Bhutan

After arriving & visa formalities and collection of baggage, you will be welcomed by our tour representative. Your entry can be through a flight or by road from Phuntsoling. In either case you will head towards Thimphu post your arrival in Bhutan. After your arrival in Thimphu, you will check-in at your hotel. You will relax & freshen up a bit, post which you will visit Thimphu’s Weekend market The weekend market is highly recommended to travelers who want to experience the local Bhutanese way of life. The weekend market is located in a set of stall of both side of the Wang Chhu River. The market essentially is a farmers market, where every week vendors from throughout the region start arriving by Thursday evening and stay at the market till Sunday. It is interesting to see the well-heeled and well to do residents of the city jostle with the common folk for the freshest produce of the region. Depending on the season you will find different kinds of fruits and vegetables available in the market. The most striking feature of the market are the chilli stalls that sell chilli in its fresh or dry from. Chili is the favorite spice of the Bhutanese and no Bhutanese dish is complete without a generous garnish of the fiery chilli. Across on the western banks of the river, the Kundeyling Bazaam houses a collections of shops and stalls that sell textile, clothing, handicrafts, and other goods that the locals may need. You will also find a lot of cheap ornamental goods on sale that have been imported from Nepal it is advisable to visit the market with a guide who can help you hunt for a good bargain Overnight stay in a hotel in Thimphu.

Thimpu / Weekend Market shopping.

Post breakfast you will do sightseeing’s in and around Thimphu:- Sangaygang We will drive further up to Sangaygang to enjoy the bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley. BBS Tower AKA Sangaygang which is located North West of the Thimphu Valley is the popular spot or famous for the dating and taking a walk around the blue pines, it's around miles drive from the Thimphu valley. The Places has the top hills which gives a clear view of the entire Thimphu valley in a nutshell and the feeling from there is just fantastic. Bhutan First Broadcasting Service BBS which runs the radio and television network in the Country has the largest tower built there. Though it is a restricted zone to entry the place during the night hours. The place is ideally located uphills with good motor road to access across the hills, which gives elderly and sporty people a pleasure for a walk and jog uphills from the base area. Most people living in Thimphu get themselves shed few kilos of calories while giving themselves a hourly walk or jog towards the Tower place. As you go towards the BBS Tower, you get the chance to take the road or climb the steep slopes or take gentle steep and burn the fats of your body. Changangkha Lhakang medieval buddhist temple in the city .kuenselphondrang or buddha point is world's largest buddha statue ,the statue is 167 feet high.

Sanghayang , Buddhist temple ,Buddha statue.

Post early breakfast, you will drive towards Punakha via Dochula Pass. We will stop over for tea at Dochula (3,100 m), where on a sunny day, you can get stunning views of the Himalayan ranges. The Dochu La Pass is probably the best known mountain pass in Bhutan. Located at an altitude of 3150 meter above sea level, the Dochu La Pass is about 30 kilometer away from the capital city Thimphu and the road to Punakha. On a clear day the pass offers visitors a spectacular view of the majestic eastern Himalayan Ranges. A cup of hot coffee or tea at the pass has almost become part of tradition for people travelling to and fro from Punakha to the capital city. There is a small cafeteria at the pass that offers a chance for travelers to enjoy a hot beverage or a snack, it is located just off the road and overlooks the pass and is an ideal place to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Another striking feature at the pass are the 108 Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens, that were built for the well-being of all sentiment beings on earth. The 108 Chorten were built as a tribute to the Kings of Bhutan for their selfless service and leadership they offer to the people of Bhutan. These Stupas or Chortens also represent the peoples love, appreciation and loyalty towards the country’s King. Chimi Lhakhang is a Buddist Monastry located in Punakha.DrukpaKuenley is called the Divine Madman due to his unorthodox methods of teaching via songs, humor and sometimes bizarre and shocking behavior with deep sexual overtones. You might be shocked to see that the temple houses a number of wooden phalluses that the Lama had brought with him from Tibet. Pilgrims who visit the monastery receive the blessing by being struck on the head with a ten inch wooden Phallus (erect penis). The symbol of an erect penis is said to ward off evil. The monastery is also known as the temple of fertility and is visited not only by the Bhutanese but women from countries as far as Japan and United States to receive a special blessing that can help these women conceive children. These women receive the blessing by getting struck on the head with a 10 inch wooden/ ivory phallus. The Temple can be accessed by undertaking a short 20 minute walk across the rice fields from the nearest road head. The Lhakhang is a square shaped building with a golden spire on its roof. The temple has many rows of prayer wheels and the temples exterior has embedded slate carvings of various Buddhist saints. Near the temples entrance there is a small Chorten that marks the spot where the Lama subdued the demon of Dochu La.

Punakha via Dochula pass ,Chimi Lhakang

After early morning breakfast, you will visit Punakha Dzong The Punakha Dzhong or the Pungtang Dechen Phortang Dzhong is located at the confluence of After early morning breakfast, you will visit Punakha Dzong The Punakha Dzhong or the Pungtang Dechen Phortang Dzhong is located at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu River, combine to form the Puna Tsang Chu which in turn is a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The Dzhong was constructed by Sahbdrung Ngwang Namgyal Wangchuck in 1638 on the exact spot as prophesized by the Guru Rinpoche some 800 years ago. According to the prophecy of Guru Rinpoche “a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. The Punakha Dzhong is the second largest and the second oldest Dzhong in Bhutan. The Dzhong is home to some of the most sacred relics of the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism; it is also home to the sacred mortal remains of Shabdrun Nagawang Namgyal and Trenton Pema Lingpa the great treasure discoverer of Bhutan. The Punakha Dzhong has also served as the of capital Bhutan till 1955 before the capital was moved to Thimphu. The Dzhong is still the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (chief abbot) and the central monastic body. The Punakha Dzhong plays host to the annual Punakha Theschu Festival which is very popular with the locals and tourists alike.

Punakha Dzong -sacred Relics of Buddhism

Paro Post breakfast you will drive towards Paro, there you will visit Druk Choeding Druk Choeding is also known as Tshongdoe Naktshang. The temple was built by Ngawang Chhogyel, who was a prince of Ralung and the ancestor of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, in 1525. In the temple, visitors will find a statue of the Future Buddha known as Jampa in the seated position. There is also an image of the deity known as Gyenyen who is the protector of Bhutan. Gyenyen is surrounded by a collection of ancient swords, shields and other weaponry.Dumtse lhakang The Dumtselhakhang Temple is located just north of the city of Paro. The Dumtse Lhabhang temple is very unique in its design as it’s designed like a Chorten (Stupa), which is highly unlike any guideother Lhakhang / temple in Bhutan. The Temple was built in the 1443 AD by ThantongGyalpo, known as the iron bridge builder in Bhutanese legend. The Dumatse Lhakhang is built over 3 levels that represent the 3 spiritual realms of earth i.e. Hell, Earth and Heaven. The walls of the Dumtse Lhakhang are decorated in beautiful hand-painted murals that depict these 3 realms of earth. These beautiful murals are regarded as some of the finest examples of Bhutanese art in the country. Rimpung Dzhong The Paro Dzhong is probably Bhutan's best known and most iconic Dzhong. This is probably the first building you will notice when you land at Paro International Airport and will probably be your first memory of Bhutan. The imposing Dzhong is perhaps the finest example of Dzhong architecture existing the world today, the massive buttered walls of the fortress dominate over the valley. The Rinpung Dzhong's names translates to the " Fortress on a heap of Jewels ".

Paro /Druk choeding /rimpung Dzong

Hike Tiger Nest) After early morning breakfast, we will take you for a morning hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. Hanging precariously and magically from a rather steep cliff, the Taktshang monastery is a monument of genuine pride for the Bhutanese nation. It defies architectural principles to the core and amazes tourists from around the world. It is a sight to behold. Taktshang or the Tigers lair as the monastery is called, it is widely regarded is one of the most important monuments of spiritual significance in Bhutan. Its history is deeply associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava, the revered Indian saint who came to Bhutan in the 8th century AD. The cave was named Taktshang after Guru Rinpoche flew into the cave from KurtoeSingyeDzong in eastern Bhutan while riding on a tigress. When he landed in the cave, he took the wrathful form of Guru DorjiDrolo who is regarded as one of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche to decimate the demons. Several saints have chosen this sanctuary to pray and meditate in solitude. The monastery was built in 1692 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgaye who is said to be one of the reincarnations of Guru Rinpoche. The Monastery consists of four main temples along with their residences that are constructed along the rock ledge. There 8 caves in total out of which 4 are relatively easy to access.

Paro / Tiger's nest / Shopping.

Post breakfast you will be taken for wonderful excursions towards Haa valley The pristine and picturesque Haa valley is located about 3 hours west of Paro. The Drive from Paro to Haa valley take you up to the Chele-La pass which is located at a height of about 3800 meters. Make sure you ask you drive to stop the car here so you can enjoy a beautiful view of Bhutan’s 2 highest and best known peaks the Jichu Drake and Mount Jumolhari, some times of a clear day you might be able to catch a glimpse of Mount Kunchenchunga the 3rd highest mountain in the world from this view point. From there we will descend down into the Haa Valley down to the town of Ha. The ha valley till recently was closed off for tourists and even today people of the valley live in a manner not very dissimilar from a time long ago.The Haa valley is one of the most isolated and least populous districts of the country. The Haa valley is also home to a Indian army base that helps protect the border of Bhutan from Chinese incursions. There are many small temples and monasteries in the district with the most important being the Lhakhang Karpo( White Temple) and the Lhakhang Nagpo ( Black Temple). The Lhakahng Nagpo’s central shine is said to be identical to the central shrine of the Jowo Temple in Lhasa, Tibet. Legend has it that the Karpo temple was constructed along with the assistance of the Local deities, as a result of this divine intervention the started to be known as the Hay (Surprises in Dzhongkha) and later on Haa. After spending the day in the valley, we will return back to Paro for the night since there are no hotels of note in the valley. Overnight in a hotel in Paro .

Jichu Drake ,Mount Jumolhari / Haa Valley.

In the morning after early breakfast we will see you off at the Paro Airport for your onward destinations. If you have opted for Phuntsoling exit, then early morning you will be leaving for the border transit.

Departure to Bangalore