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Day 01 : |
Fly from Kathmandu to Paro.
As you enter Bhutan the plains come to an abrupt
end and the mountains keep rising. The silver
river thread the valleys, waterfall plunge down
the forested mountains and to the north the
great snowcapped peaks of the inner himalayas
rise up in the sky. As you enter Paro you will
see the Paro dzong and one of the most fertile
valleys of Bhutan. Evening at leisure, you can
go around the Paro town. You stay overnight in a
hotel in Paro.
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Day 02 : |
Drive from Paro to Thimphu which takes about two
hours.
After breakfast you drive to visit the old fort
ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong, which offers a very
scenic drive of a typical Bhutanese landscape.
The dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and
left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the
great victories it was built to commemorate. On
a clear day the Mt. Jhomolhari(7314metres, 24000
feet),the sacred summit, reaches skyward beyond
the Dzong.
Afterwards visit the Ta Dzong (built in1656 and
renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which
now houses the National Museum. This unusual
round building is believed to be in the shape of
a conch shell. The centerpiece of this Museum is
a complex four-sided carving depicting the
history of Buddhism and its propagation. One
side is Sakyamuni and the great teacher Atisha,
representing the Sakya school. On the next lies
Geylup, a disciple of Dalai Lama. Another is
Nyingma lineage, the head is Guru Padmasanva,
and the final is Drukpa Kagyu with the figure of
Vajra Dhara.
Below the museum is the Paro Rimpung Dzong
(literally meaning "Heap of Jewels", built in
1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the centre of
civil and religious authority in this valley.
Here you can see finest example of Bhutanese
architecture enroute you visit the near by Kichu Lhakhang
built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen
Gampo. This Monastery is one of the 108
monasteries built across the Himalayan region by
the Tibetan King to subdue the Demons that lay
across the Himalayan region. The rest of the
monasteries lie in other neighboring countries.
After that you proceed to Thimphu, the capital
of Bhutan. Drive through the Paro Valley, which
lies beneath Chomolhari one of the Bhutan's
"Mountain of the Goddess." The drive from Paro
to Thimphu is spectacularly scenic. In the
spring season in Bhutan, you will find nature in
a festive mood with rushing turquoise rivers
which can be heard from miles away and mountains
transformed into Master artist's palette of
brilliant vermilion, yellows, purples, pink,
oranges and reds to dazzle your senses. Wild
cherry, mountains plums, cotton silk and forests
of rhododendron trees bloom with astonishing
beauty and abundance especially in spring. Enjoy
the magnificent monasteries, stupas in the
valleys and the mountains. Experience the "Last
Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom" on earth.
As you approach Thimphu the Simtokha Dzong lies
enroute. After you reach Thimphu you check in at
your hotel. You explore the town in evening.
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Day 03 : |
Drive from Thimphu to Paro.
You visit the Memorial chorten built in the
memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck,
15 century Changangkha monastery and drive
further down with good views of the Thimphu
valley.
Next you visit the National Library where
ancient manuscripts are preserved and visit the
Painting School where traditional art is still
preserved. Here artists are taught to paint
Thankas sacred Buddhist scroll).
You then go to visit the Traditional Medicine
Institute where the ancient healing arts are
still practiced and Tashichhodzong, the main
secretariat building. It is from here that the
King and other prominent civil servants run the
country. The Head Abbot and the central monastic
body also reside here during the summer.
Along with these you go to Handicrafts Emporium
where one can buy Bhutanese textiles and other
Arts & Crafts stores. Here you can buy stunning
Kiras that can be used as bed covers or wall
hangings, jewelry and much more.
During evening you drive to Paro. You stay
overnight in a hotel in Paro.
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Services
Included
