SELANGOR BUDDHIST VIPASSANA MEDITATION SOCIETY

09 DAYS / 08 NITES Swayambhunath / BHUTAN - BUDDHIST Bhaktapur City - where the movie PILGRIMAGE Little Buddha

Day 01 (31 May): KLIA – The capital city of Bhutan and the centre of living traditions. government, religion and commerce, Thimphu (L/D ) After lunch, visit King's Memorial Chorten is a unique city with unusual mixture of modern continuously circumambulated by people, Assemble & depart from KLIA with Malaysian development alongside ancient traditions. With murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer Airlines. Nepal is a country of amazing extremes, the population of about 90,000 it is perhaps still wheels. Construction of this landmark was the home to the world’s highest mountains, historic the world’s only capital city without a traffic light. idea of Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme cities and forested plains where tigers and Later in the afternoon visit Trashichhoedzong Dorji Wangchuk (“the father of modern Bhutan”) rhinos trundle at ease. In fact enchantment is (opens 4 pm on weekdays), “fortress of who has wished to erect monument to world everywhere – for anyone in search of Shangri- the glorious religion”. This is the center of peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after La! government and religion, site of monarch’s his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial Met upon arrival, lunch en-route and transfer throne room and seat of Je or Chief to the Late King and as a monument to peace. to hotel check to leave the luggage in the room Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious Drive to Punakha (75km , 3 hours drive) across and proceed by mini coaches to White Drukpa unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Dochula pass (3,O8Om). In Bhutan, the passes Amitabha Mountain Monastery and later visit it was reconstructed in 1960s in traditional are marked by a large Bhutanese Chorten Swayambhunath or also known as the ‘Monkey Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural and prayer flag. Dochula pass offers the most Temple’, the world’s most glorious Buddhist plans. spectacular view over the high peaks of the Stupa of over 2,000 years standing on a hillock Evening an exploratory walk around Thimphu eastern Himalayas on a clear day. at a majestic height of 77m. This site also main street and market area. Overnite in Thimpu. commands an excellent view of the Kathmandu Overnite in Punakha. Valley. Day 03 (2 June): THIMPHU / Overnite in Kathmandu Day 04 (3 June): PUNAKHA / PUNAKHA (B/L/D) PARO (B/L/D) Day 02 (1 June) : PARO / After breakfast, visit Buddha Point (Kuensel Morning visit Punakha Dzong or “Palace of Great Phodrang). Located at a short drive from Thimphu THIMPU (B/L/D) Happiness”, built at the junction of the Phochu city centre, visitors can get a good overview and Mochu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of the Thimphu valley from the Buddha point Namgyal. This majestic Dzong served as both the in entire Himalayas. Flying along the Himalayan (Kuensel Phodrang). You can pay your obeisance religious and the administrative center of Bhutan range from Kathmandu, the journey offers and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest in the past. It measures some 600 by 240 feet fascinating views and an exciting descent into statue in the country and then walk around and and has a six-story, gold-domed tower. Inside the Kingdom. Bhutan’s first gift to you as you take a glimpse of the valley. are courtyards and religious statuary that hint disembark from the aircraft will be cool, clean Continue on to the Institute for Zorig Chusum at the depth of history and spiritual tradition fresh mountain air. After immigration formalities (commonly known as the Painting School) where embodied here. Your guide will illuminate your and baggage collection, you will be met by our students undergo a 6-year training course in understanding of this intricate culture that is representative, and afterwards drive to Thimphu Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts. Later visit exotic to us, though long established here. (2 hours). Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating Later in the day excursion to Chimi Lakhang (from On arrival, in Thimphu check-into the hotel. testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and hotel it is about 15 mins. drive till motorable road and then we will walk through paddy fields and snowy dome of sacred Chomolhari, "mountain of Thamel Market, the tourist hub for last minutes villages. The total duration of the walk is 1 and goddess'' can be seen in all her glory from the souvenior shopping. half hours both way and we will experience the approach road to the Dzong. This evening enjoy a superb cultural show with a way of life and culture of the Bhutanese people. Along the way, visit the 7th century Kyichu typical Nepalese dinner. The Chimi Lhakhang, situated on a hillock in the Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the centre of the valley, also known as the temple of Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The Day 09 (8 June): KATHMANDU fertility. It is widely believed that couples who do building of this temple marks the introduction of not have children and wanting one, if they pray in Bhutan. – KLIA ( B ) at this temple, they are usually blessed with a Evening an exploratory walk around main street After breakfast (check out time 12.00 hours ), on child very soon. The trail leads across rice fields and market area. Overnite in Paro. time transfer to airport to connect flight MH to to the tiny settlement of Pana, meaning ‘field’. A KL. walk through the village near the temple will give Day 06 (5 June): PARO - Arrive KLIA with SWEET memories of the you rare glimpses into the daily life and lifestyle Country of Himalayas. of the villagers. (Also referred to as Druk Kunley KATHMANDU / NAGARKOT monastery) (B/L/D) HOTEL ACCOMODATION: Drive back to Paro (125km, 4 hours) descending Kathmandu: Hotel Soaltee Crown Plaza or Hotel After early breakfast, transfer to Airport to Radisson back down from Dochu La, follow the way back connect to Kathmandu. upon arrival meet and up the dramatic Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu river assist by our representative, transfer then to Nagarkot: Hotel Club Himalaya valleys, before crossing through Paro Town Nagarkot, located 30 km east of Kathmandu towards the north end of the valley. Paro: A Class Hotel Tashi Namgay Resort or at an altitude of 2,175m. This place used to be Hotel Olathang, Kitchu Resort or similar En route visit Simtokha Dzong, the place of the nature retreat of the royals in days past. profound tantric teaching, this dzong now houses Nagarkot thrills visitors with its unobstructed Thimpu: A Class Hotel Jumolhari or Hotel a school for the study of the Dzongkha language. mountain panorama, which extends from Phuntsho Pelri or similar Annapurna in the west to Everest in the east. Later in the day after checking into hotel, Punakha: A Class Hotel Bask in the pleasant climate. proceed to visit Ta Dzong, originally built as NOTE: This is the Peak season, as is it Spring Watchtower, which now houses National En-route lunch and visit Bhaktapur city; that and the flower is blooming and the Average Museum. The extensive collection includes still retains a medieval charm and visitors are temperature is around 18C to 22C. antique Thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & entreated to myriad wonders of cultural and FARE : armour, household objects and a rich assortment artistic prides. It is like going back to the 17th of natural and historic artifacts. century. The movie ‘Little Buddha’ was filmed RM8,680 / pax (Ex-Kuala Lumpur) – Early Bird in this city. Later proceed for Nagarkot, arrive Reservation before 31 Dec. 2013. RM8,980/pax Then walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, Nagarkot sunset view. (Reservation make after 1 January 2014) meaning (“fortress of the heap of jewels”), which has a long and fascinating history. Along FARE INCLUSIVE: the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard Day 07 (6 June): NAGARKOT / • Hotel Accomodation on TWIN Sharing are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore KATHMANDU (B/L/D) basis (Premier Hotels) such as four friends, the old man of long life, the Sunrise and short hiking on the trail of Nagarkot • All International tickets (Malaysia wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, village, leave Nagarkot aroud 12.00 am and Airlines & Bhutan Airlines) Mount. Sumeru and other cosmic Mandala. drive back to Kathmandu. Lunch en-route and • All meals as per Itinerary Overnite in Paro. afternoon visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, with • Premier Coach with 1 bottle of Mineral its old temples and palaces, epitomizes the DAY 05 (4 June): PARO (B/L/D) water each day. religious and cultural life of the people. Here, • Entrance Fees to all Monuments & Places After breakfast excursion to Taktshang the kings of Nepal are crowned and solemnized. of interest. Monastery (5hrs hike): It is one of the most Interesting things for visitors to see are Taleju famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the temple, gigantic figure of Kalbhairav (the god of • English Speaking escort services side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. destruction), Basantapur Durbar, and Temple of • Includes Nepal Visas (USD95) + Bhutan It is said that Guru arrived here on the Kumari (Living Goddess) Later to Patan Durbar Visa (USD250/day X 5 days). back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery Square and Golden Temple. • Includes Group Travel Insurance and hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognised as a most sacred place and COST EXCLUDES: Day 08 (7 June): KATHMANDU • Excess baggage of 30 kilos/pax for visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and now visited by all Bhutanese at least once in ( B / D ) International flight (MH) and 20 kilos for their lifetime. On 19 April, 1998, a fire severely After breakfast, proceed for the visit Bhutan Air (Druk Air) damaged the main structure of building but now Bouddhanath. This colossal stupa is one of the • Expenses of personal nature such as this Bhutanese jewel has been restored to its biggest in the world and also serves as the Phone calls, beverages/ snacks from the original splendour. center of Tibetan Buddhism and Vishawa Shanti hotel temple to perform lunch dana and have lunch On the way back to town stop at Drukgyel Dzong, there ( no lunch included ). • Tipping for the Local Guides and Driver a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors (USD5/day Later visit Koppan monastery at hillltop and visit fought Tibetan invaders centuries ago. The • Donations for Temple/ Monastries BHUTAN