15 Days Himalayan Journey “ Central Bhutan”

Day one: Paro to Thimphu
On the flight to Paro, if the weather holds good you will get a spectacular view of mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other mighty mountains of the eastern Himalayas. As you enter the Paro valley, the plane will be flying so low that you will feel as though you are driving. As you approach the landing strip you will get spectular views of the sprawling rice fields and the magnificent Paro Dzong. Once you are done with your visa and immigration formalities, the Sky Travels representative will receive you. The drive to Thimphu will be about two hours. Overnight Thimphu.

Day Two: Thimphu local sightseeing
Today we will visit the Memorial stupa, built in memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Although stupas are normally enclosed and cannot be entered, this one is unique as one can enter into it. This stupa displays three different sects of Buddhism, namely Phurba, Kagyu and Gongdyue. Thereafter, we will visit the Zilukha Nunnery and Changgangkha monastery, considered one of the oldest in the Thimphu Valley. After lunch we will visit the Handicrafts Emporium and either the Textile Museum or the Folk Heritage Museum.

Day Three: Thimphu to Trongsa
Today we will start early as we have a long day's journey. It will take about seven to eight hours to reach Trongsa. The first one hour of the drive will bring us to a hamlet called Hungtsho, where a number of Tibetan refugees have settled. It is a fertile area and well known for apple and potatoe production. An up-hill drive of another 15 minutes will bring us to the top of the “Dochola” pass which is about 3050M above sea level. This spot is now marked by 108 Druk Wanggyel stupas, built by Her Majesty The Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, in dedication to world peace. This spot also offers excellent photo opportunities of the eastern Himalayas.

On a clear day one will be able to view the entire eastern Himalayas from here. As we descend into the valley we will come across lush green sub tropical vegetation and warmer temperatures. If you are not aware, let me inform you that in Bhutan altitude and climatic conditions change dramatically as you travel from one valley to another. In approximately three hours we will reach Wangdue Phodrang and stop for a promenade of the township and photo opportunities. An up-hill climb from Wangdue will bring us to the beautiful Pelela pass, after about two and half hours. We will stop for photo opportunities and have our picnic lunch. From here, it will take us about two hours to reach the district of Trongsa. The drive is beautiful and you will get to see nature at its best. Enroute you will also see the unique stupa of Chendebji. It is believed that the stupa was built by a Siddha visiting Bhutan during the 17th century. It was built to mark the subjugation of a demon believed to have been harming the people traveling through this area. The last leg of the drive for the day will bring us to a view point which will provide excellent photo opportunities of the Trongsa Dzong. After the next 35 minutes we will arrive Trongsa and check into our hotel.

Day four: Trongsa to Bumthang
In the morning we will visit the Trongsa Dzong, built in the 17th century. This Dzong has a very special place in the history of monarchy in Bhutan because it was here that the first hereditary monarch came to power. It is also in this Dzong where the investiture ceremony of the crown prince takes place, even to this day. As in other districts, the Dzong in Trongsa houses both the local monastic body and the district adminstration. Following the visit of the Dzong we will drive to Bumthang, commonly known as Jakar, which means the valley with the prophecy of a white bird. This is a valley filled with “Neys” meaning holy spots, which are believed to have been visited and blessed by Guru Rimpochey. On arrival we will check into our hotel and after lunch start a tour of the valley. Overnight Bumthang.

Day five: Bumthang sightseeing
Today we will visit the old temples (Lhakhangs): Visit to Kurjay: Kurjay is named after the body imprint left by Guru Rimpochey. It is believed that Guru Rimpochey meditated in the cave and left his body imprint here. “Ku" means body and “Jay” means print. As we enter the gate, on the left hand side we have the monks living quarters and three large Lhakhangs against the hill on the right hand side. The third temporal ruler Chogyel Minjur Tempa is said to have built the first temple on the right hand side in 1652. The second temple was built by the first king Ugyen Wangchuck in 1900 in dedication to Guru Rimpochey's victory over evil. It is called the temple of Sambha-Lhendrup, meaning wish-fulfilling temple. The third temple along with the 108 stupas were built by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuck in 1990. Every year in May/June there is a special festival dedicated to Guru Rimpochey marking the defeat of the evil Shenging Karpo. During the festival a large Thongdrel of Guru Rimpochey and his eight manifestations is also unfurled in the early morning hours and taken off just before the sunrise. People of the valley gather to receive blessings from this sacred Thongdrel.

Visit to Jambay: This temple was built in 659 by King Tshongtsen Gampo who also built the Kichu Lhakhang in Paro at about the same time. A demon is beleived to have been subdued here. The temple is dedicated to the future Buddha “Jamba”, Myteria in Sanskrit. Next we will visit the Kharsum dratsang which is a monastery school, fully sponsored by one of the reincarnations of the first twenty five disciples of Guru Rimpochey, namely, Nyamkhay Nyingpo. The monastery is built on a small mound opposite the Jakar town. Enroute to the monastery we will also visit the Swiss farm shop and buy some Swiss cheese.

Day six: Bumthang Day hike to Thangbi
Today we will take a day excursion to Thangbi Monastery. We will drive up the valley, north of Jakar for about 35 minutes and we will arrive Tokto- Zampa. It is just two minutes to the suspension bridge, locally known as “Cha Zam” meaning metal bridge built over the “Dur - chu” (stream). After crossing the bridge we will see a Buddha carved on a rock face and it is believed that it was carved to bless the travellers and protect the people traveling through this area. As we continue our hike, the trail becomes flatter and within ten minutes we will arrive Thangbi monastery. The Lama (priest) in-charge is a very good friend of Mr. Tshering Jamtsho and we will have opportunity to visit the temple and may be have a cup of Bhutanese butter tea too. After visiting the temple we will continue our hike and on the trail we will see a beautiful "Mani" (prayer) wall about 60 to 70 meters long. This is a kind of Stupa and people circumambulate it to earn merits. You will also notice holy scripts like "Ohm Mani Padmi Hung" inscribed on the rocks that are placed on the stupa. Overnight Bumthang.

Day seven: Bumthang - Trongsa
Today we will drive from Bumthang to Trongsa and on the way we will try to take a side trip to Tharpaling, one of the first places founded by the great Longchen Master “ Longchen Rabjampa”. Weather permitting, we will drive up to the temple. Since the temple can be reached only via a feeder road, the driving conditions can become very difficult if it rains. So the trip will entirely depend on weather conditions. However, if you are willing to hike, we could do this visit, irrespective of the weather condition. The round trip will be about 5 hours and plus two hours drive to Trongsa. Overnight Trongsa.

Day eight: Trongsa-Gangtey valley
Today we will start our journey back to western Bhutan and we will drive to Gangtey valley and if time permits we will visit the Gangtey monastery. This monasterty was originally built by Pema Thrinley the lineage holder of “Pema Lingpa,” the great treasure discoverer of Bhutan.

This is a valley where the people have sacrificed their own development and accepted to protect the most endangered Black Necked Cranes in the region. These cranes come to this valley and spend about five to six months, to get away from the harsh cold winter in Tibet. If we are lucky, the first batch of scouting cranes could already have arrived in the valley to explore and check the situation for the rest of the cranes. If everything is fine they go back and return with the rest of the group. Overnight Gangtey lodge.

Day nine: Gangtey – Wangdue / Punakha
Leaving the valley of the cranes, we will drive back through Wangdue Phodrang and spend the night in Punakha.

Day ten: Punakha
We will go for a day long excursion and visit the Punakha Dzong and the Khamsumyelung temple.

The Punakha Dzong, built in 1637, was once the old capital of Bhutan and is today the winter residence of the Central Monastic Body. The Dzong occupies an important place in the history of monarchy in Bhutan as the first King of Bhutan, King Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned here in 1907. The Dzong also houses Bhutan's most sacred relic, the Ranjung Kharsapani (the self created image of Avolokitesvara). The inner-most sanctum of the temple houses the Marchen Lhakhang, containing the embalmed body of the Shabdrung, the first secular leader of Bhutan. Today the Dzong also serves as the headquarter to the District Administration. The visit to Khamsumyelung temple will entail a hike of about 45 minutes, but it is worth it as you will get to see some of the finest works of Bhutanese art. Overnight at Punakha.

Day eleven: Punakha to Thimphu
Today we can have a leisurely morning and drive to Thimphu. In Thimphu, after checking into our hotel we will go for some sightseeing and if interested visit downtown to buy souvenirs.

Day twelve: Thimphu to Paro
Enroute to Paro we will do a quick tour of the market place in Thimphu. Today we are going back to Paro from where we started this tour. The drive will take one and half hours. After lunch we will visit a typical Bhutanese farm house to experience Bhutanese hospitality and rural life style. This will be followed by a promenade of the Paro Town.

Day thirteen: Local sightseeing
The day begins with a drive through Paro valley to see the Drukgyel Dzong, a historical Dzong for the Bhutanese. This was the place where the last of the Tibetan invaders were repelled, hence the name “Drukgyel Dzong” meaning the “Fortress of the victorious Drukpas”.

On a clear day one can see the 24000 ft domed majestic Jumolhari in the background of the fortress, blessing the Paro valley. It is believed that the goddess Jumo resides on this sacred mountain.

On the way to Drukgyel Dzong, you will be able to see the Kichu Lhakhang, which was built in 659 (7th century) by the Tibetan King Tshongtsen Gampo. It is believed he built 108 temples across the Himalayas and Kichu happens to be one of the last remaining ones. Further up the valley you will see the majestic Taktsang (Tigers Lair), clinging onto bare rock face.

After lunch visit the National Museum, located in the Ta Dzong (old watch tower for the Paro Dzong), originally built in 1656. This is the only museum in Paro and has the country's best collection of ancient Thankas (religious wall hangings), religious paintings and artefacts, fine textiles, weapons and stamps. It also houses the unique temple of the tree of life, representing the four different sects of Buddhism, as practised in the country. If time permits, we can go for a promenade through Paro Town. Overnight at Paro.

Day fourteen: Full day Excursion to Taktsang “Tiger’s Lair”
Drive through Paro Town to Satsam Chorten and continue on the new feeder road leading towards Taktsang. If some of the group members are interested, riding ponies can be arranged. Generally, most people prefer to hike. It takes about two and half hours to reach the Taktsang view point. The view of the surrounding mountains and the valley below is just awesome. We stop at the Taktsang view point for tea and snacks and enjoy the view of the Tigers Lair. Special visit permits can be arranged if notified in advance. Following the visit, lunch will be served at the Taktsang cafeteria. After lunch we will descend down to the valley and if time permits, you will be on your own for the rest of the evening. Overnight at Paro.

Day fifteen : Paro - Departure for Bangkok or Kathmandu.
Following early breakfast at the hotel, leave for the airport to catch the early flight. Our representative will assist you with the departure formalities and bid you farewell with Tashi Khadhar. Bon voyage and Tashi Delek.