10D9N CULTURAL TRIP

DAY 01 Arrive Paro * DAY 02 Thimphu After early morning breakfast, a choice to visit:- The Folk Heritage Museum was open to the general public in 2001 upon completion. It treasures troves of culture and rich Bhutanese heritage provide rich insights into the Bhutanese ethos. The second important Museum that also opened its doors in 2001 is the National Textile Museum of Bhutan After arriving & visa formalities and collection of baggage, . During a trip to this museum you will get an you will be welcomed by our tour representative who up close and personal experience of the living national will be your tour guide during your entire trip in Bhutan. art of weaving. Check into your hotel in Thimphu. Free until lunch time for some rest from early morning flight, refreshment and lunch. Afternoon, you can choose to visit any or all of the * following places:- DAY 03 Thimphu Punakha Post early breakfast, you will drive towards Punakha via , a Buddhist cum fortress Dochula Pass. We will stop over for tea at Dochula at the northern edge of Thimpu the capital city of (3,100 m), where on a sunny day, you can get stunning Bhutan. The original ThimphuDzong (the Dho-Ngyen views of the Himalayan ranges. The Dzong) is said to have been constructed in 1216 by or the Pungtang Dechen Phortang Dzong is located at GyalwaLhanangpa. the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu River, The National Memorial Chorten was built by combine to form the Puna Tsang Chu which in turn is a Bhutan’s third king, H.M. who tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The Dzhong is also known as the “father of modern Bhutan.” The was constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal national Memorial Chorten is located in the center of Wangchuck in 1638. the capital city, Thimphu and is designed like a Tibetan Overnight in a hotel in Punakha style Chorten. Tashichho Dzong Overnight in a hotel in Thimphu * National Institute of Zorig Chusum, The art and DAY 04 Punakha Trongsa crafts currently taught in Bhutan, were introduced to the After an early breakfast, we will be driving down to country in the 15th century by Trenton . Trongsa. Admire the view en route the valley of Wangdiphodrang. We will drive to Chimmi Lhakhang Bhutan’s National Library was established in the to start with. The monastery stands on a small hill close 1967. Its mission is to preserve the literary treasures to the village of Lobesa and was constructed in 1499 by of the nation which constitute a significant element of NgawangChoegyel, the 14th Drukpaheirarch. Located Bhutan’s rich and vibrant cultural heritage. 2 kilometers away from the village of Chendebji is The Motithang Takin Preserve also known as the the Chendebji Chorten, a large Buddhist . The Thimphu Zoo by many is a small natural preserve for Chendebji Chorten is a large white structure built the Takin Bhutan’s national animal. in likeness to the famous Bodhunath Stupa located in Kathmandu in Nepal. The or the The Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory is a small Cheokhor Rabdentse is one of the largest and most paper factory located in Thimphu that produces paper impressive Dzong in Bhutan. The Dzong is located on a using traditional Bhutanese methods. The paper products cliff overlooking the Mangde Chu river gorge. The Dzong produced at the factory are made from Daphne or wasChimmi built Lhakhang at the site of a temple that was constructed in Mulberry plant bark. 1543, by a Drukpa Lama. Overnight in a hotel in Thimphu National Memorial Chorten Overnight in a hotel in Trongsa

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TA-01432 1 P ark Road #0212/28 P eople’s Park Complex Singapore 059108 DAY 05 Trongsa * Bumthang body due to its holiness. Thangbi Lakhang, Since there storied circular Ta Dzong. The Ta Dzong is a medieval After morning breakfast, we will drive towards is no motor able road to this temple the only way to watch tower situated above the Rimpung Dzong. The Bumthang and visit Dzong. The is get there is by foot, the temple can be reached by Ta Dzong was constructed in 1656. situated above the Jakar village in the Chamkhar valley completing a two hour walk up the picturesque Choker The Paro Dzong is probably Bhutan’s best known and of Bumthang. The Dzhong was originally a site of a Valley of Bumthang. The temple was established in 1470 most iconic Dzong. This is probably the first building monastery that was being constructed at the time of by Shamar (the red hat ). Palace is you will notice when you land at Paro International Lama NgagiWanchuck’s visit to Bhutan. According to located east of the district headquarters Jakar in the Airportand will probably be your first memory of Bhutan. legend during the construction of the Dzong a white remote Tang Valley. The palace can be reached after bird emerged from the structure and perched itself on completing a 20 mile journey east of which 13 miles are Overnight in a hotel in Paro the site. In Bhutanese culture a white bird is considered along a unpaved gravel road up to the village of Kezum to be auspicious. was built by King , from where the place is about an hour’s hike away. The DAY 09 Paro Ugyen Cholling Palace was built in the 17th century AD Srongsen Gampo of in 659 AD. The temple was After early morning breakfast, we will take you for a by Deb TsokeyDorji, a noble man from the of blessed by Guru Rimpoche during his visit to Bumthang. morning hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known The Buddhist saint Dorji Lingpa. is a monastery located in the as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. Hanging precariously and magically Bumthang Valley of Bhutan. The Kurjey Lhakhang Temple In evening you will go and visit the National from a rather steep cliff, the Taktshang monastery is a Complex is a 30 minute hike from the Jambay Lhakhang Handicrafts Emporium. The National Handcrafts monument of genuine pride for the Bhutanese nation. temple. According to legend Sendhu Raja, the King of Emporium is a state run Handicrafts showroom in 4 It defies architectural principles to the core and amazes Bumthang was very ill and invited Guru Rinpoche the different cities of bhutan. The emporium is run by the tourists from around the world. It is a sight to behold. founder of in Bhutan to give him a cure for National Woman’s Association of Bhutan as a Non- Later after the hike, we will visit the Jowo Temple of Namkhe Nyingpo Goemba his ailment. is located on Government. Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. The a hill just east of the town of Jakar, the administrative Overnight in a hotel in Bumthang temple was built by the Tibetan King SongstenGampo center of the . The monastery was in the 7th Century AD. established in 1970 and is home to about 300 monks who are learing about the Nyingampa Buddhism. DAY 07 Bumthang * Gangtay DAY 10 Paro Departure Overnight in a hotel in Bumthang After breakfast you will drive to Gangtey and visit In the morning after early breakfast we will see you off Gangtey Goemba. The Gangtey Monastery or the at the Paro Airport for your onward destinations. DAY 06 Bumthang Gangtey Goempa is an important monastery / temple Excursion to Tang Valley associate with the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. Compulsory Tipping for driver & tour guide: Early Morning after Breakfast, you will visit TANG The Monastery is Located in the Wandue Phodrang USD 10 per person per day. VALLEY and Burning Lake. The Tang Valley is the Dzongkhag in central Bhutan. most isolated and remote of the 4 valleys that make Overnight in a hotel in Gantay up the district of Bumthang. The valley is located about10 kilometers away from Jakar along the east- west road towards the town of Ura. After travelling DAY 08 Gangtay * Paro a few kilometers we will turn off on to a gravel road After early morning breakfast, you will drive to Paro and that continue a further 7 kilometers along to view the on the way, we will visit: KunzangdrakGoemba monastery, was established in The is a small Dzong located 1488 by Trenton PemaLingpa. The Burning Lake or approximately 5 kilometers south of Thimphu. The the Membartsho is a deep water pool in a gorge of Dzong is officially called the Sangak Zabhon Phodrang the Tangchu River. The Burning Lake is located about 15 which roughly translates to the Palace of the Profound minutes off the road that goes towards the Tang Valley Meaning of Secret . The Simthoka Dzong is of Bumthang. The place enjoys a very special spiritual said to be the first fortress to have been built by the significance for the people of Bhutan. One of the most legendary Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in Bhutan. striking feature of the location is the huge number of The fortress was constructed in the year 1629. colorful prayer flags that hang everywhere along the Later drive to Paro, and after lunch we will visit The river gorge. As you trek down to the pool be warned National Museum of Bhutan, housed inside the six that it is considered sacrilegious to enter the water

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TA-01432 1 P ark Road #0212/28 P eople’s Park Complex Singapore 059108