(10 Nights / 11 Days Tour, Paro-Thimphu-Trongsa-Bumthang-Ngang
Lhakhang-Ugyen Chholing-Bumthang-Punakha-Paro)
Non-italised being trekking days.
Starting out from Chamkhar valley, this is a three days trek in northeast Bumthang, through villages, temples and varied vegetation of the countryside. This is an easy trek that provides opportunity to witness rural life and a taste of nature in close encounter.
Recommended Season: March to May and September to November.
Flight into Bhutan is an experience on its own. It is a mesmerizing flight across the highest peaks in the world including amazing mountain aeronautical feat that offers an exciting descent into the Kingdom.
On arrival at Paro airport, after immigration and custom formalities, our representative and your guide for the whole trip will receive and transfer you to a hotel.
After a short rest, in late afternoon or evening, take a stroll around the town of Paro. Later, a welcome dinner and introductory talk by your guide before you resign for the night.
After breakfast, visit Ta Dzong, the National Museum, a circular watchtower that stands at a commanding height overlooking the Paro Dzong, which it defended during civil wars of 17th century. In 1967 it was converted into a National Museum. In its six floors, it holds a rich collection of art, relics, religious paintings and Bhutan's famous postage stamps. A visit here will serve as a good introduction to Bhutan before you delve deeper into the country.
Then take a short walk down to Rinpung Dzong. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan; the Dzong continues its age-old function as the seat of the district administration, district court and the monastic body. The southern approach to the Dzong has a traditional roofed cantilever bridge called Nemi Zam. A walk across the bridge offers a wide view of the dzong's architecture and an opportunity to tread the same path as the ancient warriors.
In the afternoon visit historical Drukgyel Dzong with a delightful village nestling at its foot. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate victory over marauding Tibetan and Mongolian invaders. This was part of the first glimpse of Bhutan as featured to the outside world in 1914 National Geographic Magazine. Although destroyed in a fire accident in 1951 it still retains its majestic glamour. Take a walk around the dzong and witness the ingenuity of Bhutanese defense architecture.
On the drive back stop by the elegant Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines in the Kingdom dating back to 8th century, the other being Jambey Lhakhang in Bumthang. They are two surviving temples in Bhutan commissioned by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet who took upon himself to build 108 temples in Tibet and other Himalayan regions. The complex consists of three temples with latest one built in 1968 by H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother of Bhutan. The older temple contains a replica of the Buddha Maitreya of Jokhang in Lhasa and the new one houses a giant statue of Guru Rimpoche.
By mid afternoon drive to Thimphu, 60 km and two hours away. En route, take a break at Chuzom, the confluence of Paro and Thimphu rivers, where you can see three styles of chortens or stupas prevalent in Bhutan - the Tibetan, Nepali and Bhutanese styles.
Overnight in a hotel in Thimphu.
Thimphu Halt Start the day with the Institute of Traditional Medicine. Bhutan has long and rich tradition of medicine based on natural remedies derived mainly from plants and earth, and some animals. This institute has facility for out patients, training, research and production of traditional medicine. The courses to become traditional doctors, called drungtsho, entail six to eight years of strenuous study after high school. The institute has an exhibition room that imparts excellent look into the tradition.
Next briefly stop at the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts. The school offers an eight-year course in the techniques of traditional art in religious and secular paintings, woodcarving, clay sculpture and traditional mask making. One can see students working through progressive levels practicing precise rules of Bhutanese art. The school also has a showroom from where student works are sold at very reasonable price compared to town for same quality of work.Then visit the Folk Heritage Museum. Established in 2001, this is an interesting museum housed in a very old traditional house. The museum is a walk through the fast changing rural tradition, habits and skills, and those of the past. They organize special exhibitions annually on select subject pertaining to Bhutanese heritage. Demonstrations of traditional way of extracting oil, brewing traditional spirit, husking rice etc. and a buffet of traditional food items can be arranged with prior notice.Lastly, before lunch visit the National Library. Since dzongs where seats of monastic schools, in the past all texts and scriptures including historical references were stored there. Over many centuries most dzongs suffered fires and natural calamities resulting in loss of many valuable records. Historically, an oral society loss of any written record was a great loss. So in 1967 the National Library was established as a repository of Bhutanese history and religious texts. It has copies of almost all texts relevant to Mahayana Buddhism and a rich collection of lithographs from whence scriptures and prayer flags where printed in the old days. Besides the ancient texts and manuscripts, the library has built a fair collection of modern academic books related to Bhutan and the surrounding regions.
In the afternoon, visit Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third King, His Late Majesty, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, lovingly known as the Father of Modern Bhutan. It is a rare stupa that has an inner sanctum of temples. There are intricate paintings and statues representing tantric reverence and practice. A very popular religious monument in the city, there always numerous devotees circumambulating or turning the giant prayer wheels.
Next stop, the Textile Museum. Established in 2000, this is one of the new theme museums in the city. It is dedicated to the rich skill of Bhutanese weaver, primarily women. Literally, women were ones who clothed the family before the availability of machine made fabrics. The museum has a good collection of sample including rare pieces and antiques, some belonging to the royal family. Since its establishment, the museum has organized competitions and fashion shows to encourage weavers as well as pay tribute to the rich old tradition and skills.
After offices close at 5 pm, visit Trashichhodzong, the beautiful medieval fortress/monastery. The massive fortress, whose name translates as the fortress of glorious religion, was initially a smaller structure in 1641. It took the present form after expansion/reconstruction commissioned by Late Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in 1965. Besides being the summer seat of Je Khenpo, Head Abbot, and the central monastic body, it houses some ministries, the secretariat, the Golden Throne of the King of Bhutan and His Majesty's office. The National Assembly Hall initially in the dzong has since 1993 moved to a new location directly across the river.
Evening on your own to explore the city.
Today drive to Trongsa, over Dochula pass (3,050m), through
the town of Wangdue Phodrang and over Pele La pass (3,300m).
From Dochula pass (3,050m) on a clear day you will be treated to the most enchanting
views of Bhutan's Himalaya peaks. Some of the peaks you can see from here on
a clear day are, Gangchen Ta (6840M), Gangkha Puensum (7541m), Jejekangphu (7100m),
Masang Gang (7165m), Teri Gang (7300m), Tsenda Gang (7100m) and Table Mountain
(7100m).
Good part of the drive after Dochula, in the right season, offers vista of blooming giant magnolias, fields of rhododendrons and many other flowers. It is also a paradise for bird watchers. An hour later you will reach Wangdue Phodrang.
Sitting on top of the hill at the confluence of Puna Chhu and Tang Chhu rivers, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong is the town's most visible feature. When Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was scouting for a place to build a dzong at this strategic place, he came across a boy building sand castles by the river. On enquiring his name the boy replied, "Wangdue". Shabdrung took this as a good omen and built the dzong naming it Wangdue Phodrang.
After a short break and visit to the Dzong continue on. The road passes through dense forests of oaks, rhododendrons and other evergreen forests until you climb over Pele La pass. Behind the pass the vegetation changes to vast fields of stunted bamboo, past the village of Rukubji and just as vegetation changes once more to thicker vegetation you reach Chendebji Chorten. It was designed after Swayambunath in Katmandu by Lama Shida in the 18th century, to supposedly suppress remains of an evil spirit subdued at the spot. Take a short break here.
Another two hours and you will reach Trongsa. Overnight at the lodge in Trongsa
In the morning, before proceeding towards Bumthang, make a quick visit to the massive Trongsa dzong, which dominates entire vista of the town. It stretches on a ridge leaving the only way to traverse the valley, in old days, through the dzong. This gave a unique advantage in keeping control over what passed between the valleys, especially during time of civil strife ending in the 19th century. Of course, the road is now carved into previously inaccessible cliffs.
Initially built in 1648 and expanded in later years, it was the seat of the most powerful governor in the country with influences that stretched all the way to east. Both the first and second King ruled the country from this ancient seat. The Dzong is a labyrinth of temples, stairways, corridors and district offices; it has 21 temples. It is built on many levels following the contours of a ridge.
Proceed to Bumthang, the religious heartland of the nation, and reach by lunchtime.
After lunch, visit Jambey Lhakhang, the other temple built
by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century. It was here that Guru Rimpoche
conducted his first sermon on Tantric Buddhism for his host King Sendha, the
local ruler, his family and subjects. The alcove above the entrance to inner
temple where Guru Rimpoche sat during the sermon can be still seen to this day.
The then governor of Bumthang carried out the last known major renovation in
1905.
Next visit Kurjey Lhakhang complex. It consists of three temples. The one on
the right was built in 1652 on a rock face where Guru meditated in the 8th century.
The body imprint of the great master can be distinctly seen in the rock cave
enshrined in the temple. Your guide will explain the fascinating stories connected
to this place.
Second temple was built in 1900 by the first king when he was still the governor on Trongsa. The third temple was built in 1990 by Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother. A wall of 108 chortens surrounds the entire complex.
After lunch drive up the hill to Jakar Dzong. Founded by the great-grandfather of the first Shabdrung, the Dzong was initially a small hermitage in 1549. It was expanded the Shabdrung in 1646 to help consolidate his expanding power into eastern regions. Scouting for a place a small white bird was seen perched on a hill, which was taken as an auspicious sign, and hence the name Jakar, meaning white bird. As others, the Dzong is now the seat of district administration and monastic body of Bumthang valleys.
For the last stop of the day, take a short walk to Tamshing Lhakhang, located in a village across the river from Kurjey Lhakhang. Your transport will wait for you there.
Tamshing is the seat of Bumthang's famous son saint Pema Lingpa. He built it himself in 1501. A skilled tantric master and an artist he sculpted the main statues and painted the frescoes, which can be seen even today, mostly in original state. There is also a chain mail made by Pema Lingpa that devotees carry and circumambulate the inner sanctum. The throne from which he performed the consecration ceremony is preserved in a small temple outside the main hall. The physical structure surrounding the main inner temple was restored at the end of the 19th century. Pema Lingpa's expansive skills in building, painting, sculpture and metal work can still be seen in mostly original state.
Tantric Buddhists believe in the tradition of treasure finders or terton. Treasures are various forms of relics hidden by Guru Rimpoche to be discovered by the future generation to aid religion in times of degenerate age or changing times. Pema Lingpa is the first of five main tertons. He is also revered as the incarnation of Guru Rimpoche himself.
On the way back to hotel stop in the local town.
Tonight, before you go to bed, pack the things you like to carry during the trek.
The cultural trek into northeast Bumthang begins today. You
will be dropped at the staring point where the trekking staff and pack animals
will join you.
Today's route follows the Chamkhar Chhu River, past temples and villages of
Thangbi. At Thangbi temple, stop for a short visit. It is a small temple founded
in 1470 by Shamar Rimpoche. One temple has deities in wrathful manifestations
and the other has three Buddhas representing past, present and future. On the
upper floor, the vestibule contains two remarkable paintings of Guru Rimpoche's
paradise and the heaven of Buddha Amitabha.
Past Thangbi village the path leads through forest of blue pine and scrub bamboo. Your campsite will be across a suspension bridge at the edge of Ngang Yul. Camp altitude 2,800m.
The trail starts past Ngang Lhakhang, through meadows and several hamlets across the hills. The path meanders through muddy and rocky area, surrounded by shrub bamboos. Gradually the path climbs through forest of birch, sycamore, bamboos and other vegetation covered in moss. You will finally reach the Phephe La pass at 3,360m.
From here you will descend into a wide valley of pastureland. En route, you will come across chortens designed like a gate. Travelers are blessed as they walk under them. Couple of hours of easy walk through even ground takes you to the camp ground, a beautiful meadow by the Tang Chhu. Camp altitude 2,850m.
In the morning, if you wish, you can visit Ugyenchholing Dzong and village on the hill. Ugenchholing is a 16th century palace built by Tshogey Dorji, a local gentry and a descendent of famous Pema Lingpa. Their decedents continue to live here. It is a huge place composed of temples and living quarters.
Afterwards, continue the walk mostly following a rough tractor road until you reach the edge of Tang village. From here the path diverts from the road and follows the river to emerge again. Your transport will wait for you at Mesithang with refreshments and take you to the hotel in Bumthang.
Today, you will retrace your journey back. Picnic lunch will be served at Chendebji Chorten
Overnight at a hotel in Punakha.
Morning will be spent sightseeing in Punakha.
First visit the Punakha Dzong. It was the second dzong built by Shabdrung, in 1637, on a strategic junction at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. The Dzong has played a hallowed role in the history of Bhutan. It served as the seat of Shabdrung's government, several foreign delegations were received here in 18th and 19th century, the election and coronation of the first King was observed 1907 and the Third King convened the first National Assembly in the Dzong. The central monastic body continues to reside here in winter. The embalmed bodies of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Terton Pema Lingpa are housed on the top floor of the main tower.
Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the
Dzong has been fully restored by the present King from the latest fire in 1987.
The Dzong is open for visitors during Punakha festival and in summer months
when the central monastic body moves to Thimphu.
Next, visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten in the northern part of the valley.
Newly built, it is a more elaborate version of the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu.
It has an astounding work of frescoes and intricate statues.
After lunch drive to Paro for overnight stay.
The journey into the Dragon Kingdom ends. After an early breakfast your guide will see you off at the airport.