Itinerary Details

Day 01: Kolkata

Today on reaching Kolkata Airport you will be met and assisted by our representative and transfer to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 02: Kolkata – Paro (Altitude 2280 m)  (By Druk Air flight)

Early morning you will be transferred to Airport to board the flight for Paro. On arrival, you will meet our representative and transfer to Hotel. Check-in at Hotel. After lunch, visit Ta Dzong (built-in 1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Rimpung Dzong (literally meaning “Heap of Jewels”), the center of civil and religious authority in this valley, built-in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel.

Day 03:  Paro – Thimphu (Altitude 2320 m, 54 km) Excursion to Taktsang Monastery

After an early breakfast visit to the ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong 16 km up the valley built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father, and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jhomolhari (7,314 m). On the way back, visit Kichu Lhakhang, built-in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo.

• Srongsen Gampo: He was a Tibetan king who married a Chinese princess, Wenchen in 641, as a part of her dowry was a statue called “Jowo” which was an Indian image of Buddha, Sakyamuni as a small boy. In 659, He decided to build 108 Temples in a single day to pin the Ogress to the earth forever and, at the same time, convert the Tibetan people to Buddhism. 6 of these Temples lie in Bhutan, and the most prominent of them are Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang and Kichu Lhakhang in Paro. Kichu Lhakhang is said to hold the left foot of the Ogress and Jambay Lhakhang pins the left knee.

We drive back the same way to Satsam Chorten, the trail climbs through a beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. We stop for a rest and lunch at the Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a short distance until we see, clearly and seemingly within reach, Taktsang monastery. The primary Lhakhang was built around Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave in 1684 by the Penlop of Paro, Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay, this incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in 747 AD, flew here on the back of a flying tiger, Dorji Drolo, said to be his favourite consort. In the evening, drive to Thimphu. On the way, visit Tamchog Monastery built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Popularly known as Lama Chazampa, which literally means, the Iron Bridge builder) in the 15th century.

• Thang Thong Gyalpo (1385 – 1464) was a wonder-working saint from Tibet who came to Bhutan in 1433 looking for Iron Ore. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan. His only surviving bridge is in Duksum (Tashi Yangtse in Eastern Bhutan).

Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Day 04: Thimphu Sightseeing: (Altitude 2320 m). 

After breakfast, visit the National Memorial Chorten (1974) built-in honor of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, and the Dupthop Lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan. We then visit the National Library, stocked with ancient Buddhist manuscripts, and the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions in the art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls).

After lunch, we drive to the Traditional Medicine Institute where medicines are prepared according to ancient practices, and to Lungtenzampa to observe the Royal silver smiths and Bhutanese paper factory at work. Other highlights include a visit to the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the national government, and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan). We finally visit the Handicrafts Emporium followed by shopping for souvenirs in the shops of Thimphu. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 05: Thimphu Sightseeing: (Altitude 2320 m). 

After breakfast, visit Folk Heritage Museum, Textile Museum, Changangkha Lhakhang, and Philatelic office.

After lunch, hike to Cheri Monastery and to the Largest statue of Buddha in the world.  Dinner and overnight in Hotel Migmar or similar.

Day 06: Thimphu – Punakha: (Altitude 1310 m) (76 Kms, 3 hours drive).

After breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula pass. If the weather is clear, we stop for a while at Dochula pass to view Higher Himalayas. On the way, stop a while to view Chimi Lhakhang, which was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley in the 15th century. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunder bolt”. The Temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”.

• Lama Drukpa Kuenley (1455 – 1529) was one of Bhutan’s Favourite Saints who was born in Tibet, trained at Ralung Monastery, and was a contemporary and a disciple of Pema Lingpa. He Travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as a “Neljorpa” (Yogi) using songs, humor, and outrageous behavior to dramatize his teachings of Salvation through sex.

After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, and is situated between Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female river). For many years until the time of the second king, it served as the seat of the Government. The construction of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoche, who predicted, “…a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. There was a smaller building here called Dzong Chu (Small Dzong) that housed a statue of Buddha. It is said that Shabdrung ordered the architect, Zowe Palep, to sleep in front of the statue, while Palep was sleeping, the Shabdrung took him in his dreams to Zangtopelri and showed him the palace of Guru Rimpoche. From his vision, the architect conceived the design for the new Dzong, which in keeping with the tradition, was never committed to paper. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). The war materials captured during the battle with Tibetans are preserved here. Punakha is still the winter residence of Je-Khenpo and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the First National Assembly here in 1952. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Day 07. Punakha – Gangtey: (Altitude 3120 m) 

After breakfast drive to the beautiful valley of Gangtey. En-route sightseeing in the valley of Wangdiphodrang includes a visit to Wangdiphodrang Dzong(from outside) built-in 1638. Legend relates that as the people were searching for the site of the Dzong, four ravens were seen flying away in four directions. This was considered an auspicious sign, representing the spread of religion to the four points of the compass. The Dzong is situated at the confluence of the Mo Chu and Tang Chu rivers. Drive further to Gangtey.

After lunch visit Gangtey Gompa Monastery, from the outside. Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa founded the Temple in 1613, and Tenzin Legpai Dhendup, the second re-incarnation, built the temple. The present Abbot, Kunzang Pema Namgyal is the ninth re-incarnation. It is a Nyingmapa monastery and is affiliated with other Nyingmapa monasteries including Tamshing in Bumthang. Explore Phobjikha valley, famous for the Black Necked Cranes during winter. Dinner and overnight at the Guest House.

Day 08: Gangtey – Trongsa – Bumthang: (Altitude 2800 m, Distance 188 km, Drive Time 6 hour drives.)  

After breakfast, drive to Trongsa. Visit Trongsa Dzong, the most impressive dzong of Bhutan, built in its present form in 1644 by Chogyal Minjur Tempa, the official who was sent by Shabdrung to unify eastern Bhutan and enlarged at the end of the 17th century by Desi Tenzin Rabgay. Trongsa Dzong is the ancestral home of the present Royal Family and first two hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this Dzong. Then Visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower. The chapel inside the Ta Dzong is said to be dedicated to the Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal.

After Lunch, drive to Bumthang. Dinner and overnight at Hotel or similar.

Day 09. Bumthang Sightseeing: (Altitude 2800 m.) 

After breakfast, visit Jakar Dzong, which literally means “The Castle of White Bird”. The current structure was built in 1667. Visit Jambay Lhakhang, built by King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in the year 659 on the same day as Kichu Lhakhang in Paro.  The temple was visited by Guru Rimpoche during his visit to Bumthang and was renovated by Sindhu Raja after Guru Rimpoche restored his life force. Under the temple is said to be a lake in which Guru Rimpoche hid several Terma. In October one of the most spectacular festival, “Jambay Lhakhang Drup” is staged here.

After lunch, we visit Kurjey Lhakhang which is named after the body print of Guru Rimpoche, built-in 1652 by Minjur Tempa. Visit Tamshing Lhakhang (Temple of the good message), established in 1501 by Pema Lingpa and is the most important Nyingmapa temple in the kingdom. In the evening, visit Membarstho which literally means, “The burning Lake”. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Day 10.  Bumthang – Thimphu (212 km): (Altitude 2320 m) 

Early breakfast, drive to Thimphu. Lunch will be served on the way. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Day 11. Thimpu – Paro – Kolkata – Departure: (Altitude 2280 m)

Early morning, drive to Airport to board the flight for Kolkata. On arrival, you will meet and assisted by our representative and proceed to visit Victoria  Memorial, Kali Temple, Howrah Bridge, Jorasanko Palace. Later you will be transferred to International Airport to board the flight for the onward journey.