Description
Fly into Bagdogra and transfer to Phuentsholing. Overnight at Phuentsholing with immigration.
Today we arrive at Thimphu. Settle at the homestay and enjoy the authentic food of Bhutan, cooked by a traditional Bhutanese family. We also get to interact with the locals of Bhutan.
You can also visit the Thirteen Traditional Arts and Crafts School and the Folk Heritage Museum if time permits
Today we do some local sightseeing at Thimphu. Here are some places you could visit.
National Memorial Chorten
Visit the National Memorial Chorten which is built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Thimphu Dzong, the largest Dzong in Bhutan, is also the seat of the office of the King of Bhutan.
Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park
Thereafter, we will drive up to Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park where the 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha is located. It one of the largest statue of Buddha in the world.
Tango Monastery
Located 14 kilometers to the North of Thimphu is the Tango Monastery which was founded by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo in the 13th century. The monastery�s excellent architecture has stayed for decades now. It consists of six temples, each with unique architecture.
You can also visit the National Library and the Traditional Paper Making Factory.
After breakfast, we will drive you to Punakha and stop at Dochula Pass, where you will have a coffee break, regard the grand 108 stupas (sacred structures) and appreciate the stunning view of the Himalaya�s if it is a clear day.
Chimi Lhakhang
Later we will hike around 1.5 hours to Chimi Lhakhang, which is a temple dedicated to the divine Madman and people come here to pray for children
Punakha Dzong
Continue to Punakha Dzong, a large and spectacular Bhutanese architecture, located at the confluence of Pho Chu and Mo Chu Rivers. It was the religious and administrative center of Bhutan until 1950 when the capital moved to Thimphu.
After that we visit the nearby Suspension Bridge, which is the longest bridge of Bhutan.
Spend the night at
Punakha
Today we drive from Punakha to Paro. It takes about 3 to 4 hours.
Arrive at Paro and settle into your homestay. And then starts your local sightseeing at Paro.
Today we do some local sightseeing at Paro. Later we visit the Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower, now housing the National Museum with more than 3000 exhibits. Some of them may date back to the 8th century.
We will retrace our steps to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.
Later we visit Paro Dong.Also known as the �Rinpung Dzong�, this is an extravagant monastery and fortress, which is the highpoint of Bhutanese architecture .Now it is the local administrative centre and the school for monks.
Tiger�s Nest Monastery: This is a strenuous day as we will hike up to the holiest Buddhist monastery in Bhutan, Taktsang (Tiger�s Nest). It is located in a cliff about 900 meters (3000 feet) above the Paro Valley. After about 2 hours hiking, we arrive at this spectacular monastery, where you will appreciate the awesome architecture and take in the beauty of the
Paro Valley.
The climb up to the viewpoint will take around 1 1â„2 hours and from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of the cliff. Stop for refreshment at the View Point Cafeteria. Then walk further up to the monastery which will take about 1 hour. It is said that in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan to this place and meditated in a cave here for 3 months. The principal Lhakhang (monastery) of the present monastic complex dates from 1692. Taktsang was damaged severely by fire in 1998 but has now been fully restored to its former beauty.
After breakfast, we drive westward to the remote and pristine Haa Valley via Chele la pass. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
The
Torse Chu River flows through the densely forested valley, which, together with the bright green of the rice terraces and the brilliant white of the temples, gives the Haa Valley a fresh look and pleasant atmosphere.
The
Haa Valley is also home to the Dorji Family, to which the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Wangchuck belongs. The whole day Haa Valley hike includes the
Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple) in the village of
Dumchoe and the central bazaar in
Haa Town.
You can do some shopping at Paro today, and post-lunch drive to Phuentsholing and spend the night here.
Since all good things have an end, we part from Bhutan, and carry with us unforgettable memories. We drive back to Bagdogra from Phuentsholing.
