GANTEY GOMPA FESTIVAL
Day 01:
Thursday 29th March (Arrive at Paro)
On arrival at the airport, you will be received by our Guide/representative and drive to Thimphu. On the way, visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1627. Evening at leisure in town. Over night in Hotel.
Day 02:
Friday 30th March (Day Excursion to Punakha)
After breakfast drive to Punakha across the Dochula Pass alt. 3050 Meters. If the weather is clear, you will have great view of the Higher Himalayas from the pass. Continue drive to Punakha with a stop at Missina to hike to visit Chhimi Lhakhang which was built by Lama Drukpa Kunley who is also known as the Devine Mad Man. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunder bolt”. The Temple is regarded as a pilgrimage site for barren couple and is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”. This beautiful temple is known for increasing fertility in woman and of late, even women from across the world drop by to this temple in hopes of conceiving. Aside from its significance to women, the temple is located in a wide-open valley away from the road point for visitors to take l short walk while on the way to Punakha. After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1637. This Dzong has a historical significance in the Bhutanese History and is open to visitors only in summer when the monk body moves to Thimphu.
Visit the newly built Khamsum Yulley Monastery and drive back to Thimphu; Enroute visit Wangduephodrang Dzong. Overnight Hotel
Day 03:
Saturday 31st March (Thimphu-Chukha)
Drive to Chukha and attend Festival. Lunch at local restaurant and drive back to Thimphu in the evening. Overnight Hotel.(Chukha does not have tourist standard hotels)
Day 04:
1st April (Thimphu Sightseeing)
Full day sight seeing: Visit Changangkha Lhakhang, Takin (National Animal of Bhutan), Sangyegang View Point, Preservation Center Tashichhodzong (the central secretariat building), National Library, Painting School, Indigenous Hospital, National Folk Heritage Museum, Textile Museum, Memorial Chorten, Handicrafts Emporium, Hand made Paper factory and Dup-Thop Monastery. Evening at leisure in town. Overnight hotel.
Day 05:
Monday 2nd April (Paro Sightseeing)
After breakfast, drive to Paro. In Paro, visit the Taa Dzong, an ancient watchtower, which has been, since 1967, the National Museum of Bhutan; visit Rimpung Dzong (Paro Dzong) built in 1646 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel. The Dzong presently houses administrative offices of the valley. After lunch, visit the Drukgyel Dzong, now in ruins was built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan invaders in1644; the Dzong name’s means indeed “victorious Druk “. The Dzong was used as an administrative center until 1951 when a fire caused by butter lamp destroyed it. On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred monasteries dating from the introduction of Buddhism in the 8th century. Evening visit a Bhutanese Traditional House. Overnight Hotel
Day 06:
Tuesday 3rd April (Excursion to Takshang Monastery)
A very special day with an excursion to view the spectacular Takshang Monastery. “Takshang” literally means Tiger’s Nest – The Monastery is believed to have been built in 1684 on the spot where Guru Rimpoche (founder of Buddhism in Bhutan) flew on the back of a Tigress and meditated to subdue the demons in Paro valley.
The trail to the Monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. This incredible Monastery clings vertically to the edge of a granite rock cliff that plunges 900 meters above the valley floor.
Day 07:
Wednesday 4th April (Departure)
Early morning, drive to Paro International Airport and departure
Thursday 29th March (Arrive at Paro)
On arrival at the airport, you will be received by our Guide/representative and drive to Thimphu. On the way, visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1627. Evening at leisure in town. Over night in Hotel.
Day 02:
Friday 30th March (Day Excursion to Punakha)
After breakfast drive to Punakha across the Dochula Pass alt. 3050 Meters. If the weather is clear, you will have great view of the Higher Himalayas from the pass. Continue drive to Punakha with a stop at Missina to hike to visit Chhimi Lhakhang which was built by Lama Drukpa Kunley who is also known as the Devine Mad Man. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunder bolt”. The Temple is regarded as a pilgrimage site for barren couple and is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”. This beautiful temple is known for increasing fertility in woman and of late, even women from across the world drop by to this temple in hopes of conceiving. Aside from its significance to women, the temple is located in a wide-open valley away from the road point for visitors to take l short walk while on the way to Punakha. After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1637. This Dzong has a historical significance in the Bhutanese History and is open to visitors only in summer when the monk body moves to Thimphu.
Visit the newly built Khamsum Yulley Monastery and drive back to Thimphu; Enroute visit Wangduephodrang Dzong. Overnight Hotel
Day 03:
Saturday 31st March (Thimphu-Chukha)
Drive to Chukha and attend Festival. Lunch at local restaurant and drive back to Thimphu in the evening. Overnight Hotel.(Chukha does not have tourist standard hotels)
Day 04:
1st April (Thimphu Sightseeing)
Full day sight seeing: Visit Changangkha Lhakhang, Takin (National Animal of Bhutan), Sangyegang View Point, Preservation Center Tashichhodzong (the central secretariat building), National Library, Painting School, Indigenous Hospital, National Folk Heritage Museum, Textile Museum, Memorial Chorten, Handicrafts Emporium, Hand made Paper factory and Dup-Thop Monastery. Evening at leisure in town. Overnight hotel.
Day 05:
Monday 2nd April (Paro Sightseeing)
After breakfast, drive to Paro. In Paro, visit the Taa Dzong, an ancient watchtower, which has been, since 1967, the National Museum of Bhutan; visit Rimpung Dzong (Paro Dzong) built in 1646 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel. The Dzong presently houses administrative offices of the valley. After lunch, visit the Drukgyel Dzong, now in ruins was built by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan invaders in1644; the Dzong name’s means indeed “victorious Druk “. The Dzong was used as an administrative center until 1951 when a fire caused by butter lamp destroyed it. On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred monasteries dating from the introduction of Buddhism in the 8th century. Evening visit a Bhutanese Traditional House. Overnight Hotel
Day 06:
Tuesday 3rd April (Excursion to Takshang Monastery)
A very special day with an excursion to view the spectacular Takshang Monastery. “Takshang” literally means Tiger’s Nest – The Monastery is believed to have been built in 1684 on the spot where Guru Rimpoche (founder of Buddhism in Bhutan) flew on the back of a Tigress and meditated to subdue the demons in Paro valley.
The trail to the Monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. This incredible Monastery clings vertically to the edge of a granite rock cliff that plunges 900 meters above the valley floor.
Day 07:
Wednesday 4th April (Departure)
Early morning, drive to Paro International Airport and departure
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