6 nights and 7 days
Bhutan

Punakha Dzong
While returning to Punakha, we will visit Punakha Dzong (fortress) known as Pungthang Dewa
Chhenbi Phodrang (the palace of great happiness). Constructed in the year 1637 by Zhabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal to fulfill the prophecy of Guru Padmasambhava. It is the second fortress built
by him after Semtokha Dzong. It is known for its majestic architectural designs and sacred relics.
The dzong houses the sacred relics, including the Rangjung Kharsapani and the sacred remains
of zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The dzong is located between the Pho chhu (male) and the
Mo chhu (female) rivers. Today, it serves as the winter residence of the monastic body, where
they spend 6 months in Punakha Dzong and shift to Thimphu during summer. These practices of
migration during summer and winter are to preserve the tradition once practiced by dzabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal, and thousands of people line up to receive the blessing of the sacred relic,
which is only brought out during this migration. Punakha district was the capital of Bhutan until
1955, when the capital was shifted to Thimphu. Historically important events of Punakha Dzong
can be traced back as early as 1900, when the first documented British missionary explorer, John
Claude, visited Bhutan through Punakha Dzong in 1905 and had a rough encounter with the
Bhutanese delegations, thus leading to the Duar War with the British army.
- In 1907, Sir Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned the first king of Bhutan in Punakha Dzong.
- On 8th January 1910, the Treaty of Punakha was signed by Indian British with Bhutan in
Punakha Fortress.
- 1953 first national assembly was held in Punakha Dzong.
Today, the Punakha Dzong stands tall and majestic, surrounded by jacaranda trees where they
bloom purple flowers between May to June, and looks even more amazing.
About rang jung kharsapani
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
A nunnery is a monastic establishment where only women dedicate their lives to practicing
dharma. It was built by Yab Ugyen Dorji and Yum Thuji Zam (they are parents of the queen
mothers of Bhutan) in 2008 and completed in 2010. It's believed that the purpose of establishing
this nunnery was according to the prophecy made by the 69th abbot, Khenpo Je Gadhen
Rinchen. Today, this establishment serves as a college and supports around 120 nuns.
Chimmi Lhakhang
The reason the temple is called as temple of fertility is cause it's well known for giving blessings
to infertile women to conceive and blessing the newborn children. So, you will witness newborn
children brought up there and women carrying phalluses and circling the temple in a clockwise
direction. The place is renowned for Bhutanese as well a foreigners who believe and have been
blessed with children and protection from the local deity.
The temple is associated with legends of Drukpa Kuenlay, who was known for his eccentric and
unconventional way of teaching Buddhism. He did not believe in institutional establishment to
spread Buddhism; rather, he used an unorthodox way of teaching and enlightening individuals. It
is believed that canting sexually abusive verbal he was able to shame sinful individual and get rid
of their sins. He would subdue evil spirits and demons by revealing his phallus, which, according
to legend, is believed to be a thunderbolt disguised as a phallus. The best known example of an
enlightening individual is Woola Gyalp and the old man from Woolakha, who was hard hardcore
believer of his teaching. It is believed that the old man started chanting sexually abusive prayers
instructed by Drukpa Kunley, so much so that he even chanted during the presence of his family
members. Whereby he was forced to leave the village and stay in isolation, it is said that during
his enlightenment, he called upon his family and village to witness his enlightenment.
Today, one can witness the stupa of woola gyalp inside Chimmi Lhakhang, where his cloths and
remaining items are kept inside the stupa after his physical body attained enlightenment.
That is why you see paintings of phalluses on Bhutanese houses to get rid of evil spirits and
gossip, there is are likely possibility that tourists can misinterpret the painting and objective
phallus as a representation of very male genital. These paintings and carvings represent the
phallus of only Drukpa Kunley, so do not be ashamed while visiting and receiving blessings at
Chimi Lhakhangs.
Overnight stay in a hotel or resort in Punakha

Phobjikha valley
we shall travel to Phobjikha under Wangdue district, which is also known as the valley of the
cranes, as it is the winter roosting place for endangered black neck cranes. One can enjoy the
breathtaking view of a lush green valley with a twisted stream running through the valley like a
snake while going for a short hike through the dense pine trees.
During sightseeing, we shall first visit Gangtay monastery, located on top of a hill overlooking
Phobjikha valley. Gangtay monastery is a Nyingma monastic college and the main seat of
treasure revealer Pema Lingpa. Today it is taken care of by the 9th gangtay tiku Rigzin Pema
Namgyal with over 355 monks there. Then we shall head for the short half-hour hike downward,
entering the dense pine forest and eventually walking through the lush green Phobjikha Valley.
After this visit, Khewang Lhakhang, right at the end of the hike, was founded by Tulku Penjor
Gyeltshen, a disciple of Longchen Ramjampa. Built to suppress famine and disease, you will
notice that the temple is built on top of a marshy place, believed to have a lake under the
temple. After 5 minutes of driving, you can visit the black neck crane center and see two black
neck cranes kept there, and see the valley in close up through binoculars set up in the center.
Overnight stay in a hotel or resort in phobjikha

we will return to Thimphu district in the early morning, which takes 4-hour drive from
Phobjikha valley. Upon our arrival, we will explore these itineraries
National Memorial Chorten
You will start with a visit to the holiest stupas. Built in 1974 by the grand queen mother, asji
phuentsho choden wangchuck in memory of his son third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who
passed away in 1972, it is believed that the late third king had a wish to build a stupa at that very
juncture, and often refer to him as the father of modern Bhutan for his work in connecting
Bhutan with motorable road with India and bringing other major reforms in education and health
sectors. The relic inside consists of the Vajakiliya teaching and family sacred in the Vajrayana
teaching, and they were consecrated by the great Buddhist master Dujom Jigdrel Yeshay Dorji.
And designed by Dungsay Thinly Norbu.
Buddha Dordenma
A 51-meter-tall bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni was built according to the prophecy of
Lam Sonam Zangpo, facing south of Thimphu to bring peace and stability in the region. late
lama Sonam Zangpo was a direct disciple of Drubwang Shakya Shri, who specialized in the six
yogas of Naropa. Built in 2006 and completed in 2015, today it is the highlight of every tourist,
standing tall overlooking the south of Thimphu. One can also choose to exit from the opposite
direction and enjoy the breath-taking view of south Thimphu and climb down over 200 plus
steps while exiting.
Royal Takin Park
If one wishes to see the national animal of Bhutan in live then one must visit the Royal Takin
Park. According to the Bhutanese myth and folklore, it is believed to have been miraculously
created by lama Drukpa Kuenley, or the divine madman, during the 14th century by affixing the
carcass of head of goat to the body of a cow, giving it its unique appearance. The park was
established in 1974 to serve as a sanctuary; now it has become a rehabilitation hub for injured
wild animals, especially for herbivores. Today, the injured wild animal is brought in and given a
safe sanctuary until they recovers and are released back into the wild. You can find different
species of herbivores, like takin, sambar deer, mountain goral, barking deer, blue sheep, and even
birds like tragopan and Himalayan monal were once heavily hunted for their beautiful pattern
feathers. Now number of these endangered bird species is slowly rising with the help of social
awareness programs from the government, and ironically, the abundant presence of plastic tapes.
Royal Textile Academy
Under the patronage of queen mother ashi sangay conden wangchuck it was initiated in the year
2008 to preserve the culture of traditional weaving and using rare earth minerals and plants base
pigments as dire. one can see different patents of dress being displayed for both men and women
but after visit you can pretty much conclude that women have a lot variety of colors and patents
to choose compare to men. You can also see different dresses being worn by people in certain
villages, other than the gho and kira.
Simply Bhutan – living museum
This one particularly shows the inside of Bhutan in a very traditional way. After reaching there, a
female in-house guide will take over the guest and let you all experience how a guest was
welcomed in Bhutan in olden days with the offering of locally brewed alcohol called ara. After
that, one can witness how traditionally houses are built using damp soil and repeatedly ramping
it, and with it a song being sung, cheering and urging the other person the fetch the damp soil
quickly. You will also experience your hand in archery, the national sport of Bhutan.
Overnight stay in a hotel or resort in Thimphu