Bhutan Tourism Corporation LTD ITINERARY ITINERARY A LENS TO BUDDHISM (11 DAYS) All Seasons all Year, 2021 HIS TRIP OFFERS a relaxed holiday be confirmed 100 days prior to WESTERN BHUTAN covering western Bhutan. Western arrival and are subject to any hotel Day One (Arrive Paro–Thimphu) T Bhutan is known for its stunning supplement levied by the hotel Arriving at Paro International airport scenery, with rice paddies, apple orchards, for that particular festival. and upon clearing immigration and rivers flowing down the mountain valleys. Recommended for non-festival and customs, you will meet with Most of the houses are painted with traditional period: Thursday to Tuesday, or your guide and driver. Drive about designs and offer the visitor the opportunity Friday to Wednesday program. 1 hour 30 minutes to Thimphu to discover arts, architecture, and the day- • Paro Festival: March 23–28, 2021 (2,286m), the capital of Bhutan. to-day activities of the Bhutanese. The trip • Thimphu Festival: September After lunch at the hotel, visit the covers spectacular dzongs (fortresses) and 16–21, 2021 Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 monasteries in Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha. • October 17–27, 2021 in loving memory of the Third Programs during a festival period must Jambey Lhakhang Festival King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji T I B E T children learning and practicing the Bhutan’s most enchanting views. If weather T e r i Z o n g p h u G a n g M a s a n g G a n g ( 7 1 6 5 m ) G a n g ( T a b l e M o u n t a i n ) ancient arts and crafts of Bhutan. permits, from this pass, the breathtaking peaks G a n g c h h e n t a ( 6 8 4 0 m ) ( 7 3 0 0 m ) ( 7 5 5 4 m ) K u l h a K a n g p h u G a n g r i T s e j a G a n g ( 6 8 3 3 m ) G a n g G a n g h a r ( 7 5 5 4 m ) Zorig Chusum literally means the of Bhutan’s northern border can be viewed. G i e u G a n g ( 7 2 0 0 m ) • Laya ( 7 2 1 2 m ) P u e n s u m ( 7 5 4 1 m ) K u n g P h u ( 6 5 3 2 m ) G A S A thirteen traditional arts and crafts. At Dochula, you will also see a unique cluster T s e r i m K a n g ( 6 7 8 9 m ) K a n g r i ( 7 2 3 9 m ) M e l u n g h i J i c h u D r a k e G a n g Visit the Royal Textile Academy, of 108 Namgyel Khangzang Chortens that spiral ( 6 9 8 9 m ) K a n g Gasa W A N G D U E ( 7 0 0 0 m ) B u m • Gasa J h o m o l h a r i Tsachhu P H O D R A N G which provides an excellent up to the main Chorten known as the “Druk ( 7 3 1 4 m ) ( 6 5 2 6 m ) P A R O T r e m o Tango Goemba introduction about the techniques, Wangyal Khangzang Chortens”. Her Majesty The L a Chari Goemba P U N A K H A S I K K I M PUNAKHA Z e l e Drukgyel Dzong P e l e L a CHAMKHAR style of various textiles woven in Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, L a D o c h u L a (Jakar) Taktshang ( 3 3 0 0 m ) THIMPHU ( 3 0 5 0 m ) WANGDUE Nobding Y o t a n g L a Kyichu • the country along with exhibition dedicated these chortens as a tribute and G o m PHODRANG ( 3 4 0 0 m ) PARO Simtokha Dzong TRONGSA L a C h e l i L a Gangte Goemba Kuenga Tanchhog Lhakhang Rabten of the national dress ‘gho’ for monument to the selfless service and visionary H A A ( 3 9 8 8 m ) Isuna • HAA • Phobjikha • Chhuzom T H I M P H U Zhemgang men and ‘kira’ for women. leadership of our Fourth King, His Majesty S i n c h e • Genekha L a Dobji Dzong Tingtibi • Visit the Handicraft Emporium Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The Chortens are D o k a • Chapcha • Sankosh also a celebration of the stability and progress L a T S I R A N G which offers a wide range of S A M T S E • Bunakha Dagana Damphu colorful, hand woven textiles that His Majesty the King brought to the Dungna • • Chimakha • Lamidranga Chhukha • Sibsu C H H U K H A and other products. nation. These chortens are a new landmark • Chengmari Gedu • Sarphang • • Gelephu • Jumja • Samtse • Tala D A G A N A for travelers as they cross Dochula, the first Phuentsholing • • Rinchending I N D I A (THIMPHU FESTIVAL) mountain pass into the interior of the country. WESTERN BHUTAN Sinchula • If you are traveling during the • Kalikhola Reaching the village of Sopsokha, you can period of the Thimphu festival, our walk about 20 minutes across the rice fields up compelling program showcases to the monastery, Chimi Lhakhang. It was built Wangchuck, where a multi-storied Stupa and some of the most sacred and spectacular by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (also known as the numerous paintings are exhibited providing dances performed by monks and laity, Divine Madman by the West). It is believed that an insight into Buddhist philosophy. invoking the deities of Tantric Buddhism. childless women who visit the monastery will Visit Changangkha Lhakhang, an ancient The Black Hat Dance, the Lord of Cremation conceive after receiving the ‘wang’ (blessing). temple built in the thirteen century by Lam Phajo Dance, and the Drametse Drum Dance are Blessed with a temperate climate and Dugom Zhigpo, situated on a ridge above the city. just a few of the main dances you could drained by the Phochu and Mochu rivers, is Visit the Takin Preserve, where you can see witness. The order of the sightseeing will the fertile valley of Punakha. The District has the national animal of Bhutan (Takin). be changed as government institutions will hosted several historical events such as: It In the evening, you will visit Tashichho Dzong be closed such as the National Library. was the Capital of Bhutan since 1651 till 1956. (the fortress of the glorious religion). Tashichho If your visit falls from Friday till Sunday, The First King, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck Dzong houses His Majesty’s Secretariat and then visit the weekend vegetable market held was enthroned in 1907 and the first session the Central Monk Body. You can see the at the Centenary Farmers Market. The market of the National Assembly was held in 1955. It National Assembly building across the river. provides an opportunity to mingle with the is still the winter residence of His Holiness Day Two (Thimphu Tour) Visit the National local people and sample local organic produce. the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan) and Library, established in the 1960s, which Local arts and crafts are also available. Zhung Dratshang (the Central Monk Body). holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist Day Three (Thimphu–Punakha Sightseeing) manuscripts and a small collection of books. The first stop after leaving Thimphu isDochula CENTRAL BHUTAN Institute of Zorig Chusum (commonly known pass at 10,007 ft. (23km from Thimphu–45 Day Four (Punakha–Bumthang) Proceed as the Painting School) where you can see young minutes’ drive), where you can see one of to Trongsa, via Wangduephodrang, which is located on a ridge that plunges into the K h a r c h u n g Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Bumthang (2,800m) is one of the most G A S A C h i s a n g a n g R i ( 6 0 5 0 m ) L a Thanza • T I B E T Park, which divides western spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the G a n g h a r L h o b r a k • Laya • Bhutan from central Bhutan. heartland of Buddhism. Here, the great teachers Thega P u e n s u m M e l u n g h i L a G a n g C h u r a G a n g ( 7 5 4 1 m ) GASA ( 7 0 0 0 m ) ( 6 5 0 0 m ) Cross Nikka Chu Bridge to enter meditated and left in their wake many sacred W A N G D U E L H U E N T S E the heavily cultivated Trongsa grounds. Guru Rimpoche and his lineage of Tashithang • P H O D R A N G Lhuentse B U M T H A N G Tangmachu • regions in central Bhutan. Beside Tertons, the treasure discoverers, have laid to P U N A K H A Khaine Toktu Zampa • Tamshing Rinchhu • • Dawakha Goemba Lhakhang the stream, is the white stupa– the sprouting of many temples in the valley. Kurje Lhakhang R o d a n g L a • Dodna • Tseshinang Jakar ( 4 1 6 0 m ) PUNAKHA P e l e L a (Chamkhar) Chenebji Chendebji Chorten–built in the ( 3 3 0 0 m ) Y o t a n g L a Day Five (Bumthang Tour) Start the tour • Membartsho ( 3 4 0 0 m ) Gangte S h e r t a n g L a 19th century and designed similar WANGDUE Goemba TRONGSA • of the valley with a visit to Jambay Lhakhang.