DAY 1 Guwahati - Samdrup Jongkhar,
Guwahati india, you will meet our re presentive from Bhutan Sunshine who will be pickup you and drive you towards Bhutan. Maximum of three hour drive and you can see the hill growing from the plain of India as you approach toward Bhutan and will reach to a place called Samdrup jongkhar for a Lunch.
Samdrup Jongkhar is the South Eastern Dzongkhag of Bhutan bordering with the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh states of India. The region lies on the subtropical range with elevations ranging from 200 meters to 3,500 meters above sea level. The Samdrup Jongkhar town or just the Samdrup town in short lies about 270 km's further east from Monger through the mountains. Samdrup Jongkhar is the largest town of eastern Bhutan. After this, on this route, lies the town of Tashigang at a distance of 180 km to the north from Samdrup.
The Jongkhar is a small border town with few hotels and restaurants. Although Samdrup Jongkhar region is not a popular destination, the town’s proximity with Indian town makes it an important place. The market is an interesting mixture of Bhutanese and Indian shops. There are two hospitals in the Dzongkhag, 13 Basic Health Units and some more outreach Clinics. Water supply and electricity is available to most of the households in the Dzongkhag. There is one hydroelectricity generation plant in the Dzongkhag, the Kuri chu Hydropower.Places to Visite in Samdrup Jongkhar are Zangdopelri Lhakhang a monastery near the entrance to the Dzong,Bhang tar: a picturesque village inhabited by Bhutanese of Nepalese descent. Night Halt at Deothang Monastery
Day 2 – Samdrup Jongkhar to Barshong (Tashigang)
Today we Leave from Deothang Institute after
breakfast to cover 130km road to reach Barshong
Monastery in Tashigang.which will take approximately
3 and half hours, cross Narphung La(1698m) and
reach Narphung village. The road climbs slowly to
reach Melong Brak thereafter you will reach Wamrong
valley and visit Zangdopelri Monastery which consist of
unique and wonderful detailed murals and ceiling mandalas .
Cross Kharung La (2350m) to reach Khaling where we will
visite the National Weaving Center named Handloom and to
National Institute for Disabled. This is a very well organized
Institute that tries to assimilate students from all over Bhutan
who are blind into a local educational system by providing
special education and training where they will perform a
cultural show and after a few minutes drive you will reach
today’s guest house at Barshong. Night halt at Barshong Monastery.
Day 3 Barshong to Tashigang
Early morning visit the Monastery and the monks making
morning prayer and short hike to visit the farm house in
Barshong valley as it has a beautiful landscape and indeed
it’s a good place to experience the local people’s life. After
lunch from Monastery cross the Yonphu La pass (2190m),
and above the road is the Yonphula army campand further
on is the Yonphu Goemba.Hidden on the ridge is the Bhutan’s
second airstrip, there is a plan to change this small military
airstrip to change to domestic airport, but weather patterns
would make any flights highly unreliable.The road descend
than and you reach to to line of eight chorten, there are fine
views down over the college and Drametse Goemba far
across the valley. After a little while you will reach
Kanglung where you can see a clock tower and extensive
campus of Sherubtse College, Bhutan’s only college in late
1970s, India helped the construction of the original school
in 1964. The clock tower and green lawns give the town the
feel of a Himalaya hill-station. There after we took a short
drive crossing the valley of Rong thong where you can see
the rice fields and Visit main town of Trashigang as it is
Bhutan’s more interesting towns and a good base for
excursions to TrashiYangtse, Phongme and so on.
Villagers come to town on holy days not only to visit temples but also to trade and sample the local arra. Arra can either be made from wheat or maize in this area. You might get a chance to see local people preparing home brewed wine if you go and visit the village. Night halt at hotel.
Day 4 Tashigang to Rangjung to Tashigang
Tashigang is the largest district in Bhutan. it has two sub-districts and fifteen Gewogs. was the first accredited college in Bhutan, founded in 1966 by a group of Jesuits under the leadership of William Mackey. As of 2003 it became part of the newly created Royal Sherubtse College University of Bhutan system that comprises all public post-secondary schools in Bhutan.Early in the morning we will be visiting Tashigang Dzong (Fortress),since 2007 , Tashigang Dzong went under renovation till October 2011, it was on the verge of collapse. The Dzong was built in 1659 by Trongsa Penlop Minjur Tenpa and served for centuries as an administrative headquarters and monastery, though government offices mostly relocated by 2011. Its sinking eastern foundation and crumbling upper walls necessitated either relocation or total destruction and reconstruction, according to its History .However, as of 2012, the Tashigang Dzong was still used for the town's yearly Tshechu.
Rangjung is a town on the Gamri river in the Radhi Gewog of Tashigang Dzongkhag, East of Bhutan.The town is the location of Rangjung Ösel Chöling monastery, established by Dungse Garab Dorje Rinpoche in 1989,Rangjung in Tibetan and probably as much in Dzongkha expresses the concept of a self-arisen manifestation. All over the Tibetan cultural sphere there are sacred seed syllables, mantras or depiction of deities that a presumed not to be man-made, but "rangjung", self arisen or autogenic. Then we drive Back to Tashigang spending times on the way taking pictures some of the remote village and villagers with their decent cultures.
Day 5 Tashigang to Tashiyangtse to Tashigang
Early morning we will take a drive of approximately 45 minutes to Gom Kora for sun rise today,Gom Kora is an extraordinarily picturesque temple to the east of the road. The lush green of the fields, the red robes of the monks and the yellow roof of the temple combine with colourful Buddhist carvings and the rushing of the near by river .The correct name for the site is Gomphu Kora. Gomphu which means denotes a sacred meditation site and Kora means circumambulation. Guru Rinpoche meditated here and left the body impression on a rock similar to that of Kurjey ( The Body Print )monastery in Bumthang.We will spend some time,Thereafter we begain our journey towards Tashiyangtshe.
Previously the Tashiyangtshe is under Tashigang Dzongkhag before and became fully fledged in 1993. The new settlement of Tashiyangtshe is near the Chorten Kora, 3km from the old Dzong. The new Dzong was inaugurated in 1997.The town is also known for an excellent wooden cups and bowls making from avocado and Maple wood. The place is popular as one of the painting school was established here same as the one in Thimphu.
Chorten Kora – Chorten means Stupa, Kora means Circumambulation. It was constructed in the 18th century 1740 by Lama Ngawang Loday in memory his uncle Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and in order to subdue a harmful demon believe to have been living at the site where the chorten is now located. The stupa is modeled after the famous Boudhanath in Nepal popularly known as Jarung Khashor.Chorten Kora took twelve years to construct and was consecrated by Je Yonten Thaye.The demon that had harmed the people of the valley was apparently subdued and banished. Thereafter, it is said that the people of the valley continue to live in peace and harmony.During the second month of the lunar calendar there is a Kora here, whereby people gain merit by walking around it.
Day 6 Tashigang to Mongar
Early Morning you can walk around the valley and pick a place for your sunrise shooting where we will give you enough time to enjoy your shooting. Thereafter we will start our journey towards Mongar after breakfast crossing many places a parting Tashiyangtshe from Tashigang and Tashigang from Mongar via yadi loops where will spend time in taking pictures. Mongar is a Place which marks the beginning of Eastern Bhutan and is the fastest Developing Dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan and the second Largest town in the east.
Mongar Dzong ; is one of Bhutan's news Dzong which was built in 1930s. It was built to keeping with tradition by not using any drawing or nails. The Dzong provides the impression of how traditional Bhutanese architecture has continue to thrive through the centuries.After we visit the fortress then we will check in the hotel and rest.
Day7 Mongar-Bumthang
Today Very early we will start our journey toward the Bumthang
Via Lingmithang for sunrise,where we will spend sometime
taking pictures of the ruins of Zhongar Dzong built in 12th
century,and start driving back to Thrumshing La, also called
Thrumshingla Pass and Donga pass is the second-highest
mountain pass in Bhutan,connecting its central and eastern
regions across the otherwise impregnable Donga range that
has separated populations for centuries.It is located on a
bend of the Lateral Road at the border of Bumthang District
(Ura Gewog, leaving Ura southbound) and Mongar District
(Saling Gewog, toward sengor), along the border with
Lhuntshe District to the east. The Lateral Road bisects
Thrumshingla National Park, named after the pass.The World
Wild Fund also maintains operations in the park.
Thereafter we drive down the pass crossing Ura and Tangsibi
visiting some of the schools and villages in those valleys.
DAY 8 BUMTHANG
Bumthang District is one of the 20 Dzongkhag (districts) comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic Dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted. Bumthang consists of the four mountain valleys of Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor although occasionally the entire district is referred to as Bumthang valley.
Bumthang directly translates as "beautiful field" – thang means field or flat place, and bum is said be an abbreviation of either bumpa (a vessel for holy water, thus describing the shape and nature of the valley), or simply bum ("girl," indicating this is the valley of beautiful girls). The name is said to have arisen after construction of Jambay Lhakhang.
Early Morning we will drive for 45mins to a monastery at the hill named Padtselling Gonpa which is the Private monastery, where we can photo shooting of sunrise and the monks and the beautiful view of the Bumthang on the way. Thereafter we will visit the ancient monastery called Jambay Lhakhang and khachu monastery for sunset.
Day 9 Bumthang
Early morning we will drive toward an ancient monastery named Buli monastery
Or Buli Lhakhang was founded in the 15th century by Choeying, the “heart son” of the great religious figure Dorji Lingpa (1346-1405) and extended in the early 20th century. From 2002 to 2005.The original temple was extended in the beginning of the 20th century and has the typical courtyard surrounded by outer living quarters of the time.
Buli has three main temples. The Jokhang downstairs has beautiful pillars, paintings and statues dating back to its construction. The two temples upstairs were restored in the early 20th century and have respectively, the Buddha of the Three Times and the Three longevity deities as their main statues.
Buli plays an important role for all of this part of the Chhume valley and holds a festival the Bula Mani every two years on the 16th day of the first month of the Bhutanese calendar.The caretaker is appointed by the Trongsa monastic community. Thereafter we will drive toward Yotong la pass,which is a 3425 m high pass in the east of Trongsa town. The road switch backs up the ridges above Chumey valley, climbing steeply for several kilometers to the top of the valley to Yotong La pass. The roads enters to Trongsa valley. It run down as we reach to Gyatsa valley where we will spend some time visiting a Gyatsa primary school. After visiting the school we will drive down to the Trongsa town and will visit the Trongsa fortress and the watch tower which host as a national museum today. Night halt at hotel in Trongsa.
Day10 Bumthang to Gangtoe
Trongsa Dzong has a rich in history. Which was built 463 years ago, the Dzong's street-like corridors, wide stone stairs, beautiful flagstone courtyards and sacred temples have been witness to many significant events that have shaped Bhutanese history since the 16th century.It is the largest fortress in Bhutan, located in Trongsa the Centre of the country. Thereafter we will depart toward Gang toe gonpa enrouteting to Chendebji chorten built in the style of the great Bodhanath stupa of Nepal, was constructed by Tshering Wangchuk son of Yon-Say and the Mahasiddha Zhidag in accordance with the prophecy of the Second Gangteng Tulku Tenzin Lekpai Dhundrup in order to subdue harmful, anti religious demons where we will spend for shooting and lunch.
After crossing Chendebji we will be passing through pelela passes crossing 3350m from sea level in which you can see colourfull prayer flags surrounded by jigme singye wangchuck national park with descend landscape of meadows and yaks herders then after short drive we will reach Gangtoe monastery for sunset. Night halt at farm house experience's of local life.
Day11 Gangtoe to Punakha
It is a beautiful place under Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag crossing 3030m, where stands the gang tey monastery built in 16th century by the Terton Pema Lingpa which situated on the ridge of Phobjikha valley known to be the winter home for the endangered and rare Black-necked Crane. We will enjoy the sunrise photographing of Phobjikha,Gang tey monastery and monks thereafter drive to Punakha en routing
Nob ding primary school and valley. After lunch we will drive down to Punakha passing the temple of fertility in which we can see the green rice fields and we may see the villager harvesting it.Night halt at Hotel in Punakha.
Day12 Punakha to Thimphu
Early in the morning we will drive to a place called Talo for sunrise which is at the top of hills of Punakha and after the shooting at Talo we will drive down to visit the Punakha Fortress.The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pung Tang Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang (meaning “the palace of great happiness or bliss”) is the administrative Centre of Punakha Dzongkha in Bhutan and winter capital for Thimphu monks.The Dzong was Constructed as Guru Rinpochea prophesized that “a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. Zhabdrung found the peak of the hill, which appeared in the shape of trunk of an elephant as prophesized, and built the Dzong in 1637-38.Another legend tells how Zowe Palep, the architect, had a vision in a dream after the Zhabdrung ordered him to sleep under a small structure which contained a statue of the Buddha, known as Dzong Chug (small Dzong). In his dream, prompted by the psychic powers of the Zhabdrung, he had a clear vision of a palace of Guru Rinpochea. The vision was imprinted on the architect's mind, enabling him to conceive the plan for the Dzong without putting the vision on paper and to build it and now it locate in the middle of two river pho chu (the male river)and mo chu(the female river). It is also known as the second oldest and second largest Dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures.The Dzong houses the sacred relics and the sacred remains of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and Terton Pedma Lingpa. In olden days the Dzong was the administrative Centre and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu.
After lunch drive to Thimphu Via Dochula passes which is the highest point for today with an elevation of 3050meters above sea level where we will take for sunset. The road to Thimphu winds through lush conifer forest and pine forest . The vegetation changes dramatically as you descend from Punakha to Dochula pass. In spring season Dochula pass is surrounded by rhododendron flower and Magnolia,which makes the pass look more beautiful again. In good weather the pass will provide you a 180 degree panorama of the distant Himalaya summits. You can take a walk around the 108 miniature Chortens built in 2003. it is one of the most beautiful passes in which its faced toward eastern Himalayas,where we will have a tea break at Dochula Hotel. after tea will be drive en route small villages named Hongtsho and drive to the Thimphu for Night Halt.
Day13 Thimphu
Early in the morning we will visit
Dechen Phodrang for the morning offering rituals together with the sunrise and the monk morning activities.
National zoo where the endanger national animal of Bhutan Takin is taken cared. After the Takin Zoo we will take you to visit our
National institute of art and craft and take a break for a lunch.
Afternoon
Tashichhodzong; Central administrative government building and summer capital of monk
Kuenzang Phordang; the worlds biggest sitting buddha for sunset.
Day 14 Thimphu to Paro
Early morning we will drive toward Semtokha Fortress for sunriseSimtokha Dzong is a small dzong, located about 3 miles south of the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who unified Bhutan, the dzong is the first of its kind built in Bhutan. An important historical monument and former Buddhist monastery, today it houses one of the premier Dzongkha language learning institutes. It recently underwent renovation and we will visite inside the Fortress for the monk shooting,thereafter we will depart for Paro en routing Tacho gang monastery. Paro valley for sunset and prepare for departure next day.
Day 15 Departure.
Early morning we will visit the Paro fortress, thereafter departure from Bhutan you will be transferred to Paro Airport. Farewell from Bhutan, Thank you for visiting Bhutan through
TASHIDELEK
Yours Happiness Is Our Pleasure
