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Western Bhutan cultural tour for 6 night & 7 day
Bhutan takes great pride in its culture as the last remaining Mahayana Buddhist kingdom. The culture has served as an effective bulwark in cushioning and balancing the negative impacts of rapid development and change and has provided a perspective that has shaped its own particular vision of development. The relevance of culture also lies in the sense of identity and unity conferred to its people, invaluable in a small country like Bhutan. Efforts to preserve and foster the country’s cultural heritage will also continue to ensure that it is not eroded in the process of development and it is also one of the pillars of “Gross National Happiness”
Paro International Airport (Google Map)
On arrival you will be received by our representative and will do the following sightseeing:
Paro Rinpung Dzong: Also known as “fortress of the heap of jewels “, it was built during the time of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called the Nemi Zam. A walk through the bridge to the Dzong, over a stone inlaid path, offers a good view of the architectural wonder of the Dzong as well as life around it. It is also venue of the Paro Tshechu, held once a year inspiring.
Ta Dzongthe only National Museum in Bhutan. The best among natural history museums in Asia, the Ta Dzong offers a unique collections ranging from ancient Armour to textiles and THANGKHA paintings. Initially Ta Dzong was built as the watch tower of Paro dzong later it was converted into museum. From the museum it offers a great view of the Paro valley (This museum has been partially damaged by an earthquake last year and it’s under renovation whereby no one is allowed to go inside the building. Mean while you will be able to see some of the artifacts, which has been moved for display to another building above the museum.)
Lunch will be served at the restaurant in Paro. After lunch you will drive to Thimphu and on arrival check into the hotel, refresh and relax. In the evening you can stroll around the city on your own. Dinner will be served either at the hotel.
After breakfast you will check out from the hotel and do the following sightseeing:
Zoo: where one can see the national animal of Bhutan TAKIN, which has the head of a goat and the body of a cow.
Traditional hospital: get a tour of the grounds and learn how they make and distribute the herbal medicine.
Painting school: The school of arts & painting teaches the children to master in the 13 types of arts and crafts of Bhutan.
National library: is another sight to see the collection of Bhutanese scriptures some dating back from the 8th century.
Post office
Traditional paper factory displays the Bhutanese paper making in process.
Folk Heritage museum is a replica of a medieval farm-house and is patronized by HM the Queen Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. In the village we still have this kind still alive.
The textile museum is patronized by HM the Queen Sangay Choden Wangchuck to protect the textile heritage of Bhutan. There are some old collections along with the display of vegetable dyes and materials used for Bhutanese textiles.
Memorial Chorten; the stupa built in the memory of Bhutan’s Third King.
Tashichho Dzong: Also known as “fortress of the glorious religion”, the Dzong was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1965. Tashichhodzong houses the main secretariat building and the central monk body.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Thimphu
Have breakfast from the hotel and you will drive for another 12 km to the monastery. Your car will drop you to the nearest motor road where you will begin your hike. The hike to the monastery will be around 45 mins.
Tango Goemba or monastery: the famous Tango monastery in Thimphu derived its name from a deity. The word Tango literally means ‘horse head’. It is derived from the deity Tandin (Hayagriva), which is represented as horse – headed. In 1222, when Phajo Drugom Zhigpo was teaching in Dodeyna, he heard the neighing of a horse from the direction of Tango. On approaching the place, he saw a cliff (behind the monastery) believed to be the body of deity Tandin in flames. The deity appeared before him and prophesied that Phajo would build a meditation centre in Tango and lay foundations for the Drukpa Kagyud school in Bhutan.
The present building was built in the 15th century by the divine madman “Drukpa Kunley”. In 1616 Shabdrung Nawang Namyal visited Tango Goemba and meditated in a cave nearby. The head lama, a descendent of Lama Drukpa Kunley, presented the Goemba to the Shabdrung, who carved a sandalwood statue of Chenresig, which he installed in the monastery.
Today Tango is the residence of an important young trulku (reincarnate lama) who is recognized as the 17th reincarnation of the highly respected fourth desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye, whose previous incarnation passed away in 1830. Visit the temple inside and you will retrace to Thimphu. Lunch will be served in one of the restaurant in Thimphu.
After lunch you will drive to Punakha via the Dochula pass 3050 m, which offers great views of Bhutan’s himalyan peak. Punakha is the old capital of Bhutan and the religious body still uses as their winter capital. Check into the hotel and dinner will be served at the hotel.
After having breakfast you will first hike to Khamsum yueling temple: This temple has the best present day architecture and is being built by the crown prince’s mother Ashi Tsering Yangdon Wangchuck. The hike to and fro will not take more than 2 hrs.
Punakha Dzong: Built strategically at the Junction of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King.
After lunch you will visit Chimi Lhakhang. A walk to and fro will not be more than 45 mins.
Chimi Lhakhang- temple of the Divine Madman who is popularly known as Drukpa Kuenley. He inherited the Divine madman title since he revolted against the orthodox Buddhism in his time. He taught the people that religion is an inner feeling and it’s not necessary that one should be an ordained monk. He is believed as a symbol of fertility and most childless couples go to his temple for blessing. The translation of the life of Drukpa Kuenley is done by Keith Dowan –Drukpa Kuenley-The Divine Madman.
Evening back to the hotel and dinner will be served at the hotel.
Early breakfast from the hotel, you will retrace your journey to Paro. Lunch will be served at the restaurant in Paro. After lunch you will visit the following places:
Kyichu temple, one of the last three surviving temples among 108 temples. In the 8th century a Tibetan King built 108 such temples. Till date only three had survived, two in Bhutan and one in Tibet known as the Jokhang in Lhasa.
Drukgyel Dzong, or the Fort of Drukpa victory, which is almost 10 miles north from the town. From this fortress Bhutanese repelled several invasions by Tibetans throughout the course of history. Looming above the smoldered ruins if the weather is clear you can see the snowcapped peak of Mount. Jhomolhari.
Check into the hotel and dinner will be served at the hotel itself.
After breakfast hike to the Taktsang monastery, which was built on the cliffs. The entire hike (to and fro) will take about 3 hours of average walking speed from Ramthangkha (the terminating point of the motorable road)
Taktsang monastery is one of the most venerated pilgrim sites of Bhutan. The monastic complex clings to the rock towering 900 m above the valley. Taktsang is located at 2950 m above the sea level.
In accordance with the prophecy of Guru Rinpoche, Khandro Yeshi Tshogyal, the consort of Guru Rinpoche, meditated at Taktsang, transforming herself into a tigress to protect herself from harmful humans and wild animals. People who happened to be in the vicinity of Taktsang in those days had seen a real tigress residing in the cave. The cave thus came to be known as “Taktsang” meaning “the tigress’s lair”. The image of the wrathful Guru Dorje Droloe one of his eight manifestations mounting the tigress, as we witness today inside the temple is the form of a tigress in our impure perception but in reality the tigress is the form assumed of Khandro Yeshi Tshogyal. The monastery was built in the year 1692 with the command of the fourth desi (secular ruler of Bhutan) Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgye. Today his reincarnation is residing in the Tango monastery.
After visiting the temple hike back and lunch will be served in the restaurant. After lunch you can either visit the Paro town to explore the Bhutanese stores or relax at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the same hotel.
Have breakfast from the hotel and our representative will see you off at the airport. Good bye and have a nice flight. The Dragon Kingdom will soon disappear within its guardian mountains
Tashi Delek!
