7 nights and 8 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 Mo
chhu (female) rivers. Today it serves as the winter residence of the monastic body, where they
spend 6 months in Punakha Dzong and migrate 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
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 the
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 Je Khenpo 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 is well known for giving blessings
to infertile women to conceive and bless the newborn children. So, you will witness newborn
children brought up there and women carrying phalluse 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, an old man from Woolakha who was hard hardcore
believer of his teachings. 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 clots 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

On our second day, 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 155 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

National Memorial stupa
You will start with a visit to the holy stupa built in 1974 by grand queen mother asji phuentsho
choden wangchuck in memory of his son third king Jigme dorji wangchuck, who passed away in
1972. Today third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, is referred to as the father of modern Bhutan
for his work in connecting Bhutan with a motorable road to India. He is also responsible for
Bhutan joining the member of United Nations, bringing other major reforms in the education and
health sectors. The relic inside consists of the different manifestations of Vajakiliya and the
teachings sacred in the Vajrayana Buddhism, and they were consecrated by 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, and now it has become a rehabilitation hub for
injured wild animals, especially for herbivores. 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

On the 5th day, we will return to Paro district in the early morning, which is around 3 3-hour
drive from Punakha district. Upon our arrival, we will explore these itineraries.
Paro Ringpung Dzong
If one sees this fortress from a distance and observes, it's believed that one can see the fortress
looks like it is being built upon a heap of jewels. That is why it is called a ringpung, which
means a heap of jewels and was built in the year 1646 by the first paro penlop under the
command of zhabdrung nagwang Namgyal. The sacred relics that are housed in this fortress are a
single cymbal, which is believed to have been discovered by the treasure reveler Sherab Mebar,
and a thongdrel, which means liberation by sight, is a gigantic silk appliqué tapestry of Guru
Padmasambhava. which is brought out during paro festival in the 15th day of the second
Bhutanese lunar month and displayed to public at early hours around 3am.
Ta Dzong National Museum
Built in 1649 by la ngongpa tenzin drukdra, overlooking Paro valley, the ta dzong serves as a
watch tower to alert the Paro valley during enemy invasions. In 1965, under the command of the
third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the ta dzong (watch tower) was converted into to national
museum. A major renovation was done, and in 1968, ta-dzong was opened to the public. Today,
it houses different old artifacts, from paintings to sculptures and weaponry.
Overnight stay in a hotel or resort in Paro

Hike to Taktshang (tiger’s nest)
It is believed that during Guru Padmasambhava's second visit to Bhutan during the 8th century,
he visited Taktshang and subdued the evil deity and meditated there for a long time. It is said that
during the subjugation of the deity, he discovered one of his wrathful manifestations, called guru
dorji dorlo, riding on the tigress. After Guru Padmasambhava's visit to Taktshang, the sacredness
of the place became renowned, and many Buddhist masters followed to visit and meditate there,
eventually blessing the place. On the dates 24,25, and 26 of the fifth Bhutanese lunar month, a
vajra discovered by Guru Padmasambhava at Taktshang is displayed to the public once
everyyear.
Overnight stay in a hotel or resort in Paro

On your last day, you will drive towards the Haa district through Chelala Pass, one of the highest
motorable mountain passes overlooking the Haa town. We will visit Lhakhang Karpo (white
temple) and Lhakhang Nagkpo (black temple) believed to have been built in the 7th century by
Tibetan king Songtshen Gempo to pin down a giant demoness.
Overnight stay in a hotel or resort in Paro

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