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Shangrila Tour |
As the name suggests this is one of the most exclusive Bhutan tour programs introducing the visitors to all the major attractions of the country. During the course of this tour visitors will have the opportunity to experience many sites of natural, cultural and historical significance which provide a perfect introduction to this exotic Himalayan Kingdom. |
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Itinerary in Detail |
Day 01 : |
Arrival in Paro. The flight to Paro is
one of the most spectacular of all
mountain flights. One can see Mount
Everest , Kachenjunga, Makalu and other
peaks in Bhutan such as Chomolhari,
Jichu Drake and Tsrim Khang. The first
gift from Bhutan will be cool, clean
fresh air as you step out of the
aircraft. Upon arrival, our
representative will greet you and
transfer to the hotel. Evening, take a
stroll through Paro market. Overnight at
the hotel in Paro. |
Day 02 : |
Paro: Paro is a picturesque valley with
quaint clusters of hamlets amidst rraced
paddy fields. The town still maintains
traditions by way of architecture and
the simple way of life. Morning trip to
Ta Dzong or National Museum . Rated
among the best natural history museums
in Asia , the Ta Dzong offers a unique
and varied collections ranging from
ancient armour to textiles and thangkha
paintings. Then walk down the trail to
visit Paro Dzong (Rinppung Dzong) built
during the time of Shabdrung Ngawang
Namgyal in 1646. It now houses the Paro
monastic school and office of the civil
administration. Also Rinpung Dzong is
venue of Paro Tshechu, held once a year
in spring. Afternoon drive up valley to
the Drukgyel Dzong or the Fort of Drukpa
victory. From this fortress Bhutanese
repelled several inbasion by Tibetans
throughout the course of history.
Looming above the smouldered ruins is
the snowcapped peak of Mount .
Chomolhari.. Dinner and overnight at the
hotel in Paro. |
Day 03 : |
Paro - Thimphu: After breakfast drive to
Thimphu , the capital town passing via
idyllic countryside, through villages nd
paddy fields. Enroute visit the Simtokha
Dzong, the oldest fortress of the
country now houses the School for
Buddhist studies. Afternoon sightseeing
of Thimphu valley, visiting
Tashichhodzong ; the seat of the
government, Memorial Chorten ; the stupa
built in the memory of Bhutan 's Third
King and Handicrafts Emporium displaying
rich traditional crafts of the Kingdom.
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu . |
Day 04 : |
Thimphu - Punakha: Morning, in Thimphu
visit to National Library : which has
fascinating collection of ancient
Buddhist manuscripts and texts, the
Painting School : Medicine Institute :
view over the high peaks of the eastern
Himalayas . Arrive Punakha and check
into the hotel. Untill 1955, Punakha
served as the capital town of Bhutan and
still it is the winter seat of Je Khenpo,
the Chief Abbot. Visit to Punakha Dzong,
built by Shabdrung Ngawang, Namgyal in
17th century and situated at the
junction of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers.
Later visit to Punakha town and market.
Over night at the hotel in Punakha. |
Day 05 : |
Punakha - Wangdiphodrang - Gangtey (Phobjikha)
: After breakfast drive to
Wangdiphodrang and visit Dzong which is
perched on a spur at the confluence of
two rivers. The position of Dzong is
remarkable as it completely covers the
spur and commands an impressive view
over both the north-south and east-west.
Wangdi district is also famous for its
bamboo work, slate & stone carvings.
Overnight Guest House / Camp. |
Day 06 : |
Gangtey (Phobjha) - Tongsa : Morning
explore Phobjikha valley for Black Neck
Cranes and later drive to Tongsa across
Pelela pass (3,300m). This pass is
traditionally considered the boundry
between Western and Central Bhutan .
Further ahead stop enroute at Chendbji
Chorten built in 18th century in
Nepalese style. |
Day 07 : |
Tongsa - Bumthang (Jakar) : Morning
visit to Tongsa Dzong, situated at the
altitude of 2,200 m and built in 1647 by
the Shabdrung it is the most impressive
dzong in Bhutan . Then visit the Ta
Dzong, standing on the side of the
mountain and built to guard Tongsa.
After lunch proceed to Bumthang, one of
the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan
and also the heartland of Buddhism. 29
kms ahead of Tongsa cross Yutongla pass
(3,400m) and from here again the
landscape looks different and dense
forests of conifers stretches..
Overnight at the lodge in Bumthang. |
Day 08 : |
Bumthang : Bumthang is the general name
given to a complex of four valleys -
Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura with
altitude varying from 2,600 m to 4, 000
m. Visit to Kurje Lhakhang, one of the
most sacred place in Bhutan as Guru
Rinpoche meditated here. From Kurje
monastery, a tarmac road heads south
along the right bank of the river to the
Jambey Lhakhang. Like Kyichu Lhakhang in
the Paro valley, this temple is said to
be the first that King Songtsen Gampo of
Tibet constructed in 7th century.
Afternoon visit to Tamshing Lhakhang,
founded in 1501 by Pema Lingpa. It
contains interesting Buddhist paintings.
Later see the Jakar Dzong, the “dzong of
the white bird” which houses the
administrative seat of the district and
is the only dzong in the country that
does not contain a Drukpa monastic
community. |
Day 09 : |
Bumthang - Mongar : The journey
continues eastwards winding through more
rugged terrain. The drive, with
spectacular views will take about 6
hours. Pass through ura village in
Bumthang before climbing sharply to the
highest motorable pass in the Kingdom,
the Thrumshingla pass - 12,465 ft.
Ggaduallydrop down to Sengor, watching
cascading water falls on the way. The
descent stops at 2,130 ft., on a bridge
over the Kurichu. Ascent again through
pin forests, maize fields and eadtern
hamlets to Mongar town. Visit Mongar
Dzong, built albeit quite recently, the
dzong still maintains the architectural
traditions of old dzongs. Overnight at
the lodge in Mongar. |
Day
10 : |
Mongar - Tashigang: This trip of about
96 kms takes 3 hours passing through
Kori la pass (2,450j) the place marked
by a pretty chorten and a stone wall.
The first part of journey is through a
leafy forest filled with ferns. Later
road descends rapidly through corn
fields and banana groves arriving the
famous zigzags of Yadi which is a recent
settlement. Overnight at the lodge in
Tashigang. |
Day 11 : |
Tashigang (Excursion to Tashiyangtse):
24 kms from Tashigang, visit the temple
of Gom Kora , set on a small alluvial
plateau, overlooking the river. Gom Kora
is the famous place where Guru Rimpoche
meditated in order to subdue a demon.
Further ahead reach to Doksum village
where you can see women busy in weaving
traditional Bhutanese fabric. Visit to
Tashiyangtse Dzong, situated at the
altitude of 1,850 m, was established
just after the Drukpa conquest in around
1656 and later completely renovated in
1976. |
Day 12 : |
Tashigang - Samdrup Jongkhar : Tashigang
- Samdrup Jongkhar road completed in
1965 and the journey takes about 6
hours. Along the way see Sherubtse
College , the only college in country
founded in 1978. Also visit Zangtho
Pelri temple built in 1978 by the late
Minister of Home Affairs and represent
Guru Rimpoche's paradiseOvernight at the
lodge in Samdrup Jongkhar. |
Day 13 : |
Samdrup Jongkhar - Guwahati : After
breakfast drive to Guwahati, the capital
town of Indian north eastern state of
Assam , for flight to Delhi / Calcutta
or onward tour programme in that region. |
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