Bhutan – The Last Shangrila

The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular in entire Himalayas. Whether flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu or over the foothills from Kolkata, the journey offers fascinating views and an exciting descent into the Kingdom. Bhutan’s first gift, as you disembark from the aircraft will be cool, clean fresh mountain air.

After immigration formalities and baggage collection, you will be met by our representative. Transfer to your waiting vehicle and drive to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan located a two hours’ drive away.

The capital town of Bhutan and the centre of Government, religion and commerce, Thimphu is a unique city with unusual mixture of modern development alongside ancient traditions. Situated in western Bhutan, with the population of about 1,00,000 it is perhaps still the world’s only capital city without a traffic light.
En-route stop at Chuzom, the confluence of Thimphu and Paro rivers. Three different style of stupas, Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese adorn this confluence and are meant toward of evil spirits.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in.

This evening, we will take you on a stroll through the weekly market. Vendors from throughout the region start arriving on Thursday and remain until Sunday night. They sell rice, cheese, vegetables, fruits, trinkets, souvenirs and more. It is an interesting experience and offers great photographic opportunities. You can also end up tasting some rare fruits and vegetables.

Overnight in Thimpu.

A short drive from Thimpu town takes you to the foothill of Cheri Monastery from where you start a pleasant walk through the woods up to Bhutan’s first monastery.

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal established the monastery in 1620 with the first monk body. His father’s ashes were interred in a richly decorated silver chorten inside the upper goemba after the body was smuggled here from Tibet. Cheri is still an important place for meditation retreats, with 30 or so monks here for the standard three years, three months and three days, so don’t disturb anyone.

The goenkhang (chapel dedicated to protective deities) features the two protector deities of Cheri and Tango. Look for tame brown goral (mountain goats) grazing the monastery grounds. The walk takes approximately two and a half hours.

We will organize a charming picnic lunch for you here today.

Alternatively, if you do not want to take a hike, you can continue to tour Thimpu visiting the Trashi Chloe Dzong that houses the seat of government and office of His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuk. Nearby is the 16th century Pangri Zampa that now houses a monastic training school. Across the country’s oldest cantilever bridge is the Goemba where the Kingdom’s first monk community is based.

Post lunch, spend time sightseeing in Thimphu valley.

Visit the National Library, housing an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts; the Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School) where students undergo a 6-year training course in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts, Textile Museum, which provides deep insight into Bhutan’s one of the most distinct art form, Folk Heritage Museum, dedicated to connect people with the rich Bhutanese Folk heritage and rural history through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs and documentation of Bhutanese rural life.

Take a break from sightseeing and stop to enjoy a steaming hot cup of refreshing coffee and cake. Thimphu is home to a lot of bakeries, but the one that has kept up its traditional flavours alive is the Swiss bakery, located on Chorten Lam. This cosy place is ideal to have those rum cakes and apple pies along with a hot cup of coffee.
It is our favourite, and we are sure you will not be disappointed!

After your break, round off the near perfect day with a visit to Changkangkha Lakhang temple.

As with most valleys, you have to be at a vantage point to see its best views. In the case of Thimphu that view can be seen from Changkangkha Lakhang, a beautiful temple. This popular temple, perched like a fortress on a ridge above central Thimphu, hums with pilgrim activity. It was established in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo, who came from Ralung in Tibet. Parents traditionally come here to get auspicious names for their new-borns or blessings for their young children from the protector deity Tamdrin (to the left in the grilled inner sanctum). Children are blessed by a phurba (ritual dagger) and given a sacred thread.

Don’t leave without checking out the shrine to the tshomen (mermaid) in the central courtyard and then take in the excellent view from the back kora (pilgrim path), with its lovely black-and-gold prayer wheels and the stunning sunset.

Return to your hotel after sunset.

Overnight in Thimpu.

After breakfast, drive up to Punakah, approximately three hours away excluding stops.

The drive today follows the course of the Paro Chu (Paro River) and the Wang Chu, crossing the high mountain pass of Dochu La (3,088m/ 10,130 ft). On the way you will visit 17th century Simtokha Dzong, Bhutan’s first fortress monastery. At the Hongtsho Goemba monastery, you will see ancient wall paintings.

You stop at Dochu La to take in the view and admire the chorten, mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road.

If skies are clear, the following peaks can be seen from this pass (left to right): Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m ), Kangphugang (7,170 m ), Zongphugang (7, 060 m ), a table mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana – finally Gangkar puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497m.

After your consultation with the astrologer yesterday, today you will participate in a special prayer flag hoisting ceremony.

Experience a very special joy of hoisting your personal prayer flag among the thousands fluttering in the wind, with the knowledge that your prayers now add to the universal song of silent prayers not just for the present but for years to come. It’s a moment that allows you to touch the timeless.

Continue your drive, arriving into Punakha by afternoon.

Until 1950, Punakha served as the winter seat of the government. Even today the monks of the central clergy still migrate from Thimpu to spend the six coldest months of the year at Punakha. The city is built at the confluence of the Mo Chu (Mother River) and the Po Chhu (Father River), and the area is fertile enough to provide farmers with two rice crops in a year.

Post lunch you take a hike across a footbridge to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a monument recently built by the four queens of Bhutan. The Chorten is relatively modern, but the views from the top are fantastic.

You return to the valley floor, and take the Butterfly Trail which first takes you through the paddy-fields with farmers hard at work. You then enter a small village where you can stop for a cup of tea in a local home and see how the local farmers live and work. Continue through a forest, awash with colourful butterflies before crossing back over a suspension bridge on the Mo Chu River.

Overnight in Punakha.

A beautiful hike this morning takes one to the regal Khamsum Yuelley Namgel Chorten (approx 2 hours round trip walk), which was built to remove negative forces and promote peace, stability and harmony in the changing world. The Chorten dominates the upper Punakha Valley with commanding views across the Mo Chhu and up towards the mountainous peaks of Gasa and beyond.

Enjoy a private picnic lunch here enjoying the scenic surroundings.

Post lunch, visit the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang (Nunnery).

Perched on a ridge amid pine trees and overlooking valleys of Punakha and Wangdu gleams Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup temple. It houses a 14-foot main bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara and of Guru Padsambhava, Gautam Buddha, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Tsela Namsum, the 21 Taras and Tsepamay (Buddha of longevity). The temple complex also houses a permanent higher learning and meditation center for nuns where, apart from religious training, it provides life skill training such as tailoring, embroidery, statue making and thangkha painting.

Then drive on to Talo village.

The beautiful village of Talo (alt. 2,800m) which is scattered along the hill slopes, known for its cleanliness and hygiene among Punakha villages. The beautiful farm houses of the village have its own flower gardens and on the hill slope corns and sweet peas are grown in abundance. Also visit Talo Sangnacholing, built on a plateau and has majestic view of surrounding villages.

This evening visit Chimi Lhakhang, the auspicious fertility monastery built in 1499. Also known as Fertility temple, it is associated with Lama Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as ‘Divine Madman’. It is widely believed that couples who do not have children and wanting one, if they pray at this temple, they are usually blessed with a child very soon.

If you like, we can organize a special prayer ceremony for you here. It is not just about prayers by couples hoping to have children; many come here also to ask the blessings for happiness and longevity in marriages, health and life.

Overnight in Punakha.

After breakfast drive back to Paro descending back down from Dochu La, follow the way back up the dramatic Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu river valleys, before crossing through Paro town towards the north end of the valley.

En route visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of the country constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1629. The name Simtokha literally means ‘Atop a Demon’ and the legend associated with the dzong’s construction tells us that it was built in order to subdue an evil spirit that was harassing travelers in the region.

Later in the day after checking into hotel, proceed to visit Ta Dzong, originally built as Watchtower, which now houses National Museum. The extensive collection includes antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artefacts.

Then walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, meaning (“fortress of the heap of jewels”), which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount Sumeru and other cosmic Mandala.

Anyone who works in Bhutan must wear traditional national dress, and you can have the chance to dress up for a few hours to see how it feels. The Bhutanese absolute love visitors doing it!

This evening at your hotel we will organize the elegant wraparound skirts called ‘kira’ for women and the checked, floor length belted robes called ‘Gho’ worm by men for you which you can wear to dinner and yake back home as well.

Overnight in Paro.

One of the most important pieces of architecture in Bhutan, Taktsang Dzong, popularly called the Tiger’s Nest has a spectacular location. Built over years by monks into the side of a cliff above Paro, its location defies gravity. The hike up to the Dzong takes about five hours and it is worth the effort.

The Dzong consists of the superficial structure “Ihakhang”, as well as Pelphug Lhakhang, the spiritual temple made out of a cave that has been in use for centuries. The legend relates how Guru Rimpoche (known as Padmasambhava in India) landed at this site on the back of a flying tiger bringing Buddhism from Tibet to Bhutan. His actions helped cleanse the area of evil spirits. This story, along with its amazing location makes Tiger’s Nest one of the most visited monasteries in the country.

On the way back to town stop at Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors fought Tibetan invaders centuries ago. The snowy dome of sacred Chomolhari, “mountain of goddess” can be seen in all her glory from the approach road to the Dzong.

Time permitting you may also like to visit the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The building of this temple marks the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.

Overnight in Paro.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the airport for flight to your onward destination. Our representative will help you with exit formalities and then bid you farewell.