| 3. Journey to Druk Yul |
 |
05 Nights - 06 Days Tour (Covering :- Paro,Thimphu, Punakha & Wangduephodrang)
Day 01 - Arrive Paro
 Get on board
Druk Air
,
Bhutan
’s national airline, from
Bangkok
,
Kolkotta,
New Delhi
or
Kathmandu
bound for Paro. The flight to Paro offers fascinating views of the eastern
Himalayan range, including
Mt.
Everest
. On arrival you
will be received by your guide and driven to
Thimphu
,
the capital.
Overnight at the hotel in
Thimphu
.
Day 02 –
Thimphu
Sightseeing
After breakfast, sightseeing of Thimphu valley which
includes a visit to the National Library, a treasure trove of priceless
Buddhist manuscripts; the Traditional Institute of Medicine, where centuries
old healing arts such as acupuncture and herbal remedies are still practiced;
the Painting School, where young monks learn the art of Buddhist thangkha
painting; the workshops for mask making and fine metal craft, weaving, ceramics
and paper and; the Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of
Bhutanese material culture and living traditions.
Also visit the late King's Memorial Chorten where one can
observe prayers and ceremonies that are performed throughout the year.
After lunch, visit the Handicrafts Emporium and local
shops for souvenirs ranging from
Bhutan
's fine traditional arts,
textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and woodcarvings, jewelers
to other interesting items made from local materials.Then visit to
Trashichhodzong, the seat of the government and the monastic school.
Overnight at the
hotel in
Thimphu
.
Day 03 – Thimphu- Punakha (75 Km 2 1/2hrs)
After breakfast drive to Punakha with a short stop at
Dochula pass (3,050m) where if the
weather is good, enjoy spectacular view of mountains.
Later visit Punakha Dzong, a 17th century fortress that is
the seat of the district administration and the winter residence of the monk
body, followed by a stroll of the local market. Then visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten, a newly built stupa
straddling a prominent ridge towards the end of the valley.
Drive to Wangduephodrang, visit the dzong and the local
market.
Overnight at the
hotel in Wangdiphodrang.
Day 04 -Punakha – Paro (125 Km, 4.1/2 Hours)
After breakfast, drive to Paro. En route, visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest
fortress in the Kingdom, built in 1627 by the founding saint of
Bhutan
,
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
In the afternoon visit Paro Ta Dzong, the
National
Museum
of the Kingdom. Originally built
as watch tower, the museum houses a fascinating collection of art, artifacts,
thangkha paintings and
Bhutan
's
exquisite postage stamps. Then walk down the trail to Rinpung Dzong, the seat
of administration and the monk body.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 05- Paro Sightseeing
Drive to Drukgyel Dzong, the fort of the victorious
Drukpas. Although gutted by a fire, this fort is renowned as the stand from
which several Tibetan invasions were repulsed. To the north can be seen in all its majesty, the dome of sacred
Mt.
Chomolhari
or the abode of the "mountain of goddess.”
Then take an excursion to Taktsang Monastery, the spot
where Guru Rinpoche arrived on the back of a tigress and meditated. The temple
is perched on a sheer rock face. The round trip to the monastery’s viewpoint
takes about 4 hours.
On the way back, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest
and most sacred shrines in the Kingdom.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 06- Departure
After breakfast drive to the airport for flight to onward
destination. Representative of Himalayan Kingdom Tours will bid you farewell.
TASHI DELEK |
