HISTORIC BHUTAN TOUR - Bhutan Omkara Tours and Travels

The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all mountain flights. One can see the Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchanjunga, Mt. Makalu and other peaks in Bhutan such as Mt. Chomolhari, Mt. Jichu Drakay, and Mt. Tsherimgang. The green wall of hills known as the doors, or gateways into Bhutan from the plains climbs continually higher as down the forested mountainsides, and to the north, the great snowcapped peaks of the inner Himalayas rise up to the sky. You will be received by the representative of Bhutan Omkara Tours & Travels. He/she will be your Bhutan travel guide throughout your tour.

After a short refreshment, visit to the National Museum, housed in the Ta Dzong (watchtower). Here an intriguing collection of artifacts provide a wonderful introduction to the rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom.

Walk down to Paro Dzong, a fine example of Bhutanese historic architecture. From the Dzong, walk further down to Nyamai Zampa, a traditional cantilever bridge.

Later, travel to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan. The road runs down through the Paro valley, to Chuzom (Confluence) at the entrance to the valley, where the Paro and Thimphu rivers meet. The road passes along a narrow valley with high, rocky cliffs on the left, and then the valley opens out into farmland on the approach to Thimphu. Simtokha Dzong, “the place of profound tantric teaching”, stands sentinel on a hillock a few kilometers out of town. This dzong now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

In the morning,visit National Library where a vast collection of ancient manuscripts is preserved. Visit the School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where children are taught the traditional art of woodcraft and painting. Then visit Folk Heritage Museum, which is located in the same area, and further down to the Textile Museum.

After lunch,  visit the National Memorial Chorten, continuously circumambulated by the faithful, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (“the father of modern Bhutan”) who had wished to erect a monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace.

Then, visit the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, to browse through examples of Bhutan’s fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, and other interesting items made from local materials. After 5 pm, visit Tashichhodzong, “the fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the center of government and religion, site of the monarch’s throne room and seat of the Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in the 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans. Witnesss a Archery tournament at Changlimithang. Evening stroll around the main town of Thimphu freely.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfast, travel to Trongsa through Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft). If you have a clear sky, the view of the Himalayan Mountain ranges is spectacular and you can even see the Gasa Dzong as a white dot in the horizon. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo for the security and well being of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.

Travel continues through Wangdue via metshina village and further through Pelela pass towards Trongsa with a picnic lunch at Chendebji Chorten.

Overnight at hotel in Trongsa.

After breakfast, visit Trongsa Dzong, the main administration center during the second kings’s reign and it is also known for its masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture.Then visit Ta Dzong, the watchtower built to defend this dzong. After lunch, drive to Bumthang, the religious heartland of the nation, with lush valleys and hilly forests. Bumthang consists of four valleys–Chumey, Choekhar, Tang, and Ura–with altitudes varying from 2,600 to 4,000 meters.

Overnight at hotel in Bumthang .

Sightseeing includes visit to the following:

• Jambay Lhakhang, built in the 7th century by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet. In his effort to propagate Buddhism he had a plan to build a total of 108 temples in Tibet and neighboring kingdoms.

• Chakhar Lhakhang. Besides the main road, a short distance beyond Jambay Temple is Chakhar (Iron Castle) Lhakhang. Although it is easy to mistake it for a house and drive right by, this is an interesting temple and is worth a short visit. It is one of the 108 monasteries built by him to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region.
• Kujey Lhakhang (Kujey means, “Body imprint”). The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated and left his body imprint.

• Tamshing Lhakhang. This temple is also known as Tamshing Lhendrup Chholing (Temple of the Good Message).
• Jakar Dzong, “castle of the white bird”. According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery and for Jakar Dzong. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa monks.

In the evening stroll around the beautiful landscape of the Bumthang Jakar valley.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Bumthang.

Drive to Gangtey (95 kms – 4 hours drive). Gangtey is situated in Phubjikha valley, which is the winter home of endangered Black-Necked Cranes that migrate to this valley from Central Asia in winter. Morning visit Gangtey Goempa (monastery), perched atop a small hill that rises from the valley floor. The Monastery is surrounded by a large village inhabited mainly by the families of the Gomchens who take care of the Monastery. In winter these families, together with the monastery’s monks, move away to another monastery, a day’s walk to the south. Gangtey, which is now managed by the government, is the only Nyingmapa monastery on the western side of the Black Mountain’s and is also the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. It is directed by Gangtey Tulku, the ninth reincarnation (Tulku) to bear that name. Later explore beautiful Phobjikha valley, lying at an altitude of 2900 m. This is the winter home of rare, Black-necked Cranes, an endangers species that migrate from its northern habitats inTibet and Siberia, each winter. You could interact with the local villagers.

Overnight at your Hotel Gangtey/ Phobjikha

After breakfast, travel to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. Visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho – Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female) river. Visit the Dho Jha Gha Lam Temple and the Suspension bridge.

Overnight at hotel at Hotel in Punakha.

In the morning after breakfast,  drive for Paro, enroute and walk through the Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to the Divine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where one can can receive a special fertility blessing . Later drive to Paro.

Sightseeing and tours in Paro Valley.

• Visit to “Drukgyel Dzong”- the fortress now in ruins which was built as the monument of victory. On a clear day, Mount Jhomolhari can be seen.
• Sight Visit to Courtyard of Kichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan
• Visit a typical Bhutanese farm house
• Evening stroll around Paro town.

Overnight at hotel in Paro.

After breakfast, we hike to the iconic Taktsang Monastery also known as Tiger’s Nest. The round-trip hike takes about 4-5 hours for most visitors but you can hike at your own pace. We recommend starting early. One way horse riding is available on your way up to the mid-point (Taktsang View Point Cafeteria) for about USD20. Built on the face an 800-meter rock cliff, Taktsang literally translates to ‘Tiger’s Nest’ and is regarded as one of the most important monasteries in Bhutan. It was originally built in 1692 on the sacred cave where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the mid-eighth century A.D. After lunch at the Taktsang Cafeteria, we retrace our steps back to the base and drive to Paro town where you'll spend some leisure time exploring the Paro town. Later in the evening, visit a beautiful farmhouse and savour the home-cooked local cuisine. You may want to take a traditional therapeutic and revitalizing hot stone bath for an additional fee of USD20 charged by the owner.

Overnight at Hotel in Paro

Your representative from Bhutan Omkara Tours & Travels will see you off at the Paro Airport for your onward travel destinations.