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Bhutan - Kingdom in
the Himalaya |
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| Paro |
| The Rinpung Dzong –
Paro ‘Fortress of jewels’ – commands a sweeping
view of the valley. Below the Dzong, cypress trees line shady
paths and weeping willows dip into the Paro Chhu. A charming
wooden bridge covered with a shingled roof spans the river.
Farm houses clustered together with gaily decorated facades
are sheltered by blossoming cherry and peach trees, and terraced
paddy fields spread across the valley. Paro is remarkably peaceful,
and it is here that Buddhism made its earliest inroads. According
to Buddhist tradition, the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo (AD 629-710)
built one hundred and eight temples to subjugate monstrous demons
who lay across the Himalayas and Tibet. The Jampey Lhakhang
in Bumthang was built on the demoness’ knee, whereas the
Kyiuchu temple in Paro pinned her left foot firmly to the ground.
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| Thimpu |
| The Thimpu valley is at an
elavation of 2,350-m (7,700-ft.) Urbanization began here when
Thimpu was proclaimed to be the national capital in 1952 and
the Dechenchoeling Palace was built at this time. Even today,
the city retains its ethnic architectural style. Although many
new constructions incorporate only the façade of Bhutanese
style windows to confirm with government regulations, many houses
are still built in the traditional way. |
| Unlike other capital cities
in the world, Thimpu remains essentially pastoral in character
and changes its demeanour with the seasons. Agriculture terraces
are farmed in the fertile valley; fruit orchards line the gentler
slopes while the high mountains are blanketed by coniferous
forests. The imposing Tashichhodzong looks onto farmlands and
a golf course. A riot of colour envelops the dzong as wild cosmos
bloom through summer into late autumn. In springtime, cherry
blossoms light up the well-manicured palace lawns |
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Delhi-Paro-Thimpu-Punakha-Bhumathang-Wangdue-Paro-Delhi |
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| Total no. of Days |
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13 |
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| Itinerary |
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 DAY
01 :ARRIVE DELHI |
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Meeting
and assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel for
over night stay.
DAY
02 : DELHI/ PARO BY AIR (KB 202 DEP 1130
HRS ARR 1505 HRS)
In time transfer to airport to connect flight for Paro.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to you
Resort.
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| DAY
03 : PARO |
| Morning visit to Drugyel
Dzong, 18km away from Paro town. On a clear day, one can
view the sacred Mount Chomolari, Mountain of Goddess (24,000
ft). Visit a typical Bhutanese farmhouse and Kitchu Lhakhang
courtyard. |
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| In the afternoon, visit Ta Dzong that
houses the National Museum and Rimpung Dzong. Walk down a traditional
wooden bridge. |
| In the evening, visit Paro town and back
to your Resort for overnight. |
| DAY
04 : PARO EXCURSION TO TAKTSHANG |
Drive to Ramthongkha and hike
to view point of Taktshang, the Tiger’s Nest (2 hours).
This magical monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 3,000
ft above the valley floor. The monastery unfortunately got burnt
in 1998 but it has recently been reconstructed.
Rest of the day is free to explore the down town. Overnight
in Paro at hotel. |
| DAY
05 : PARO/ THIMPU (65km/ 3 hours drive) |
| After breakfast, drive on
to Thimpu and visit the Memorial Chorten and Changgankha Lhakhang
and local market. |
| Memorial Chorten |
| A prominent landmark in Thimpu
is the Memorial Chorten built as a tribute to the late King,
H.M. Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Along with the Dungtse Lhakhang in
Paro, this is the only temple in Bhutan, which is shaped like
a chorten. The mother of the Third King in memory of her son
erected a pious landmark for Thimpu’s residents, in 1974.
Bhutanese pay their respects to his photograph inside the memorial.
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| Tashichhodzong |
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| The Tashichhodzong, which houses
the Royal Secretariat as well as the chambers of the Je
Khenpo, is located in a picturesque setting by the banks
of the river. Unlike the other fortresses built in Bhutan
by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, this is not intended
to be a bulwark of defence. The original dzong in Thimpu
was located at Dechen Phodrang, which is now a monastic
school. The Do Ngon Dzong, “Fortress of the Blue
Stone’, was strategically placed on a high promontory
and had a checkered history. The Shabdrung took control
of the dzong in the 1630s and rebuilt it. Calling the
dzong by its present name, Tashichhodzong, he made it
the summer residence of the monk body. The Tashichhodzong
was established at its present location in the latter
part of the eighteenth century by the Je Khenpo but was
reconstructed by the |
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| late king, H.M. Jigme
Dorji Wangchuk in the 1960s as the seat of government under
the new dispensation. Exquisite collections of religious thankhas
adorn the walls of the Royal Secretariat and the old Hall of
the National Assembly where the king sits on a gilded throne.
Overnight at hotel in Thimpu.
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| DAY
06 : THIMPU |
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| In the morning, visit
the Institute of Traditional Medicine, Folk Heritage Museum
and the Handicraft Emporium. Afternoon visit to the School
of Thangka Painting and the National Library. Later in
the afternoon, drive to Punakha for overnight at Kichu
Resort. |
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| DAY
07 : THIMPU/ PUNAKHA (60 km, 2 -3 hours drive) |
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| After breakfast drive
to Punakha. |
| Punakha |
| The Dochu La watershed
at 3,116-m (10, 200-ft) separates the Thimpu valley from
Punakha. Himalayan blue magpie’s glide from magnolia
trees to rhododendrons extending their long tails and
showing off their brilliant plumage. In winter, fir trees
droop under a heavy blanket of snow, and icicles hang
from frozen waterfalls. |
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| Punakha Dzong |
The Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel,
built Punakha Dzong in 1637, adjacent to a temple which had
been established as far back as 1328 by the saint Ngagi Rinchen.
The fortress remained under the tutelage of the Dzongpoens until
it became the capital of Bhutan. The first King H.M Ugyen Wangchuk’s
reign was inaugurated here in the palace of Great Bliss on 17
December 1907, the year of the Fire-Sheep. The coronation was
attended by a British mission under John Claude White, a personal
friend of the king, along with other officers and twenty-five
men from the Punjab Regiment. In January 1910, the Treaty of
Punakha cemented Bhutan’s ties with the British Raj in
India. Jigme Wangchuk, the second king was also crowned at Punakha
in March 1927 and it remained the seat of government until 1952
when the third king H.M Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, decided to transfer
his capital to Thimpu.
The Punakha Dzong
drives a great wedge between the Mo Chhu and Po Chhu. Flocks
of Brahman ducks and long-necked cormorants skim over the waters
in a tight formation. The magnificent Dzong is sprawled between
the Phochu and Mochu (river). |
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| DAY
08 : PUNAKHA/ BUMTHANG (214 km, 7- 8 hours drive) |
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| After an early breakfast,
make a short visit to Punakha and drive to Bumthang over
the Dochula Pass and Pelela Pass. Enroute, visit Chume
Valley, where local women weave the famous “Bumthang
Yathra”, pure woolen cloth woven in the traditional
method with beautiful coloured patterns. Arrive in Bumthang
for overnight at Hotel. |
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| DAY
09 : BUMTHANG |
| In the morning, visit Jakar
Dzong, Jambay Lhakhang and Kurje Lhakhang courtyard and Wangdichholing
Palace. In the afternoon, visit Tamshing Lhakhang and Kuenshusum
Lhakhang. We will spend the evening visiting Jakar town. Overnight
in Bumthang hotel. |
| DAY
10 : BUMTHANG/ WANGDUE (B/L/D) |
| Morning drive to Wangdue. Enroute
visit the Trongsa Dzong, the largest Dzong in Bhutan and
Ta Dzong, a watchtower. Rest of day is free in Wangdue.
Overnight at ResortResort. |
| The Wangdiphodrang Dzong
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| The Wangdiphodrang
Dzong sits high on a hill over the junction of the Puna
Tsangchu and the Dhangchu. The Wangdi Phodrang Dzong was
built in the mid-seventeenth century under directions
given by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and completed in
1683 by Tenzing Rabgye. Its roof of shingles is held down
in the traditional manner by heavy stones. Two large prayer
wheels greet the visitor on either side of the entrance,
which opens onto a |
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| courtyard surrounded by buildings.
On the far end is the main temple building from which, on the
climax of the annual festival in September, a larger thondrel
depicting Guru Rinpoche is unfurled at dawn. Ritual offerings
of butter lamps cast an eerie light while Pachcham dancers,
dwarfed by the huge tapestry, beat small double-sided drums
in celebration. Drukpa Kagyupa traditions are very evident here
with the monks attired in ceremonial orange hats and regalia. |
| DAY
11 : WANGDUE/ PUNAKHA/ PARO (B/L/D) |
| Morning drive to back to Punakha,
the old capital of Bhutan. Visit Punakha Dzong, built at the
junction of two rivers, Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female) rivers.
Punakha Dzong serves as the winter residence for the Central
Monk Body. After that, onward to Paro for overnight at Kichu
Resort. |
| DAY
12 PARO/ DELHI BY AIR (KB 202 DEP 0730 HRS ARR 1030 HRS) |
| After an early breakfast at
the hotel, transfer to Paro Airport to board flight for Delhi.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Afternoon half day visit to Old and New Delhi visiting Red Fort,
drive pass Parliament House, India Gate and Qutab Minar. Overnight
at hotel. |
| DAY
13 LEAVE DELHI |
| In time transfer to airport
to connect flight back home.
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Bhutan Trek 
