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Historic Central Bhutan |
(10 nights / 11 days Cultural Tour)
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| Day 01: Arrive Paro (By Druk
Air flight) |
Your Guide
from Yak Adventure Travel will receive
you at the airport and drive you the short distance
to the hotel. After Tea, drive to the ruins of
the Drukgyal Dzong, built in 1647 by the Great
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier
of medieval Bhutan, the dzong was destroyed by
accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative
reminder of the great victories it was built to
commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear
day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jhomolhari
(7,314 m). On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang,
built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen
Gampo.
This Monastery is one of the
108 monasteries built across the Himalayan region
by the Tibetan King to subdue the Demoness that
lay across the Himalayan region. The rest of the
monasteries lie in other neighboring countries.
Dinner and over night in Hotel. |
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| Day 02: Paro, Excursion to
Taktsang Monastery |
After breakfast
a short drive takes us to Satsam Chorten, the
trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many
of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and
an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags.
We stop for a rest and light refreshments at the
Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a short
distance until we see, clearly and seemingly within
reach, Taktsang monastery. The primary Lhakhang
was built around Guru Rimpoche's meditation cave
in 1684 by the Penlop of Paro, Gyaltse Tenzin
Rabgay, this incredible monastery clings to the
edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters
into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru
Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought
Buddhism to Bhutan in 747 AD, flew here on the
back of a flying tiger, Dorji Drolo, said to be
his favourite consort.
After lunch, visit Ta Dzong (built
in1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower,
which now houses the National Museum. Below the
museum is the Rimpung Dzong (literally meaning
"Heap of Jewels"), the centre of civil and religious
authority in this valley, built in 1646 by Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal.In the evening, drive to Thimphu.
Over night in Hotel. |
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| Day 03: Paro - Thimphu Sightseeing |
After breakfast,
visit to the National Memorial Chorten (1974)
built in honour of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk
and the Dupthop Lhakhang one of the few surviving
nunneries in Bhutan. We then visit the National
Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts,
and the Painting School where traditional art
is still kept alive through instructions in the
art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious
scrolls). After lunch we drive to the Traditional
Medicine Institute where medicines are prepared
according to ancient practices, and to Lungtenzampa
to observe the Royal silver smiths and Bhutanese
paper factory at work. Other highlights include
a visit to the Tashichho Dzong, seat of the national
government and the Central Monastic Body, including
the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot
of Bhutan). We finally visit the Handicrafts Emporium
followed by shopping for souvenirs in the shops
of Thimphu. Over night in Hotel. |
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| Day 04: Thimphu Sightseeing |
After breakfast, visit Folk
Heritage Museum, Textile Museum, Changangkha Lhakhang
and Philatelic office. After lunch, visit Silver
smith at work and Hand made paper factory. Over
night in Hotel. |
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| Day 05: Thimphu - Punakha |
(72 Kms, 3
hours drive). After breakfast, drive to Punakha
via Dochula pass. If the weather is clear, we
stop for a while at Dochula pass to view Higher
Himalayas. On the way, stop a while to view Chimi
Lhakhang, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley
in 15th century. He subdued the demons with his
"Magical Thunder bolt". The Temple is also known
as "the Temple of Fertility".
Lunch at Punakha. After lunch,
visit Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal and is situated between Pho Chu
(Male river) and Mo Chu (Female river). For many
years until the time of the second king, it served
as the seat of the Government. The construction
of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoche, who
predicted, "a person named Namgyal will arrive
at a hill that looks like an elephant". There
was a smaller building here called Dzong Chu (Small
Dzong) that housed a statue of Buddha. It is said
that Shabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep,
to sleep in front of the statue, while Palep was
sleeping, the Shabdrung took him in his dreams
to Zangtopelri and showed him the palace of Guru
Rimpoche. From his vision, the architect conceived
the design for the new Dzong, which in keeping
with the tradition, was never committed to paper.
The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang
(Palace of Great Happiness). The war materials
captured during the battle with Tibetans are preserved
here. Punakha is still the winter residence of
Je-Khenpo and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened
the new national Assembly here in 1952. In the
evening, hike to Khamsung Yulley Namgyal Choling
Monastery. Overnight in Hotel. |
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| Day 06: Punakha - Gangtey |
After breakfast
drive to the beautiful valley of Gangtey. Enroute
sightseeing in the valley of Wangdiphodrang includes:
visit to Wangdiphodrang Dzong built in 1638. Legend
relates that as the people were searching for
the site of the Dzong, four ravens were seen flying
away in four directions. This was considered auspicious
sign, representing the spread of religion to the
four points of the compass. The Dzong is situated
at the confluence of Mo Chu and Tang Chu rivers.
Drive further to Gangtey. On arrival check in
to Gangtey Gompa House. Visit Gangtey Gompa Monastery,
from outside. Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson
and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa founded
the Temple in 1613, and Tenzin Legpai Dhendup,
the second re-incarnation, built the temple. The
present Abbot, Kunzang Pema Namgyal is the ninth
re-incarnation. It is a Nyingmapa monastery and
is affiliated to other Nyingmapa monasteries including
Tamshing in Bumthang. Explore Phobjikha valley,
famous for the Black Necked Cranes during winter.
Dinner and overnight at the Guest House. |
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| Day 07: Gangtey - Trongsa -
Bumthang |
After breakfast,
drive to Trongsa. Visit Trongsa Dzong, the most
impressive dzong of Bhutan, built in its present
form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa, the official
who was sent by Shabdrung to unify eastern Bhutan
and enlarged at the end of the 17th century by
Desi Tenzin Rabgay. Trongsa Dzong is the ancestral
home of the present Royal Family and first two
hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this Dzong.
Then Visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watch tower. The
chapel inside the Ta Dzong is said to be dedicated
to the Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal. After Lunch,
drive to Bumthang. Over night in Hotel. |
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| Day 08: Bumthang Sightseeing |
After breakfast,
visit Jakar Dzong, which literally means "The
Castle of White Bird". The current structure was
built in 1667 and then visit Lamey Goemba, a large
palace and monastery built in 18th century by
Dasho Phuntsho Wangdi. Visit Jambay Lhakhang,
built by King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in the year
659 on the same day as Kichu Lhakhang in Paro.
The temple was visited by Guru Rimpoche during
his visit to Bumthang and was renovated by Sindhu
Raja after Guru Rimpoche restored his life force.
Under the temple is said to be a lake in which
Guru Rimpoche hid several Terma. In October one
of the most spectacular festival, "Jambay Lhakhang
Drup" is staged here. After lunch, Visit Chakhar
(Iron Castle) Lhakhang, it is the site of the
palace of the Indian King, the Sindhu Raja who
invited Guru Rimpoche to Bumthang.
The Original palace was made
of Iron and hence the name Chakhar. The saint
Dorji Lingpa built the Current building in 14th
century. Its correct name is Dechen Phodrang.
We then visit Kurjey Lhakhang that is named after
body print of Guru Rimpoche, built in 1652 by
Minjur Tempa. Visit Tamshing Lhakhang (Temple
of the good message), established in 1501 by Pema
Lingpa and is the most important Nyingmapa temple
in the kingdom. In the evening, visit Membarstho
which literally means, "The burning Lake".
Over night in Hotel. |
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| Day 09: Bumthang - Thimphu
(212 kms) |
Early breakfast, drive to
Thimphu. Over night in Hotel. |
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| Day 10: Thimphu - Paro |
After breakfast,
visit Simtokha Dzong built in 1627 by Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal. This Dzong is the oldest Dzong
in Bhutan and presently houses a Monastic school.
The stroll in the town/visit Handicraft emporium.
After Lunch, drive to Paro. Visit a Farm House.
Over night in Hotel. |
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| Day 11: Departure |
Early morning, drive to Airport
and Farewell. |
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