the centre.
We can then take a stroll of Thimphu town, before calling it a day.
Day 4: Thimphu – Punakha
Our journey to the interiors of Bhutan begins and we will move after breakfast. After about 45 minutes to an hour, we reach Dochula Pass at 3100 meters. The Pass is one of the most beautiful spots in the country. On a clear day, one can see the entire Eastern Himalayan Range from the Pass. Adding to its beauty is the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang (temple) built in dedication to Bhutan’s Fourth King, Jigmi Singye Wangchuck, by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. The 108 stupas build on a mound add to the beautiful of the Pass.
You will be served tea and refreshments at the Dochula Cafeteria.
We then begin our journey to Punakha, through a road that descends continuously. The landscape changes as thick rhododendron bushes are replaced by subtropical trees.
Before we reach Punakha, we will stop at Chimi Lhakhang, the “Temple of Fertility”, associated with the great Saint Lam Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as the “Madmonk.” Chimi Lhakhang is a place of phallus worship and even today barren couples from all over the world visit the temple to receive blessings from a phallus.
As we approach Punakha, we can see the majestic Punakha Dzong (Fortress), which from far looks like a ship on a mass of water. It was built in 1637 and was Bhutan’s capital till 1955. We will check into our hotel and then have lunch.
After lunch, we will visit Punakha Dzong (Fortress), which has played a very important role in Bhutan’s history. It also houses some of Bhutan’s most sacred relics and it was here that representatives from Bhutan passed on the responsibility of taking the country ahead to Ugyen Wangchuck on December 17, 1907.
Following the visit, we will drive to Khamsumyulley Chorten (stupa).
As we return to the hotel, you can relax by choosing a steam bath, sauna or a hot stone bath.
Before dinner, we will showcase one of Punakha’s most important cultural traits, the pazaps (volunteer warriors), who in the 17th century saved Punakha from the invading Tibetan forces.
Halt at hotel.
Day 5: Punakha – Trongsa
We will be moving further East and our journey will begin early. En-route, we will visit the ruins of Wangduephodrang Dzong (Fortress), built in 1638 and was ravaged by a tragic fire in 2012.
We will then travel to Gangtey Goenpa, the seat of the Peling tradition of Buddhism and Phobjikha valley. Black Necked Cranes roost here at Phobjikha in the winter, flying all the way from Tibet.
Lunch will be served at Gangtey Goenpa.
We continue to the east crossing Pelela, the traditional boundary between Eastern and Western Bhutan and reach Chendebji, where stands a giant stupa resembling the Boudanath Chorten of Nepal. You will have refreshments at the cafeteria there.
After travelling for a couple of hours, we reach Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan’s biggest Fortress, built in 1647.
Our representatives will receive you at the hotel.
Night halt at hotel.
Day 6: Trongsa – Bumthang
Early morning, we will visit Trongsa Dzong, which has historically played a very important role in unifying Bhutan under the Wangchuck dynasty.
We will then move towards Bumthang, crossing Yotongla, another pass and enter Bumthang valley. At Bumthang, you will be received in the traditional Bhutanese way at the hotel and served welcome drinks. After checking in, we will have lunch and then begin exploring Bumthang valley.
Bumthang is a mythical valley and Bhutan’s most sanctified district, dotted with stupas and temples all over. In the first day we will visit Jamphel Lhakhang, also built by King Songsten Goempo of Tibet in the 7th century.
The others are Kurje Lhakhang where the Great Indian Saint and Buddhist Master Guru Padsambhava subdued a local demon and left his body imprint on a rock. Jakar Dzong (Castle of the white bird) built in the 17th century by Tenzin Rabgay (the fourth Desi) is another famous landmark.
Others include, Tamshing lhakhang built in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa (the founder of religious treasures). Kunchosum lhakhang and Membertsho (the Burning Lake) are other places. Legend has it that Pema Lingpa discovered several religious texts from the lake.
In the evening you will be entertained by Bhutanese traditional dances and songs. You can also choose to either take a hot stone bath or the sauna and steam.
Day 7: Bumthang Excursion
We will be halting at Bumthang and apart from visiting some places that we could not in the first day, you will be introduced to Bhutanese culture, such as the traditional game, archery. An archery match will be organized along with a Khuru (dart) game, too.
You can also try riding a yak or a horse and move around the valley. Another attraction is meditation. If interested, you can decide to take some time off meditating. If you require a Buddhist master to guide you, it will be arranged.
In the evening, we will take a short stroll of Bumthang town.
Day 8: Bumthang – Thimphu
It is our return journey and we will move slowly, with stopovers and refreshments at Yotongla, Trongsa and Pelela. Lunch will be served at Chunzom, before reaching Wangduephodrang. We will also be halting at Dochula for tea.
A farewell cultural program will be organized for you at the hotel in Thimphu.
Halt at Thimphu hotel.
Day 9: Departure from Paro
Our representative will drive and escort you to Paro international airport for your journey out of Bhutan.