EXPLORE BHUTAN

After breakfast visit Thimphu. Visit the National Memorial Chorten, a large Tibetan-style chorten. It was built in 1974 to honor the memory of the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Throughout the day people circumambulate the chorten, whirl the large red prayer wheels and pray at a small shrine inside the gate. The Buddha viewpoint  is stunning and a must-visit site in Thimphu. This mega statue of Lord Buddha can be seen from almost anywhere in Thimphu.  The National Library houses the history of Bhutan in archaic texts, along with modern academic books and printing blocks for prayer flags. After lunch visit the National Textile Museum which was opened by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Sangay Choden. In the evening visit Trashichhoe Dzong, also known as the ‘fortress of the glorious religion’. It was initially built in 1641 and later rebuilt in its present form by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in 1965.
Overnight in Paro.

After breakfast visit Changangkha Lhakhang, an old fortress-like temple and monastic school perched on a ridge above Thimphu, southeast of Mothithang.  It was established in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo, who came from Ralung in Tibet. Visit Institute for Zorig Chusum.  Commonly known as Arts & Crafts School or Painting School, the Institute offers a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. On a visit, one can see students learning the various skills taught at the school. Visit The Folk Heritage Museum (Phelchey Toenkhyim) which is dedicated to connect the Bhutanese people to their rural past through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programmers and documentation of rural life. Visit Motithang Takin Preserve, a short distance up the road to telecom tower is a trail leading to a large fenced area that was originally established as a mini-Zoo.
Overnight in Thimphu.

After breakfast, drive to Punakha-Wangdue and visit Chimi Lhakhag, which was built in 1499 by the cousin of Lama Drukpa Kunley, Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom”, in his honour. A wooden effigy of the lama’s thunderbolt is preserved in the Lhankhang, and childless women go to the temple to receive a wang (blessing or empowerment) from the saint. Visit Punakha Dzong, was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs and until the mid-1905s it served as the seat of the government. Punakha Dzong was built by Zhabdrung in 1637, it stands majestically at the junction of the two rivers – Pho Chu and Mochu. After lunch visit Gangtey Goemba, also known as the winter home of the black-necked crane (Grus Nigricollis) which  migrate in the winter from the Tibetan plateau. Visit the information centre situated on the edge of the forest and wetland which has an observation room equipped with a high power telescope and for sighting the cranes. Overnight in Wangdue

After breakfast drive towards to Trongsa. Visit Trongsa Dzong.  This commanding dzong, high above the roaring Mangdue Chhu, is the most spectacularly sited dzong in Bhutan, with a sheer drop to the south that often just disappears into clouds and mist. The rambling collection of buildings trails down the ridge in a remarkable succession of street like corridors, wide stone stairs and beautiful stone courtyards. Visit Ta Dzong.  The watchtower on the hill above the dzong has been converted into a state-of-the-art museum by the same Austrian-financed teams that renovated the excellent Paten Museum in Nepal. The displays, which should open in mid-2008, will focus on Buddhist art and the history of the monarchy. Views from the fifth-floor roof will be unrivalled. A café is planned.
Overnight in Trongsa

After breakfast drive towards to Bumthang. In the afternoon visit Wangdichholing Dzong which was built in 1857 on the site of a battle camp of the Penlop of Trongsa, Jigme Nagayal. It was the first palace in Bhutan that was not designed as a fortress.
Visit Jakar Dzong. When the lamas assembled in 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery and for Jakar Dzong.
Overnight in Bumthang

After breakfast visit the festival in Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor. It is believed to have been built in the year 659 by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, on the same day as Kyich Lhakhang in Paro, in order to subdue Tibetan demons.
Next visit Chakhar Lhakhang, the site of the palace of the Indian king Sendha Gyab, better known as the Sindu Raja, who first invited Guru Rinpche to Bumthang. The original palace was made of iron, hence nine storeys high, holding within it all the treasure of the world. After lunch visit Kurjey Lhakhang, a large, active and important temple complex is named after the body (Kur) print (jey) of Guru Rinpoche, which is preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the three buildings that make up the temple complex.
Overnight in Bumthang.

After breakfast drive to Thimphu.
Overnight in Thimphu

Visit  the handicrafts shops where  a wide assortment of colourful, hand woven textiles and other craft products is available. Visit the Weekend Market, most of Thimphu’s scant population and many valley dwellers congregate on the banks of the river. It is an interesting place to visit and provides opportunity to mingle with the local people.
Overnight in Thimphu

Visit the National Museum, an old watchtower at the top of the hill above Paro Dzong, that was renovated in 1968 to house it. Visit Paro Dzong, is one of the Bhutan’s most important preserve and well-known dzongs,  and perhaps the finest example of Bhutanese architecture you will see. The massive buttress walls tower over the town and are visible through the valley. Visit Kyichu Lhakhag, which is one of the oldest and most beautiful of all temples. This temple is popularly believed to have been built in 659 by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet, to pin down the left foot of a giant ogress who was thwarting the establishment of Buddhism into Tibet. Visit Drukgyel Dzong, this dzong was built in 1649 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in a location chosen for its control of the route to Tibet. The dzong was named ‘Druk’ (Bhutan) ‘Gyel’ (Victory) to commemorate the victory of Bhutan over Tibetan invaders in 1644.
Overnight in Paro