|
Day 01: Delhi (Arrival)
Around midnight arrival in New Delhi. The cosmopolitan city
and capital Delhi is the main gateway for travellers. Upon
arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred
to the hotel.
Day 02: Delhi - Paro (by air)
In the morning you will drive to the airport for the flight to
Paro. This beautiful valley with its rich terraced farmland,
is home to some of the Bhutan's oldest temples and monasteries.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in Paro. In
the afternoon you will visit the Rinpung Dzong. It was built
in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyal, the first spiritual and
temporal ruler of Bhutan. Rinpung Dzong means the fortress on
a heap of jewels. This fortress now houses the Paro monastic
school and the office of the civil administration. Then you
will visit the National Museum. After the visit of the
National museum you will go for an excursion to Takstang
monastery. In April 1998 a fire destroyed the main structure
of Taktstang Monastery, perched on the side of a cliff 900 m
above the valley floor. It is also known as "tiger's den"
because Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site on the
back of a tigress in the eighth century.
Day 03: Paro
In the morning you will visit the Ta Dzong. The Ta Dzong was
built in 1651 as a watch tower. This dzong is round more like
parts of an European castle. In the afternoon you will visit
the Drugyal Dzong. It means the victorious fortress which was
built in 1647 by Shabdrung to celebrate his victory over the
Tibetan invaders. Strategically built over the only passage
into the Paro valley, the dzong helped to rebel various
invasions through the course of Bhutanese history. Evening
free for leisure.
Day 04: Paro - Thimphu (about 65 km)
After breakfast drive to Thimphu. Thimphu is the modern
capital of Bhutan. It lies at an elevation of 2300 m in a
valley traversed by the Wang Chu river. This city maintains a
strong national character in its architectural style. It is a
home to civil servants, expatriates and the central monk body.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in Thimphu.
In the afternoon set out on sightseeing tour of Thimphu. First
of all you will visit the Tashichho Dzong on the bank of the
river. It is the main Secretariat building which houses the
throne room of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan and is also the
summer residence of the central monk body. After visiting the
Secretariat building you will visit the national library to
see the rare and precious collection of Buddhism. In the
evening we visit the Memorial Chorten. Memorial Chorten is a
stupa and was built in the year 1974 in the memory of the late
thid king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. The paintings and images
inside the monument provide a rare sight into the Buddhist
philosophy.
Day 05: Thimphu
In the morning you will visit the 17th century Simtokha Dzong.
It is the oldest Dzong in the country which stands on a lofty
ridge at the end of the valley. It was built in the year 1627
and now houses the school for Buddhist studies. Today you will
also visit a painting school. In this painting school the
young children learn the ancient art of paintings. After
visiting the painting school you will visit the centre of
traditional medicines. Bhutan has its own brand of Himalayan
herbal medicines.
Day 06: Thimphu - Punakha (about 75 km)
In the morning you will drive to Punakha. Punakha was built
between two rivers in the 17th century by Shabdrung and served
as the winter residence of the central monk body. Punakha's
climate and warmer temperatures make its valley one of the
most fertile in Bhutan. Punakha served as the capital of
Bhutan until 1955. In the evening visit the Punakha town.
Day 07: Punakha - Wangdiphodrang - Trongsa (about 147
km)
In the morning you will drive to Wangdiphodrang. It is the
last town on the central highway before entering central
Bhutan. Wangdiphodrang Dzong is the town's most visible
feature built during the 17th century. It played a critical
role in unifying the western, central and southern Bhutanese
districts. After visiting the Wangdiphodrang Dzong and having
lunch there we drive to Trongsa. Trongsa is situated at an
altitude of 2200 m. and forms the central hub of the nation.
It is historically the place from where attempts at unifying
the country were launched. In the evening arrive in Trongsa.
Day 08: Trongsa - Bumthang (about 68 km)
After breakfast visit the Trongsa Dzong. Trongsa Dzong was
built in 1648 as an impregnable fortress. The massive
structure is built on many levels into the side of the hill
that includes various courtyards, passage ways and temples.
Above the Trongsa Dzong is the Ta Dzong (Watchtower). It was
built to watch out for invaders and travellers. After lunch
drive to Bumthang valley. To the east of Trongsa lies the
Bumthang valley at an altitude of 2600 m. It is comprised of
four smaller valleys. In the evening arrive in Bumthang
valley.
Day 09: Bumthang - Ura - Bumthang
In the morning you will drive to Ura Valley. This valley lies
in the east of Bumthang and has a small village. A small but
old dzong gives the village a medieval feel. There visit the
Ura Lhakhang and after lunch drive through the picturesque
valley of Bumthang to view Kurje Lhakhang. It consists of
three temples. These temples are surrounded by 108 stupa wall
which symbolises each joint of the human body.
Day 10: Bumthang - Gangtey
In the morning visit Gangtey Gompa. This monastery follows the
Pelling Nyingmapa sect of school and was built in the 16th
century. Then you will drive to the Phobjikha valley. This
place is home to the endangered black necked cranes, which
migrate from Tibetan plateau in the winter.
Day 11: Gangtey - Punakha - Paro (about 87 km)
After breakfast drive to Punakha. After having lunch at
Punakha you will visit the local town and Bazaar. In the
evening, drive to Paro. Upon arrival drive to the hotel in
Paro. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 12: Paro - Delhi (by air)
In the morning you will drive to the airport for the flight to
Delhi. In the afternoon arrive in Delhi.
Day 13: Delhi (Departure)
Around midnight flight to home destination.
To enable us to send you the rates of the Bhutan Travel Tour,
we need to have the number of participants and the dates from
you. |
