Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Connecting flight from various airports to
Frankfurt. At noon scheduled flight with Lufthansa to Delhi. Arrival in the
midnight and subsequently transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in the Hotel
Day 02 Delhi
In the late
morning you visit the highlights in old and New Delhi, apart from the other
things the impressing biggest mosque and the colonial area of government
administration.
Overnight in
the Hotel
Day 03 Delhi - Darjeeling
In the
morning flight to Bagdogra. Lunch at airport and drive to Darjeeling 100 km. (03
hours),. Darjeeling, which is well-known for its high-quality tea cultivation,
offers the flair of a typical health resort of the British colonial age. A broad
mall with it's interesting shops invitesyou for strolling
and discovering.
Overnight in
the Hotel.
Day 04 Darjeeling
In the
early morning drive to the vantage point - Tiger Hill with a view of the snow
peak of the kanchenjunga (8,579 m). Afterwards visit to the Tibetan Refugee camp
and the buddhist Ghoom monastery. On way back, later visit the renowned
Mountaineering institute
Overnight in
the Hotel.
Day 05 Agra - Darjeeling - Pemayangese
After Breakfast Drive 128 Kms (7-8 hours). to
Pemayangste through sumptuous subtropical mountain landscape, influenced form
evergreen rain forest, rhododendron
koniferen forests and orchids. On 2,000 m height exists one of the oldest
monasteries Nyingmapa-Orden in Sikkim (8thcentury). Packed lunch
enroute.
Overnight in the Hotel.
Day 06 Pemayangese - Gangtok
After Breakfast
Drive to Gangtok, 115 Kms (5-6 hours) capital of Sikkim. The former kingdom of
Sikkim was integrated in April 1975 into the Indian confederation of states. As
typical british hill station extends the capital along a burr with a beautiful
view of the Kanchenjunga-massive. Packet Lunch at a simple restaurant.
Overnight in
the Hotel.
Day 07 Gangtok
After
Breakfast visit the Rumtek monastery, centre of the Kagyupa-order as the copy of
the tibetan original monastery after the occupation of tibet. In the Namgyal
institute of Tibetology in Gangtok you can admire the biggest collection of
tibetan manuscripts and Thangkas from
all over asia. In the afternoon visit to Enchey monastery, important seat of the
Nyingmapa sect.
Overnight in
the Hotel.
Day 08 Gangtok/Phuentsholing
After Breakfast Drive from Gangtok to the border city
of Bhutan Phuntsholing 240 Kms (8 hrs) through a varied landscape with rice and
tee plantations. Through a beautifully worked gate you enter Bhutan, packed
lunch on the way.
After Phuntsholing driving through a varied landscape
with rice and tee plantations. Through a beautifully worked gate you enter
Bhutan.
On arrival in Phuentsholing, Check in at Hotel. The
gateway to the south, Phuentsholing is a thriving commercial centre on the
northern edge of the Indian plains. Situated directly at the base of the
Himalayan foothills, it is a fascinating mixture of Indian and Bhutanese, a
perfect example of mingling of people and their culture.
As the time permits, visit Zangtho Pelri Lhakhang,
this small temple built in the centre of Phuentsholing town represents the
heaven of Guru Rimpoche. Later take a stroll around town's market area.
Overnight at the hotel in Phuentsholing.
Day 09 Phuentsholing - Thimphu
After breakfast, drive to Thimphu. 4 km ahead of
Phuentsholing, visit Kharbandi Gompa, the beautiful monastery situated in garden
of tropical plants and flowers. The monastery contains paintings depicting
scenes from the life of Buddha and statues of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Guru
Rimpoche. From the monastery garden there is a splendid view of Phuentsholing
and plains of West Bangal and their tea gardens beyond.
Proceed further to Thimphu. This entire drive is very
pleasant with numerous scenic spots en route. Lunch would be served at Bunakha
cafetria.Fives miles, before Thimphu, visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress
of the Kingdom which now houses the School for religious and cultural studies.
Evening free in Thimphu. Overnight at the hotel in
Thimphu.
Day 10 Thimphu - Wangduephodrand
Thimphu, perhaps the most unusual capital city in the
world, is the seat of government. This bustling town is home to Bhutan's royal
family, the civil servants, and foreign missions with representation in Bhutan.
It is also the headquarters for a number of internationally funded development
projects.
Morning visit to Trashichhodzong, the beautiful
medieval fortress/monastery which houses most of the Government's office and
King's Throne room It is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief
Abbot. Then visit the National Memorial Chorten. The building of this landmark
was originally envisaged by Bhutan's third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji
Wangchuk ("the father of modern Bhutan") who has wished to erect monument to
world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it
serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace. Visit the
government-run Handicrafts Emporium and privately owned crafts shops, which
offer a wide range of handcrafted products, including the splendid thangkha
paintings and exquisitely woven textiles for which Bhutan is famous. Also visit
the folk Heritage and National Textile Museums, opened in 2001.
After lunch, drive to Wangduephodrang en route taking
a short stop at Dochula pass (3080m) that hearlds the most enchanting views of
Bhutan.
Overnight at the hotel in Wangduephodrang.
Day 11 Wangduephodrand - Jakar (Bumthang)
After breakfast visit to majestic Wangduephodrang,
located the the junction of Punakha Chu and Tang chu rivers.Then continue on to
Trongsa across Pele-la pass (3,300m/10,830 ft), the traditional boundary between
east and west. The pass is marked by a large white chorten prayer flags. There
is an abrupt change in vegetation at this point, with mountain forest replaced
by high altitude dwarf bamboo.
Stop en route at Chendbji Chorten, patterned on
Kathmandu's Swayambhunath Stupa, with eyes panted at four cardinal points. It
was built in the 18thcentury by Lama Shida from Tibet, to cover the
remains of an evil spirit that was subdued at this spot.
Evening visit to Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral abode of
Bhutan's Royal family.
Overnight at the lodge in Jakar.
Day 12 Jakar (Bumthang)
After breakfast drive to Bumthang, 68 km from Trongsa,
a journey of about 3 hours, over the Yutong-la pass (3,400m/ 11,155 ft). The
road winds steeply up to the pass, 28 km from Trongsa, then runs down through
coniferous forest into a wide, open cultivated valley known as the Chumey
valley.
On arrival in Bumthang, check in at your lodge. After
lunch, visit to Kurje Lhakhang, where the saint Padmasambhava subdued a local
demon and left his body imprint on a rock., the Jambey Lhakhang (7th century
temple), Tamshing Lhakhang (housing some of the oldest wall paintings in Bhutan)
and Jakar Dzong (administrative center of the region). Stroll in the village,
visit the little handicrafts shop at the entrance to the town, and perhaps take
refreshments at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the lodge in
Bumthang.
Day 13 Jakar - Punakha
After early breakfast drive to Punakha.
Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955,
when the seat of government moved to Thimphu. Originally situated on the
riverbank and dominated by the towering walls of Punakha
Dzong, the township was relocated to
a safer site a few kilometers down the valley, consequent upon extensive
flooding in the early 1990s. At the same time, extensive renovation work was
undertaken on Punakha Dzong itself, which is now a breathtaking and glorious
site as you first glimpse it from the road. Although four catastrophic fires and
an earthquake in past times destroyed many historic documents, Punakha Dzong
still houses many sacred and historic artifacts and also the embalmed body of
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.
Day 14 Punakha - Paro
After breakfast drive to Paro.
After lunch, visit Ta Dzong, originally built as
Watchtower, which now houses National Museum . The extensive collection includes
antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and a
rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.
Then walk down the trail to visit
Rinpung Dzong, meaning ("fortress of the heap of jewels"), which has a long and
fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard are
fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man
of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount. Sumeru
and other cosmic Mandala.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 15 Paro
Full day witness Paro festival (Tshechu). During the Paro festival you
will enjoy the dance performance of masked dancers.
Evening, drive
to Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors fought Tibetan
invaders centuries ago. The snowy dome of sacred Chomolhari, "mountain of
goddess'' can be seen in all her glory from the approach road to the Dzong.
Along the
way, see the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the
Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The building of this temple marks the
introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.
Overnight
at the hotel in Paro.
Day 16 Paro
Morning witness Paro Tshechu (festival).
Later take an excursion to Taktsang Monastery view
point, the most famous of Bhutanese monasteries. It is said that Guru Rinpoche
arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery hence it
is called "Tiger's Nest". The excursion to monastery's view point takes about 5
hours for round trip.
Day 17 Paro - Delhi By Druk Air
After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight to
Delhi. On arrival transfer to the Hotel.
Later in the evening after Dinner transfer to the
airport to board the flight for onward journey.
Day 18 Delhi - Departure
Fly Back Home.
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