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Bhutan - The Last
Shangrila
12 nights 13
days
Day 01 : Arrive
Paro
The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all moutain flights.
One can see Mount. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and other peaks in Bhutan
such as Chomolhari, Jichu Drake and Tsrim Khang. The first gift from Bhutan
will be cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the aircraft. Received
by Etho Metho representative and transfer to the hotel. Evening take a
stroll through Paro market. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 02 : Paro
Paro is a picturesque valley with quaint clusters of hamlets amidst
terraced paddy fields. The town still maintains traditions by way of architecture
and the simple way of life.
Morning trip to Ta
Dzong or National Museum. Rated among the best natural history museums
in Asia, the Ta Dzong offers a unique and varied collections ranging from
ancient armour to textiles and thangkha paintings. Then walk down the
trail to visit Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong) built during the time of Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal in 1646. It now houses the Paro monastic school and office
of the civil administration. Also Rinpung Dzong is venue of Paro Tshechu,
held once a year in spring. Afternoon drive upvalley to the Drukgyel Dzong
or the Fort of Drukpa victory. From this fortress Bhutanese repelled several
invasion by Tibetans throughout the course of history. Looming above the
smouldered ruins is the snowcapped peak of Mount. Chomolhari. Also visit
traditional Bhutanese Farm House nestled below the dzong. Then drive towards
Paro town enroute visiting Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest monastery
of the Kingdom reflecting introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 03 : Paro -
Thimphu
After breakfast drive to Thimphu, the capital town passing via idyllic
countryside, through villages and paddy fields. Enroute visit the Simtokha
Dzong the oldest fortress of the country now houses the School for Buddhist
studies. Afternoon sightseeing of Thimphu valley, visiting Tashichhodzong
; the seat of the government, Memorial Chorten; the stupa built in the
memory of Bhutan's Third King and Handicrafts Emporium displaying rich
traditional crafts of the Kingdom. Also, you may be able to catch a game
of archery in progress at the Changlimethang compound, just below the
town. Evening take a stroll around market area. Overnight at the hotel
in Thimphu.
Day 04: Thimphu
- Punakha
Morning, in Thimphu visit to National Library: which has fascinating
collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and texts, the Painting School:
famous for traditional thangkha paintings and Traditional Medicine Institute:
where centuries old healing arts still practised. Then proceed to Punakha
across Dochula pass (3,100m). The pass is marked by a large Bhutanese
Chorten and prayer flags. The pass offers the most spectacular view over
the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas. Arrive Punakha and check into
the hotel. Untill 1955, Punakha served as the capital town of Bhutan and
still it is the
winter seat of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot. Visit to Punakha Dzong, built
by Shabdrung Ngawang, Namgyal in 17th century and situated at the junction
of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers. Later visit to Punakha town and market.
Over night at the hotel in Punakha.
Day 05 : Punakha
- Wangdiphodrang - Gangtey (Phobjikha)
After breakfast drive to Wangdiphodrang and visit Dzong which is perched
on a spur at the confluence of two rivers. The position of Dzong is remarkable
as it completely covers the spur and commands an impressive view over
both the north- south and east-weat. Wangdi district is also famous for
its bamboo work, slate & stone carvings. The approach to Phobjikha
valley is through a forest of Oak and Rhododendron. Phobjikha is one of
the few glacial
valleys in Bhutan and chosen home of black necked cranes which migrate
from the central Asiatic Plateau to escape its harsh winters. Explore
Phojikha valley and also visit to Gangtey Monastery, the only Nyingmapa
monastery in Bhutan. Overnight Guest House / Camp.
Day 06 : Gangtey
(Phobjikha) - Tongsa
Morning explore Phobjikha valley for Black Neck Cranes and later drive
to Tongsa across Pelela pass (3,300 m). This pass is traditionally considered
the boundry between Western and Central Bhutan. Further ahead stop enroute
at Chendbji Chorten built in 18th century in Nepalese style. The landscape
around Tongsa is spectacular and for miles on end the dzong seems to tease
you so that you wonder if you will ever reach it. On arrival, check into
the lodge. Dinner and overnight at thelodge in Tongsa.
Day 07 : Tongsa
- Bumthang (Jakar)
Morning visit to Tongsa Dzong, situated at the altitude of 2,200 m
and built in 1647 by the Shabdrung it is the most impressive dzong in
Bhutan. Then visit the Ta Dzong, standing on the side of the mountain
and built to guard Tongsa. After lunch proceed to Bumthang, one of the
most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism.
29 kms ahead of Tongsa cross Yutongla pass (3,400m) and from here again
the landscape looks different and dense forests of conifers stretches.
The arrival of Bumthang beings with wide, open, cultivated Chumey valley.
Overnight at the lodge in Bumthang.
Day 08 : Bumthang
Bumthang is the general name given to a complex of four valleys -
Chumey, Choekhor,Tang and Ura with altitude varying from 2,600 m to 4,000
m. Visit to Kurje Lhakhang, one of the most sacred place in Bhutan as
Guru Rimpoche meditated here. From Kurje monastery, a tarmac road heads
south along the right bank of the river to the Jambey Lhakhang. Like Kyichu
Lhakhang in the Paro valley, this temple is said to be the first that
King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet constructed in 7th century. Afternoon visit
to Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pema Lingpa. It contains interesting
Buddhist paintings. Later see the Jakar Dzong, the dzong of the white
bird'which houses the administrative seat of the district and is the only
dzong in the country that does not contain a Drukpa monastic community.
Evening take a stroll through Bumthang market area. Dinner and overnight
at the lodge in Bumthang.
Day 09 : Bumthang
- Mongar
The journey continues eastwards winding through more rugged terrain.The
drive, with spectacular views will take about 6 hours. Pass through Ura
village in Bumthang before climbing sharply to the highest motorable pass
in the Kingdom, the Thrumshingla pass - 12,465 ft. Graduallydrop down
to Sengor, watching cascading water falls on the way.The descent stops
at 2,130 ft., on a bridge over the Kurichu. Ascent again through pine
forests, maize fields and eastern hamlets to Mongar town. Visit Mongar
Dzong, built albeit quite recently, the dzong still maintains the architectural
traditions of old dzongs. Overnight at the lodge in Mongar.
Day 10 : Mongar
- Tashigang
This trip of about 96 kms takes 3 hours passing through Kori la pass
(2,450m), the place marked by a pretty chorten and a stone wall. The first
part of journey is through a leafy forest filled with ferns. Later road
descends rapidly through corn fields and banana groves arriving the famous
zigzags of Yadi which is a recent settlement. After that follow the Gamri
river until the bifurcation to Dametsi, this temple perched on top of
steep hill was founded by Choeden Zangmo and is the most important monastery
of eastern Bhutan. This is the place from where the famous Naga Chham,
mask dance with drums, originated.About 30 kms onwards lies Tashigang
at 3,375 ft. Tashigang is the centre of the biggest and most populated
district in the country. View the Tashigang Dzong standing at the extreme
end of the spur, overhanging the Gamri river. It serves as the administrative
seat for the district and part of the dzong is occupied by Drukpa monastic
community. Overnight at the lodge in Tashigang.
Day 11 : Tashigang
( excursion to Tashiyangtse )
24 kms from Tashigang, visit the temple of Gom Kora, set on a small
alluvial plateau, overlooking the river. Gom Kora is the famous place
where Guru Rimpoche meditated in order to subdue a demon. Further ahead
reach to Doksum village where you can see women busy in weaving traditional
Bhutanese fabric. Visit to Tashiyangtse Dzong, situated at the altitude
of 1,850 m, was established just after the Drukpa conquest in around 1656
and later completely renovated in 1976. In former times Tashiyangtse was
important centre because it lies on one of the carvan routes leading from
western and central Bhutan. Evening return to Tashigang. Dinner and overnight
at the lodge in Tashigang.
Day 12 : Tashigang
- Samdrup Jongkhar
Tashigang - Samdrup Jongkhar road completed in 1965 and the journey
takes about 6 hours. Along the way see Sherubtse College, the only college
in country founded in 1978. Also visit Zangtho Pelri temple built in 1978
by the late Minister of Home Affairs and represent Guru Rimpoche's paradise.Driving
ahead reach to Khaling to visit Blind School and Weaving Centre. Deothang,
80 kms from Khaling is the centre of Technical training college and road
maintenance head quarters for the east. From here the road descends fairly
rapidly to the plain through a dense tropical forest with an abundance
of teak, bamboo and ferns. Overnight at the lodge in Samdrup Jongkhar.
Day 13 : Samdrup
Jongkhar - Guwahati
After breakfast drive to Guwahati, the capital town of Indian north
eastern state of Assam, for flight to Delhi / Calcutta or onward tour
programme in that region.
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