Trashigang & Mongar Festival

In Paro, received by a representative.  Transfer to hotel.  After lunch visit the Museum which was the former watch tower for the Rinpong Dzong.  It was converted into the National Museum in 1968.  The museum stands on a promontory overlooking the Paro valley in all its glory.  En route visit Paro Rinpong Dzong.  This 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.

Evening stroll through Paro town.

Overnight:  Hotel

Paro sightseeing.  In the morning hike to Taktsang Monastery. The name Taktsang means “Tiger’s Nest’. The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 800 m. It is said that in the second half of the 8th century, Guru Padma Sambbava alighted here upon the back of a tigress. Picnic Lunch at Taktsang cafeteria. The round trip hike takes about 4 hrs.  After you descend from Taktshang, visit Kychu Lhakhang (temple). This is one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of Bhutan.  The inner temple was built by a Buddhist Tibetan King, Srongtsen Goempo in the 7th century.

Afternoon: drive to Thimphu (2 hours).

Dinner and overnight: Hotel.

•  In the morning visit the National Memorial Chorten which was built in 1974 in memory of the third king.
• Visit the National Library where ancient manuscripts are preserved and the Takin Reserve of the national animal of Bhutan.
• After lunch visit the Textile Museum and the Arts and Crafts School.
• Evening reception/dinner.

Overnight: Hotel.

Transfer to Wangdue.  The drive takes about 3 hours.  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, it’s another two hours drive. After lunch in Lobesa, visit the Punakha Dzong.  This is the winter residence of Bhutan’s 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).   After Punakha  take a short hike to Chhi-

Med Lhakhang  in the picturesque Lobesa valley, to visit the temple of one of Bhutan’s foremost saints, Lama Drukpa Kunley, also known as the Divine Madman.

Overnight: Hotel.

Early morning drive from Wangdue to Bumthang ( 7 – 8 hours)

En route visit the Trongsa Dzong and the temple inside. Also visit the Ta Dzonthe Watch Tower overlooking the Dzong. From Wangdue to Trongsa the road goes over the Pelila Pass( Alt. 3420 m) and from Trongsa  to Bumthang the Yotongla Pass (3425 m).

Overnight: Lodge in Bumthang.

After an early breakfast, gear up for a fantastic drive to Mongar. The journey is long and crosses Thrumshing La, which at 3,800 mtrs, is the highest pass. Check in at hotel/guest house. Mongar is the district headquarters but hardly more than a transit town. It is also the first town built on a slope instead of the usual valley. This is characteristic in eastern Bhutan where there are few valleys. The true homeland of the Eastern People,the Sharchogpas, begins from Mongar.

Overnight: Guest House.

• Visit the Mongar Dzong to attend full day of Mongar Festival.
• Mongar Dzong is a new dzong, completed recently. It was built in the 19th  century, restored in 1953 and again in 1990 after being gutted by a fire.  The administrative scat and the monk body reside in the dzong.
• Evening stroll through Mongar township.

Overnight: Guest House.

• Drive from Mongar to Trashigang. ( 3 hours drive)
• After lunch visit the Trashigang Dzong to attend the Trashigang Festival.

Overnight: Guest House.

Full day attending the Trashigang Festival

Overnight: Guest House.

• Day excursion to Khaling (65 Kms.)
• After an early breakfast, drive to Khaling.  Enroute, visit Sherubtse, Bhutan’s only college and the sacred Zangtokpelri Monastery.
• At Khaling, visit the blind school and Traditional weaving centre and return to Trashigang in the evening.
• Evening: Dinner in Kanglung at a local house and then return to Trashigang for overnight halt.

Trashigang (Day excursion to Trashiyangtse).

After an early breakfast drive to Trashiyangtse. Visit Gomkora Lhakhang enroute. At Trashiyangtse, see the first day of the festival of that place.

Evening return to Trashigang for overnight at Guest House.

• Drive back to Bumthang.

Overnight: Guest House.

• Morning: Visit the historical Jakar Dzong, built in 1646 A.D. by MinjurTenpa, the third Druk Desi (Temporal Ruler). In 1683 A.D. it was extended by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay, the fourth Desi. Visit several ancient and sacred monasteries such as the Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Kencho Sum Lhakhang, Tamshing Lhakhang  and Jakar Dzong.
• Afternoon: Excursion to the Thangbi Monastery, an 18th Century temple
• Evening: Visit a local farm house and enjoy Bhutanese hospitality.

Overnight: Guest House.

After breakfast drive to Wangdue via Gangtey (6-7 hours drive)

Gangtey is a beautiful place of rolling hills and green meadows surrounded by snowcapped mountains . It is situated at an altitude of 3000 mtrs.  From Gangtey, one can closely view the picturesque Black Mountain ranges as well as the beautiful Phobjikha valley. Gangtey Gonpa (Gangtey Monastery) is perched atop a small hill that rises from the valley floor.This Monastery is surrounded by a large village inhabited mainly by the families of the 140 Gomchens (Lay Monks). The Gangtey Gonpa is the only Nyingmapa Monastery on the western side of the Black Mountains and is also the biggest of its kind.Gangtey is also the winter habitat for black-necked cranes which migrate from Tibet and Siberia.

Overnight:  Hotel in Wangdue.

• Drive Wangdue to Thimphu.
• After lunch sightseeing in Thimphu – Visit the Dechen Phodrang Monastic School – Visit a paper factory to see hand-made paper Evening: Trashichhodzong Courtyard.  This massive building houses government ministries, the Throne Room and the residence of Chief Abbot.
• Buddha Point – Visit the world’s largest sitting Buddha, an immense statue housing a monastery and visitors center. Enjoy a stunning view of Thimphu city from this point.

Overnight: Hotel.

• Transfer to Paro. In the morning do some sightseeing in Thimphu:
• Memorial Chorten: Memorial Chorten. This stupa was built in 1974 to honor the 3rd King of Bhutan, Jigme  Dorji Wangchuck. This religious structure is circumambulated only in a clockwise direction (reciting prayers and whirling the large red prayer wheels).
• Painting School – It is the primary center of learning for Bhutanese artists.  Depending upon the student’s interest, one can specialize in any of the thirteen arts and crafts, including painting, weaving, sculptures, blacksmithing, embroidery, etc.  It is the best place for visitors to learn about traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts.
• Textile Musuem: Textile Museum – What would be the best dress to attend the festivals in Bhutan? The answer would be “colorful, hand-woven, and made of pure silk.”  It takes almost a year to weave one dress, but textiles has become the largest industry in the country. The visit to the textile museum is an introduction to the Bhutanese national attire and the workforce responsible for these items of utility and beauty.

Dinner and overnight: Hotel.

Transfer to airport for departure.