Pilgrimage Tour

Day 1:Bkk/Delhi/Kolkatta/KMT- Paro

The fight to Paro is one of the beautiful of all the mountains flights. You will see Himalayan peaks, Everest, Kanchenjunga& Makalu, and Chomolhari& Tserimgang (Peak of Bhutan).Bhutan’s first gift to you as you disembark from the airplane will be clean fresh air.
You will be met by your  Bhutan Landlocked Adventures representative and after completion of arrival formalities will be drive to hotel.

Day 02 : Paro
This beautiful valley is home to many Bhutanese’s oldest monasteries and temples. The country’s one airport is in Paro.  Mt. Chomolhari (7,300m) situated at the north end of the valley whose glacier water forms the  river following through the valley.  The following are the some interesting places to visit in Paro :

Drukgyal Dzong: on the clear day one can see Mount Chomolhari from the village below the Dzong.

Rimpong Dzong: This fortress of the heap of Jewels is the venture for the annual Paro festival held every spring.

Ta Dzong: Built as a watch tower the Ta Dzong has since been turned into national museum

Kyichu Lhagang : This monastery dated back to the 7th century  and one of the oldest and most sacred.

Overnight at  hotel in Paro.

Day 03 : ParoAfter break fast hike to Tiger Nest. Taksng ” Tiger Nest” is perched on the side of a cliff at a height of 900m above the Paro valley.  The hike up to the monastery take about 4 to 5 hours.  There is a lookout point and a cafeteria about one half hour walk from the road. Taksangsang is one of the holiest place in Bhutan. In 8th century Guru Rimpochey (Great Indian Saint) arrived to this place on flying tigress and meditated there for few months and later his followers followed his footsteps and meditated there. In 17th century the temple was built by Gesay Tenzin Rabgay 4th temporal ruler of Bhutan. In 1998 some part of the temple was destroyed by the fire.

Overnigth at hotel in Paro

Day 04: Paro –Thimphu
After break fast an interesting drive of about 1hr hours’ duration to Thimphu, the modern capital town of Bhutan. Evening free after dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.
It is a bustling town on the banks of the Thimphu river and set gloriously in the hills of Thimphuvalley.  It is home to the Bhutanese Royal Family, the Royal Government and  several foreign missions and development projects. Bhutan has one golf course, a nine-hole circuit, is situated next the magnificent Thashichodzong.

Tashichodzong : The fortress of the glorious religion house onr og the throne room of His Majesty the King, the main secretarial building and the central monk body.

Memorial Chorten :
This stupa was built in 1974 by the mother of the King, her Majesty Jigme Dorji
Wangchuck in memory of her son.

Semotokha Dzong : Five km from Thimphu,on a lofty ridge, stands Semotokha  Dzong the oldest Dzong in
Bhutan.  The Dzong now houses the Institute of Language and Culture.  The Institute
of Zorig Chusum: Institute of 13 Art and craft school

Institute of Traditional Medicine : The complex consist of the traditional medicine treatment hospital and a school.

Weekend Market :
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday most of the population congregate on the banks of
the river where the weekend mark is held. Here villagers and other nearby places come
to sell their agriculture produce .Overnight at hotel in Thmphu.

Day 04 : Thimphu

After break fast drive North of Thimphu city an hour and stop near bridge were your hike begins to cherry monastery. The Cherry Monastery is  one of the old monastery and which was in  1620 AD by Zhabdrung. In this monastery first monk body of Bhutan was started by Zhabdrung.  Now is seat of higher Buddhist studies and meditation centre for Buddhist monks. After visiting this old monastery walk back to bridge and you will serve hot picnic lunch near by stupa.After lunch drive back to hotel and stroll in Thimphu town if time permits. Over night hotel in Thimphu.
Note: There is options if you like to visit tango Monastery you can do it .

Day 05 : Thimphu  - Punakha
After breakfast drive to Punakha,crossing Dochola pass(3150m)about 45 min.On the clear day the view from the pass is superb  and there are 108 Chortens which was built by the Queen Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk in 2004 after the flushed out Indian militants from southern and Eastern boarders of the Bhutan in December 2003.Then road descend to the  Punakha valley. Hike to Chimi Lhangang before lunch ,afterter luch drive to Punakha . Punakha Dzong which is built in the confluence of two river,male which runs though right and female river runs through left of the Dzong.

Druk Waangyel Chorten at Dochula ( 3150m)
On the way to Punakha from Thimphu is Dochula pass from where seat a beautiful panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain range can be seen, specially during the clear winter days. The beauty of this place is further enchanced by the 108 Stupas built by the eldest Queen, her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck.

Punakha Dzong: It was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637 A.D. It stands majestically at the  junction of the two rivers- male and Female river.

Khamsum yulley Mamgyal : Built by the third Queen, Ashi Tshering Yangdon wangchuck.   This Stupa is one of the fine example of Bhutanese architecture and art and is the only one of its kind in the world.

Chimi Lhagang( No Dog Monastery):Built by Lama Drukpa kuenley ( Devine madman) in 1449 AD. He subdued the demons of the Dochula  with his magic thunder bolt of wisdom.

Wangdiphodrang: (Altitude 1400m)

This town is located south of Punakha and is the  last town before central Bhutan. The district is famous for its fines bamboo work and its slate and stone carving.
Overnight at hotel in Punakha/Wangdi.

Day 06 : Punakha – Trongsa

After the breakfast explore in the valley for an hours if there is time otherwise drive across Pelelapass (3300m). This pass is traditionally considering the boundary between western and central Bhutan. Then road descend to Chandebji were you will stop for tea before you rive up to. Trongsa .The landscape of Trongsa is the spectacular and its impressive Dzong stretched along a ridge above a ravine, first come into the view about an hour before the winding road suddenly leads you to the town. After lunch visit Dzong and explore in the town.
Gangtey Goenpa/Phobjikha( 3000m)
The valley of Phobjikha is well known as winter home of black neck cranes. They fly to this place in the last week of October because of sever  cold in Tibet and by the end of March they fly back to Tibet.  The Monastry of 17th century can visit.

Trongsa :(2300m)This town is perched on the slopes on above a river gorge, form the central hub of the nation and is the place from where attempts at unifying the country were launched in earlier times. The landscape around Trongsa is spectacular and its impressive Dzong, stretched along a ridge above ravine, first comes into view about an hour before the winding, mountain road leads you into the town.

Trongsa Dzong :
Built in 1648 Ad,it is the ancestral home of the Royal family. Bothe the first and the second king ruled the country from this ancient seat. All the kings hold post of Trongsa Penlop prior to being crowned as king.

Ta Dzong:
Perched above the Trongsa Dzong this is watch tower which once stood guard over the Trongsa Dzong from internal rebellion. It is now being turned  into a heritage museum.

Overnight at hotel in Trongsa.

Day 07 : Trongsa – Bumthang

Drive to Bumthang is 3hrs across Yotola pass 3,300 m.After lunch sightseeing in Bumthang.

Bumthang( Altitude 2600m)
This fascinating valley is the religious heartland of the nation and home of someof the oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries. Its gentle sloping  hills offers plenty of   walking opportunities to many temples in this valley. The valley is also famous for its production of honey, cheese, apple and yatra- a woolen material that has multiple uses.

Jambay Lhagang :
It is one of the 108 monasteries built by the king Songten Goempo in the 7th century to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region.

KurjeyLhagang( Body Print Monastery) :It is decited to Guru Rimpochey who was supposed to have meditated in the 8th century.

Tamshing Lhagang; It was built in1501 AD by Terton Pema Lingpa, a re-carnation of Guru Rimpochey, whose  lineage trace to the Royal Family.

Jakar Dzong :
The Dzong was initially built as a monastery  by the great grand father of Zhabdrung. It is now used as administrative center for the Bumthang district.Overnight at hotel in Bumthan.

Day 08 : BumthangAfter breakfast drive to tang valley wit hot picnic lunch. Drive will be 4hrs to and fro.
Hike to Ugyencholing ( one of the Royal Palce in olden days now it served as private museum). After visiting Museum eat lunch near by it.Overnight at hotel in Bumthang.

Day 09: Bumthang – Mongar
The journey continues eastwards, winding through more ragged terrain. The drive to Monggar is 7/8 hours with panoramic views.You will drive into hills above the valley and pass Ura Vallage before driving to the highest point on Bhutan’s moterable road, Thromshingla pass (4000).
From the pass road descends to the alpine valley of Sengor with beautiful views of cascading waterfalls and hills of eastern Bhutan along the way. Vegetation changes from alpine to subtropical with the loss of height and bamboo and luxuriant fern.Picnice lunch at scenic spot. The descent stops at 700m and you ascend to Monggar through pine forests, Maize fields and eastern hamlets to reach Monggar. Overnight at hotel in Monggar.

Day 10-Monger – Luntshe – Mongar
Drive early to Luntshi ,after 2hrs drive you can walk to Khoma village to expore and admire the unique Bhutanese tapestry right at their origin ( Khoma Village).We will eat lunch their which is prepared by our village people.We an just there fore few hours enjoying their art of weaving.The walk back to car for night halt in Mongar.

Note: Options if we like to experience the life in village we can stay in village house for one night .

Day 11 : Monger/Luntshe – Trashi gang

Trashigang(1100m)This is the largest district in Bhutan and lies in the far Easton the banks of Gamri Chu. It was once the center of a busy trade with Tibet. Today it is junction of the east west high way with road connected to Samdrupjongkhar and then the Indian state of Assam. The nomadic people from Marak and Sakten who are remarkable for their exceptional features and costumes use this town as their market place mostly during winter.After lunch drive to Radha.Its North east of Trashigang.Overnigth at hotel in Trashigang.

Day 12-rashigang – Tashiyangtshe- Trashigang
Trashiyangtse( 1700m)
Trashiyangtse is also home of black neck Crane especially in Bumdeling. This eastern most part of Bhutan and boarder of Arunachal Pradesh in India.   Trashiyangtse is famous for its wooden container and bowls, which makes inexpensive, attractive and useful mementoes of a visit to this remote region.  The Institute for 13 Traditional Arts and Crafts of Bhutan is also worth to visit.

Chorten kora:
This dazzaling white stupa is situated on the river bank below the town.  Built in 1740 Ad by Lama Ngawang Loday, it is built the same style as Bodnath Stupa in Nepal,with eyes painted at the four cardinal points. During the second month of lunar calendar there is an interesting celebration here known as kora.Overnigt at hotel in Trashigang.

Day 13: Trashigang - Samdrupjongkhar

Trashigang to Samdrupjongkhar road was finished in 1965 and it take 7/8 hrs. You will pass by Sherubtshe College in Kanglung which was established in 1978 and was Degrees granting institute affiliated to Delhi University, India. Now we have our own University. Drive continue to Khaling home of the National Institute for the Disable (Blind School) and weaving centre. From here drive up to Womrong village and to Samtrup Jongkhar. Overnight at hotel in Samdrupjongkhar.

Day 14: SamdrupJongkhar – Guwahati (Capital of Assam)

After breakfast drive to Guwahati Air port for flight to Delhi/Kolkata or onward program in SamdrupJongkhar.