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Itinerary Land of the Thunder Dragon Paro – Thimpu – Punakha – Paro Tour Code – CT SPDY 6 Nights – 07 Days

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Itinerary Land of the Thunder Dragon Paro – Thimpu – Punakha – Paro Tour Code – CT SPDY 6 Nights – 07 Days Itinerary Land of the Thunder Dragon Paro – Thimpu – Punakha – Paro Tour Code – CT SPDY 6 nights – 07 days The work of J. R. R. Tolkiens is world famous as a fictional account of magical lands, mystical black mountains, dragons & Kings. Very few know that there is a land where such things are very much real and a part of everyday life. A land whose people call it “Druk – yul” or Land of the Thunder Dragon, a kingdom ruled by a Dragon King, who wears a raven crown. A land of mystical valleys resounding with magic, tranquility and happiness, complete with black mountains and sacred peaks which touch the skies. We invite you to a magical experience in this land, where even in this modern world happiness is given more importance, a world which moves with its own unique pace towards a better and more serene existence. We invite you to visit the Kingdom of Bhutan Creative Travel | [email protected] | page 1 Day 1: Arrive Paro – Thimpu Arrive at Paro International Airport. Welcome on arrival & Transfer to Thimpu. Afternoon visit King’s memorial Chorten and Trashichhoedzong Stay Overnight at the hotel Arrive at Paro International Airport. Our representative will introduce to the vehicle for an interesting 1 ½ hrs drive through scenic Himalayan countryside to your hotel in Thimphu, the modern capital of the Kingdom. Welcome to the Kingdom of Bhutan! Many eastern classics and books of wisdom have referred to the Himalayas as the abode of gods and home to the immortals, resulting in visits to this country by a great many saints, mystics, scholars and pilgrimswho blessed this land and its people with an invaluable spiritual and cultural legacy that has shaped every facet of Bhutanese lives. Visitors are surprised that the cultural and traditional lifestyle is richly intact and permeates to all strands of modern secular life in Bhutan. Thimphu earlier a small settlement was developed in to a town and became the new capital of Bhutan. The city sprawls across the western slopes of the Wang Chuu river valley, with several government offices located around Tashichoe dzong, the 17th Century fortress monastry is today the seat of Bhutanese government. The main thoroughfare is lined with shops, restaurants, retail arcades and public buildings. Arrive at Thimpu & check-in at your hotel. Later proceed for a city tour Visit King's Memorial Chorten continuously circumambulated by people, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (“the father of modern Bhutan”) who has wished to erect monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace. Also visit to Trashichhoe dzong, “fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the centre of government and religion, site of monarch’s throne room and seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans. Stay overnight at the hotel Day 2: In Thimpu Creative Travel | [email protected] | page 2 Breakfast at hotel Morning Excursion to Tango Goemba (30 minute drive & 1 hrs walk through) Afternoon visit National Library and Folk Heritage museum Stay Overnight at the hotel This morning after a breakfast at the hotel, depart for a visit of Tango Goemba (30 minutes drive & 01 hour walk) . Tango Goemba or monastery was founded by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa in the 12th century and the present building was built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Madman’, Lama Drukpa Kunley. In 1616 Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal visited Tango and meditated in a cave near the monastery. His meditation helped ensure the defeat of an invading Tibetan army. The head Lama, a descendent of Lama Drukpa Kunley presented the goemba to Shabdrung, who carved a sandalwood statue of Chenrezig which he installed in the monastery. The picturesque three-storey tower and several surrounding buildings were built in the 18th century by the eighth Desi, Druk Rabgye and Shabdrung Jigme Chhogyel added the golden roof in the 19th century. Situated north of Thimphu, one way it takes about 30 minutes drive and one hour walk through shaded rhododendron forests to reach the monastery. Later return to the hotel. Afternoon visit the National Library, the library houses an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts; the Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School) where students undergo a 6-year training course in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts. Later in the evening visit Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions. Later in the evening visit the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, to browse through example of Bhutan's fine traditional arts constituting hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, interesting items made from local materials. Stay Overnight at the hotel Day 3: Thimpu – Punakha Breakfast at hotel Morning drive to Punakha via Dochu – La pass Noon Visit of Punakha Dzong Afternoon excursion to Chimi Lakhang Dinner & Overnight stay at Punakha hotel After an early breakfast drive to Punakha via Dochu La. Creative Travel | [email protected] | page 3 Dochu-la pass located at a height of 3,088m/ 10,130 ft is a sceneic location with chortens chorten, mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If skies are clear, it may be possible to see the following peaks from this pass in the order left to right: Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m ), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m), Kangphugang (7,170 m ), Zongphugang (7, 060 m ), a table mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana - finally Gangkar puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497m, after this uplifting experience return to Punakha. Later visit to Punakha Dzong, Built strategically at the junction of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region, Punakha Dzong has played an important role in Bhutan’s history. Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King. Creative Travel | [email protected] | page 4 Afternoon is scheduled for an excursion to Chimi Lhakhang. Situated on a hillock in the centre of the valley, this temple is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, who in the late 15th century used humour, songs and outrageous behaviour to dramatise his teachings and due to this also known as ‘Divine Madman’. This temple is also known as the temple of fertility. It is widely believed that couples who do not have children and wanting one, if they pray at this temple, they are usually blessed with a child very soon. It is about 30 minute walk across field from the road to the temple. The trail leads across rice fields to the tiny settlement of Pana, meaning ‘field’. It then follows a tiny stream downhill to Yoaka and across more fields before making a short climb to Chimi Lhakhang. Later return to Thimpu Stay Overnight at the hotel Day 4: In Punakha Breakfast at the hotel Full day excursion to Wangdue Phodrang & Gangtey ( 150 kms / 5 hrs drive both ways) Stay overnight at the tented camp After breakfast start on the full day excursion to Wangdue Phodrang Creative Travel | [email protected] | page 5 Wangdue Phodrang district of central Bhutan, it is also the name of the dzong (built in 1638) which dominates the district, and the name of the small market town outside the gates of the dzong. The name is said to have been given by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who was searching for the best location for a dzong to prevent incursions from the south. At the chosen spot the Shabdrung encountered a boy named Wangdi playing beside the river and hence named the dzong "Wangdi's Palace". Visit the massive fortress monastery at the top of the valley and then drive to the valley of Gangtey also known as Phobjikha valley, it is one of the most beautiful spots in Bhutan. The surprise of finding such a wide, flat valley without any trees after the hard climb through dense forests is augmented by an impression of vast space, and extremely rare experience in Bhutan where most of the valley’s are tightly enclosed. Creative Travel | [email protected] | page 6 Visit the village of Phobjikha. This place is the winter home of black necked cranes that migrate from the arid plains in the north. Phobjikha, at an altitude of 2900 m, falls under the district of Wangdue Phodrang and lies on the periphery of the Black Mountain National Park. After the visit of the village, monastery and beautiful valley return to Punakha. Stay overnight at the hotel. Day 5: Punakha – Paro Breakfast at the hotel Drive to Paro (125 kms / 4 hrs drive) Enroute visit Simtokha Dzong Afternoon visit Ta Dzong & Rinpung Dzong Stay overnight at the tented camp After breakfast we continue our fascinating journey towards Paro, enroute visit Simtokha Dzong. Simtokha Dzong was built in 1627 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it stands on a low ridge 8 km down the valley from Thimphu. The Institute for Language and Cultural Studies is located within the premises. The most noteworthy artistic feature of this dzong is the series of over 300 finely worked slate carvings behind the prayer wheels in the courtyard.
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