Day
01 : Flight to Paro
The first thing you will notice as you disembark
is the transparent purity of air and the absence
of noise. The Paro valley has kept its
bucolic nature inspite of the airport and the
existence of development projects. Fields, brown
or green depending on the season, cover most of
the valley floor, while hamlets and isolated farms
dot the countryside. The houses of Paro valley
are considered to be among the most beautiful
in the country. Paro is believed to be one of
the first valleys to have received the imprint
of Buddhism.
Afternoon : Visit the National
Museum (Ta-Dzong). Once the watchtower for the
Rinpung Dzong, it was converted into
the National Museum in 1968. The museum stands
on a promontory overlooking the Paro valley
in all its glory.
Visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong.
A flagstone path rises gradually from a beautiful
wooden bridge with shingle roofing and abutted
by two guardhouses, to the Dzong. Today, the
Dzong is the seat of the district administration
as well as the home for the monastic school.
The central tower (Utse) of the Dzong, with
its superb woodwork, is one of the most beautiful
in the nation. The Dzong was built in 1645 A.D.Check
in at Hotel.
Day 02 : Thimphu Sightseeing
Thimphu lies in a wooded valley, sprawling up
a hillside on the West Bank of the Thimphu
Chhu [Chhu means River]. Thimphu is unlike
any otherworld capital. Small and secluded the
city is quiet and there are never the traffic
jams familiar in other Asian Capitals. It is
often said that Thimphu is the only world
capital without traffic lights. Thimphu's main
shopping street is a delight not so much for
what you can buy there, but for the picturesqueness
of the architecture and national costume. Beautiful
weaves in wool, silk and cotton, basketwork,
silver jewellery, thangkas and other
traditional crafts of the Kingdom are available
in various Handicraft Emporiums.
Morning
: Visit the Memorial Chorten, a huge
stupa built in memory of the third King who
reigned from 1952-1972.
Visit the National Library where
ancient manuscripts are preserved.
Visit the Painting School where
traditional art is still preserved. Artists
are taught to paint Thankas here (sacred
Buddhist scroll).
Visit the Handicrafts Emporium
where one can buy Bhutanese textiles
and other arts and crafts.
Visit the Weekend market where
vendors from throughout the region arrive on
Friday afternoon and remain till Sunday. Here
you will find indigenous goods, handicrafts,
locally produced goods, etc.
Afternoon : Visit Semtokha
Dzong. This is the oldest fortress in
Bhutan, built in 1629 A.D. by Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal. It also houses the largest
monastic schools in the country.
Visit Tashichho Dzong -
the main secretariat building. It is from here
that the King and other prominent civil servants
run the country. The Head Abbot and the central
monastic body also reside here during the summer.
Visit Pangri Zampa Monastery,
situated just beyond Dechencholing Palace
(5 km. from Thimphu). This temple was the first
residence of Shabdrung Ngawang Narngyal
when he arrived in Bhutan in 1616 A.D.
Ngawang Chogyel, the great ancestor of the Shabdrung,
built it during the first quarter of the 16th
century.
Day 03 : Thimphu sightseeing
/ Punakha / Wangdue Phodrang
After breakfast transfer to Punakha/Wangdue.
En-route stop at Dochula Pass (3150 m), 30 km
from Thimphu, for tea and biscuits and
enjoy a view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountains.
From Dochula to Wangdue, its another two
hours drive.
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
is perched on a spur at the confluence of 02
rivers. The position of the Dzong is remarkable
as it completely covers the spur and commands
an impressive view over both the north-south
and east-west roads. The main road climbs the
length of the spur and on the left, across the
river, comes the first glimpse of the picturesque
village of Rinchengang whose inhabitants
are celebrated stonemasons.
After lunch in Lobesa, visit the
Punakha Dzong. This is the winter residence
of Bhutans spiritual leader, the
Head Abbot, and the Central Monastic Body. The
Dzong is built between two rivers known as Phochu
(Male River) and Mochu (Female
River). Return to Thimphu.
Day 04 : Thimphu / Paro sightseeing
( Excursion to Taktsang Monast
ery
)
Transfer to Paro for 03 hrs hike to the Taktsang
Monastery. Taktsang is the most famous of
all Bhutanese monasteries. It is perched
on the side of a cliff 900 m above the floor
of the Paro valley, where the only sounds
are the murmurs of the wind, and water and the
chanting of the monks. The name Taktsang means
Tigers Nest; the Guru is
said to have flown on the back of a tigress
to the site of the monastery where he meditated
in a cave for three months.
The monastery itself is
closed to tourists except by special permit.
However the one-hour walk to the viewpoint,
where there is a small wooden teahouse provides
a close-up view of the monastery. Its
also a good warm-up hike if you are going trekking.
In the evening visit a farmhouse
for traditional hot stone bath
and local hospitality. Overnight at Paro.
Day 05 : Departure to onward
destination.