9 Nights 10 Days Cultural Trips To Bhutan

After early morning breakfast, a choice to visit:-

Folk Heritage Museum

The folk heritage museum was open to the general public in 2001 upon completion. It treasures troves of culture and rich Bhutanese heritage provide rich insights into the Bhutanese ethos.

National Textile Museum

The second important Museum that also opened its doors in 2001 is the National Textile Museum of Bhutan. During a trip to this museum you will get an up close and personal experience of the living national art of weaving.

National Institute of ZorigChusum

The art and crafts currently taught in Bhutan, were introduced to the country in the 15th century by Trenton PemaLingpa.

National Library

Bhutan’s National Library was established in the 1967. Its mission is to preserve the literary treasures of the nation which constitute a significant element of Bhutan’s rich and vibrant cultural heritage.

MotithangTakinPreserve

The MotithangTakin Preserve also known as the Thimphu Zoo by many is a small natural preserve for the Takin Bhutan’s national animal.

Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory

The Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory is a small paper factory located in Thimphu that produces paper using traditional Bhutanese methods. The paper products produced at the factory are made from Daphne or Mulberry plant bark. Overnight in a hotel in Thimphu

Post early breakfast, you will drive towards Punakha via Dochula Pass. We will stop over for tea at Dochula (3,100 m), where on a sunny day, you can get stunning views of the Himalayan ranges.

Punakha Dzong

The Punakha Dzong or the Pungtang Dechen Phortang Dzong is located at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu River, combine to form the Puna Tsang Chu which in turn is a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The Dzhong was constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal Wangchuck in 1638.

Overnight in a hotel in Punakha

After an early breakfast, we will be driving down to Trongsa. Admire the view en route the valley of Wangdiphodrang. We will drive to ChimmiLhakhangto start with. The monastery stands on a small hill close to the village of Lobesa and was constructed in 1499 by Ngawang Choegyel, the 14thDrukpaheirarch.

Chendebji Chorten

Located 2 kilometers away from the village of Chendebji is the ChendebjiChorten, a large Buddhist Stupa. The ChendebjiChorten is a large white structure built in likeness to the famous BodhunathStupa located in Kathmandu in Nepal. The Chorten was constructed by Lama Shinda from Tibet in the 19th century AD.

Trongsa Dzong

The Trongsa Dzong or the Cheokhor Rabdentse is one of the largest and most impressive Dzong in Bhutan. The Dzong is located on a cliff overlooking theMangde Chu river gorge. The Dzong was built at the site of a temple that was constructed in 1543, by a Drukpa Lama.

Overnight in a hotel in Trongsa

After morning breakfast, we will drive towards Bumthang and visit JakarDzong.

The Jakar Dzong is situated above the Jakar village in the Chamkhar valley of Bumthang. The Dzhong was originally a site of a monastery that was being constructed at the time of Lama Ngagi Wanchuck’s visit to Bhutan. According to legend during the construction of the Dzong a white bird emerged from the structure and perched itself on the site. In Bhutanese culture a white bird is considered to be auspicious.

Jambay Lhakhang.

Jambay Lhakhang was built by King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in 659 AD. The temple was blessed by Guru Rimpoche during his visit to Bumthang.

Kurjey Lhakhang

The Kurjey Lhakhang is a monastery located in the Bumthang Valley of Bhutan. The Kurjey Lakahng Temple Complex is a 30 minute hike from the JambayLhakhang temple. According to legend Sendhu Raja, the King of Bumthang was very ill and invited Guru Rinpoche the founder of Buddhism in Bhutan to give him a cure for his ailment.

Namkhenyingpogoemba:

Namkhe Nyingpo Goemba is located on a hill just east of the town of Jakar, the administrative center of the Bumthang district. The monastery was established in 1970 and is home to about 300 monks who are learing about the Nyingampa Buddhism. Overnight in a hotel in Bumthang

Excursion to Tang Valley

Early Morning after Breakfast, you will visit TANG VALLEY and Burning Lake. The Tang Valley is the most isolated and remote of the 4 valleys that make up the district of Bumthang. The valley is located about10 kilometers away from Jakar along the east-west road towards the town of Ura.

Tang Valley

After travelling a few kilometers we will turn off on to a gravel road that continue a further 7 kilometers along to view the Kunzangdrak Goemba monastery, was established in 1488 by Trenton PemaLingpa

Burning Lake

The Burning Lake or the Membartsho is a deep water pool in a gorge of the Tangchu River. The Burning Lake is located about 15 minutes off the road that goes towards the Tang Valley of Bumthang. The place enjoys a very special spiritual significance for the people of Bhutan. One of the most striking feature of the location is the huge number of colorful prayer flags that hang everywhere along the river gorge. As you trek down to the pool be warned that it is considered sacrilegious to enter the water body due to its holiness.

Thangbi Lakhang

Since there is no motor able road to this temple the only way to get there is by foot, the temple can be reached by completing a two hour walk up the picturesque Choker Valley of Bumthang. The temple was established in 1470 by Shamar Rinpoche (the red hat Karmapa).

The Ugyen Cholling

Palace is located east of the district headquarters Jakar in the remote Tang Valley. The palace can be reached after completing a 20 mile journey east of which 13 miles are along a unpaved gravel road up to the village of Kezum , from where the place is about an hour’s hike away. The Ugyen Cholling Palace was built in the 17th century AD by Deb Tsokey Dorji, a noble man from the lineage of Buddhist saint DorjiLingpa.

The Ugyen Cholling

In evening you will go and visit the National Handicrafts Emporium

The National Handcrafts Emporium is a state run Handicrafts showroom in 4 different cities of bhutan. The emporium is run by the National Woman’s Association of Bhutan as a Non-Government

National handicrafts emporium

Overnight in a hotel in Bumthang

After breakfast you will drive to Gangtey and visit Gangtey Goemba. The Gangtey Monastery or the Gangtey Goempa is an important monastery / temple associate with the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. The Monastery is Located in the Wandue Phodrang Dzongkhag in central Bhutan.

Overnight in a hotel in Gangtey

After early morning breakfast, you will drive to Paro and on the way, we will visit :-

Simtokha Dzong

The Simtokha Dzong is a small Dzong located approximately 5 kilometers south of Thimphu. The Dzong is officially called the Sangak Zabhon Phodrang which roughly translates to the Palace of the Profound Meaning of Secret Mantras. The Simthoka Dzong is said to be the first fortress to have been built by the legendary Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in Bhutan. The fortress was constructed in the year 1629. Later drive to Paro, and after lunch we will visit:-

Ta Dzong (National Museum of Bhutan)

The National Museum of Bhutan is housed inside the six storied circular Ta Dzong. The Ta Dzong is a medieval watch tower situated above the RimpungDzong. The Ta Dzong was constructed in 1656.

Rimpung Dzong

The Paro Dzong is probably Bhutan’s best known and most iconic Dzong. This is probably the first building you will notice when you land at Paro International Airportand will probably be your first memory of Bhutan.

Overnight in a hotel in Paro

After early morning breakfast, we will take you for a morning hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. Hanging precariously and magically from a rather steep cliff, the Taktshang monastery is a monument of genuine pride for the Bhutanese nation. It defies architectural principles to the core and amazes tourists from around the world. It is a sight to behold.

KyichuLhakhang

The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. The temple was built by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo in the 7th Century AD.

In the morning after early breakfast we will see you off at the Paro Airport for your onward destinations.