Bhutan – The Land of the Thunder Dragon
- Across The Land Of The Thunder Dragon
- Bhutanese way of life
- Interaction with the local people of the beautiful valley
- Dzong or National Museum, rated among the best natural history museums in Asia
- Paro valley – a living cultural centre
- Taksang Monastery - Most venerated places of pilgrimage in the Himalayan world
| Title | Bhutan – The Land Of The Thunder Dragon |
| Details | Kolkatta – Paro – Thimpu – Punakha – Trongsa - Wangdue Phodrang – Paro – Kolkatta |
| Duration | 08 Nights / 09 Days |
The land of the Thunder Dragon gives you an insight into the customs, traditions and way of life in this fabled Himalayan kingdom.
Thereafter the trip takes you to Thimpu a visit to the textile museum which showcases weaving as an art form. The folk heritage museum connects people to the Bhutanese rural past. The Dzong is awesome in its splendour.
Shabdrung Nyawang Nangel built Phunakha Dzong in 1637. Guru Rinpoche had blessed the site in the 8th century & issued a prophecy that said that ‘on the front edge of the hill that looks like an elephant trunk, a man named Namgel will come & build a fortress.’ Exactly covering a spit of land at the confluence of two rives, the Dzong resembles a gigantic ship.
Visit to Wangdue Phodrang Dzong that is perched on a spur at the confluence of two rivers. The position of the Dzong completely covers the spur & commands impressive views over both the north-south & east-west roads.
Paro valley – a living cultural centre and visit Taktsang monastery considered as one of the most venerated places of pilgrimage in the Himalayan world.
You will be received on arrival and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you proceed on a half-day city tour.
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight for Paro. At Paro you will be received and drive to Thimpu where you would be reaching by the evening. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 03 : In Thimpu
Today you have a full day to take in the sights of Thimphu that will give you a fairly good exposure and understanding of the Bhutanese way of life, as well as their customs and traditions.
The day begins with a visit to The Textile Museum. From here one can drive up to the Changangkha Lhakhang, which lies on top of the knoll that stands out above Thimphu from where the view of the valley is superb. In the afternoon one can visit The School of Traditional Arts where children learn traditional drawing and painting techniques.
After breakfast you set off on your drive to Punakha. Before arriving at Punakha you will take a half an hour hike through a local village to Chime Lhakhang situated on a hilltop. In the evening visit the Punakha Dzong, the winter seat of the Jhe Khenpo (Chief Abbot). The dzong is situated between the Pho-Chhu (male) and Mo-Chhu (female). A Dzong is a fortress that holds offices for civil officials and quarters for monastic authorities.
Today you drive toTrongsa. Along the way, also visit the Chendebji Chorten built in the 18th century. It is built in the Nepalese style, with eyes painted at the four cardinal points. By the evening you would arrive at Trongsa. You see Trongsa Dzong at the end of the valley 20 km before reaching it.
After breakfast drive back towards Wangdue Phodrang, where you visit the Wangdue Dzong built in the 17th century.
Today you travel to Paro Valley; this is one of the most beautiful in Bhutan with the majestic Mount Chomolhari towering over it. On arrival at Paro you check in to your hotel and in the afternoon visit the National Museum, the museum is housed in Paro Dzong’s ancient watch tower. Thereafter visit Paro Dzong the full name of which is Rinpung Dzong, which means ‘the fortress of the heap of jewels’.
After an early morning breakfast, drive for about 8 km to Satsam Chorten for a half-day hike to Taktsang Monastery. Reaching the monastery involves a 3-hour trek from the road head. Returning from the monastery visit the Drugyel Dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan invaders. Before reaching back to Paro town you stop to visit the 7th century Kyichu Monastery.
You leave Bhutan by a Druk Airways flight and come to Kolkatta. You will be received at Kolkatta and the rest of the day is free for some last minute shopping to pick up some souvenirs, if you so desire. Later in the evening you will be transferred to the International Airport to catch your flight back home.