Itinerary
Meet & greet on arrival at Bagdogra Airport (IXB) and drive towards Indo – Bhutanese Border (Jaigaon-Phuentsholing) through the Tea Estates. After reaching Phuentsholing check in to Hotel & Evening for Leisure.
Overnight in PhuentSholing
After breakfast proceeds towards Thimphu via the wonderful mystic town Gedu, which is about 9000 ft above the sea and Chukha Dam. On the way visit Kharbondi Gumpha, Wankha waterfalls and halt at Chojum to take photographs of the confluence of two rivers of Bhutan, Thimphu Chu, and Paro Chu. Reach Thimphu at Afternoon & Check in Hotel. In Evening go For-
Tashi Choe Dzong or the Fortress of the Glorious Region is another ‘must visit’ site. Situated on the west bank of Wang Chhu river, Tashi Chhoe Dzong is the formal coronation site of the fifth King. The Dzong also hosts the annual Tsechu festival. Built-in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in the 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans.
Overnight in Thimphu
As the sun spreads its warm rays across the beautiful Thimphu valley, begin your day with a hot cup of Suja (Butter Tea) and move towards the breakfast table to enjoy their delicious spread before leaving for Thimphu local sightseeing.
The National Memorial Chorten - Also known as Thimphu Chorten is a site for evening prayer. The chorten was built in the third King's memory, and it was continuously circumambulated by people, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. The idea to construct this landmark was proposed by Bhutan third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk ("the father of modern Bhutan"), who wished to erect a monument to the World for peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after Majesty's untimely death, it served as a memorial to the late King and a monument of peace.
Shakyamuni Buddha - On the top of Kuensel Phodrang hill sits the statue of Great Buddha Dordenma. The 51.5-meter long gilded bronze statue would surely attract you, and the uninterrupted view of the valley would leave you spellbound. This site is also known as Buddha Viewpoint.
Changangkha Lhakhang - At Thimphu, you will come across several monasteries and temples, but Changangkha Lhakhang is the most important religious structure amongst all. The fabric is dedicated to Avalokiteshvara, a sign of compassion dating back to the 15th century, the oldest in the region, and from here, enjoy the grand view of Thimphu valley.
Takin Zoo – In here, you will find the National animal of Bhutan, "Takin". Takin is one of the most endangered species of the World, and it is available only in Bhutan, preserved in open habitat.
Simply Bhutan: Simply Bhutan is a unique and exciting project whose primary aim is to conserve the culture and tradition of the Bhutanese people while creating job opportunities for the young people who are job seekers. The infrastructure in this museum primarily portrays the ancient Bhutanese architecture which is decreasing at a high rate. A visit to Bhutan will bring you closer to an architectural design of its kind. The structure of the museum itself is built reusing old timber, door and window frames and numerous other materials from demolished houses.
Simply Bhutan has so much to offer its visitors. First, you get the opportunity to experience the real Bhutanese feeling. Unlike numerous museums in Bhutan and all over the world where you aren’t allowed to touch the artifacts or take photographs, things are done differently here. The guides give all visitors an excellent prehistoric experience and also let you immerse and experience the real Bhutanese culture and traditions. Some of the most interactive experience in this museum includes the following:
· Wearing the Gho and Kira. All tourists are given a set of beautiful traditional dresses that you can even try while at the museum. You are even allowed to wear the beautiful Bhutanese traditional dress. They also offer the dress to children and allow you to take photographs of them for future reference.
· You will also get an opportunity to see how the traditional Bhutanese houses were constructed. You can also try a hand at the archery and the dart game that is locally known as Khuru.
Overnight stay in Thimphu
As your Hot Ngaja (a Sweet Bhutanese milk tea) arrives sip into it while enjoying the beautiful valley from the room. Post breakfast heads towards Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. Punakha is much backward from the chaotic city life at an elevation of 1200 m, which makes this place quite warm in winter and hot during summer. The valley is famous for Red and white rice farming along the Pho and Mo Chu river's stretch.
En-route visit.
Punakha Dzong: Also known as "the palace of great happiness", Punakha Dzong is located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha–Wangdue valley. This Dzong is the most picturesque of all Bhutan ancient fortresses and it joins the mainland by an arched wooden bridge that contains many precious relics from the days when successive kings reigned the Kingdom from this Punakha valley.
Chimi Lhakhang - Stationed at the top of a hillock, the Chimi Lhakhang is a site dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley. Known as the 'Divine Madman,' Lama Drukpa Kuenley is said to use songs, humor, and outrageous behavior to preach his teachings. Chimi Lhakhang temple is believed to be the temple of fertility, and the Bhutanese hold a strong belief that childless couples are blessed by Lama Drukpa Kuenley if they visit the temple and pray for a child. The road to the temple follows a picturesque rural trail through the paddy field that takes visitors to the temple from the road, and after crossing the paddy field, you will find a tiny stream from where Chimi Lhakhang is just a short climb away.
Suspension Bridge - This hidden treasure in the Punakha Valley connects the rest of the valley to the old administrative center of Punakha Dzongkhag. The whole deck is covered with prayer flags and provides a perfect spot for bird watching and photography.
Overnight stay in Punakha
From the beautiful valley, the next destination is the picturesque Paro town, located at an elevation of 2200 m. Paro valley is the most extensive valley in entire Bhutan and is blessed with mesmerizing nature, fertile rice fields, deep valleys, and a crystalline river. The beautiful view of the mountains, clear sky, and dense coniferous forest with chirping birds can make you fall in love with its first glimpse. En-route enjoy Paro sightseeing –
National Museum of Bhutan: In 1968, The National Museum of Bhutan was built, which stands inside the ancient Ta-dzong building that showcases Bhutan culture and is stationed right above Rinpung Dzong in Paro. This museum is the house of beautiful specimens from Bhutanese art and culture, with main highlights are the paintings and bronze statues, which are placed in extensive galleries, from where you can get to know a lot about Bhutan art and culture.
Rinpung Dzong - Built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called Nemi Zam.
The Paro town is full of Dzongs (monasteries), where you can join the monks for prayers as they wrap themselves in red robes with priceless smiles or walk down to the bed of Paro Chu and dip your feet in the cold crystalline water.Overnight stay in Paro
From the beautiful valley, let’s move towards the Chela-La-Pass (3,998m). So, post breakfast let & 39;s proceed towards the gateway to mini heaven aka the spectacular Chela – La- Pass, which is barely a few hours from the Paro town and is well known for being the highest motorable pass in Bhutan, that offers a panoramic view of Bhutan’s second-highest sacred peak, Mt. Jomolhari(7314m) and other snow-clad ranges on a clear day. The journey through the winding roads is very charming as the green valleys, chirping birds, snowy mountains, and the fantastic view on both sides are sure to keep everyone glued, and the breathtaking scenery keeps you going.
OR
As the sun rays touch the beautiful Paro valley, wake up in the middle of Mother Nature and relish the beautiful view of the river and mountains in a single frame. Enjoy the gala spread but make sure to add some protein to it, as climbing to the top of the Taksang Monastery and back will require a good boost.
Taktsang Monastery: After covering 1200 meters on a fierce cliff, you will reach this sacred site known as the Tiger Nest. Once you climb to the top, take a deep breath of the fresh air and soothe the eyes and soul with the stunning view of the scenic surroundings and the valley lying underneath—the Taktsang Monastery, established by Sain Guru Rinpoche in 747 CE. Construction of the complex was completed in 1694. After 3 hours of some adventurous trek, discover the Tiger Nest monastery, and if you wish, opt for a horse ride from the parking lot to reach the top. While trekking, witness the glorious view of the Paro town, with its lush green valleys, sparkling river, clear blue sky, and moving clouds, in-short, enjoy nature at its best.Overnight in Paro
After breakfast, start towards Phuentsholing. After reaching check in to Hotel. Rest of the time free for leisure.Overnight in Phuentsholing
After breakfast starts towards Bagdogra Airport with a sweet Bhutan Holiday memory and.. cherish your memories forever.....
