Paro Festival Tour

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fly Back Home.