| Western Bhutan Cultural Tour |
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*** Note: Discounts are available for students under the age of twenty five years provided they produce the documents. During clear day flights to Paro-Bhutan, the travellers can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Himalayan Mountains including the sacred Mount Jhomolhari and Jichu Drake peaks in Bhutan. The journey via Kathmandu will offer the most spectacular view of Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga. Bhutan’s first gift to any visitor while disembarking from Drukair be cool, clean fresh mountain air. On arrival at the airport, the executives of Drukpa Holidays will receive the guests and transferred to the hotel in Paro upon completion of arrival formalities.The visits for the day will include the Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Zhabdrung crossing through a traditional wooden bridge built over Parochu river. The Kyichu lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the kingdom is another place of interest for the tourists. It was built around 638 AD by Tibetan Buddhist King, Songtsen Gampo. Halt at hotel in Paro. Day 2: Full Day Excursion to Taktsang Monastery Hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) monastery, which is Bhutan's most famous monastery. In around 746 AD, Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Khenpajong in the region of Kurtoe, the present day Singye dzong in Lhuntse in eastern Bhutan to meditate in a cave where Taktsang monastery now stands. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 metres above Paro valley. Also visit the Dungtse lhakhang built in 1421 by the famous Tibetan lama, Thangton Gyelpo, also known by the name of Chagzampa, ‘the builder of iron bridges’. Halt at hotel in Paro. Day 3: Paro to Thimphu Drive to Thimphu, the modern capital town of Bhutan. This interesting one hour journey will take along Parochu river down stream to the confluence with the Wangchu river i.e. Chuzom and then turn upstream and travel along the Wangchu river towards Thimphu. Halt at hotel in Thimphu. Day 3: Thimphu sightseeing The National Memorial Choeten built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan, the Changangkha lhakhang, the National Library which houses an extensive collection of ancient Buddhist literatures and manuscripts, the Institute of Zorig Chusum (previously known as the Painting School) where the trainees are taught thirteen traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan, the National Institute of Traditional Medicine (outside only) where the medicinal herbs abundant in the kingdom are compounded and dispensed, and the Simtokha dzong, one of the oldest fortresses in Bhutan built in 1629 by Zhabdrung, which today houses the Institute for Language and Cultural studies. Halt at hotel In Thimphu. Day 4: Thimphu – Punakha – Wangdue Drive to Wangdue with en route stop for tea at Dochula pass (3,100 metres), where on clear days, one can enjoy the spectacular views of the Himalayan ranges. Continue the drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan, and visit the Pungthang Dechen Phodrang dzong, one of the most beautiful dzongs in the kingdom built by Zhabdrung in 1637. On the way back to Wangdue, stop at Metshina and a few minutes walk through the rice fields to the Chime lhakhang, the fertility temple, where the visitors can receive a special fertility blessing. It was built in 1499 by the Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel, the site having formerly been blessed by the famous ‘divine madman’. Halt at hotel In Wangdue. Day 5 Wangdue to Phobjikha Begin the day by driving to Gangtey through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons. At Gangtey, visit the famous monastery founded in 1613 by the first Gangtey Trulku, Pema Trinley. It is the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. From Gangtey, one can enjoy the picturesque Black Mountain range as well as Phobjikha valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes (Grus Nigricollis), which migrate from the Central Asiatic Plateau. Evening stroll through Phobjikha valley and visit some of the farm houses. Halt at hotel in Phobjikha. Day 6: Phobjikha to Paro via Thimphu After an early breakfast drive to Paro after having lunch in Thimphu. If time permits you can stroll through town doing shopping and in evening drive to Paro for halt in Paro hotel. Halt iat hotel in Paro. Day 7: Departure from Paro International Airport Your representative from Bhutan will bid farewell.
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