Bliss Of Bhutan

On your arrival our representative will meet and assist you at Railway Station or Bagdogra Airport to transfer you to Phuentsholling via Jaigaon. The border of India & Bhutan, Indian side is Jaigaon and the Bhutan side is called Phuentsholing. The drive will be through Dooars which is the land of wonderful beauty, sloping tea gardens with impressive views. Check into the hotel, evening will be free for leisure. Overnight stay will be at Phuentsholing.

After processing immigration permit you will drive to Thimpu. This drive will take you along the Paro Chu (water or river) downstream to the convergence with the Wang Chu next the road turn upstream and travel along the Wang Chu to Thimphu. You can experience breath taking view of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks together with the sacred Jumolhari and Mount Jichu Drake. After reaching there, check into hotel and overnight stay will be at Thimphu.

After breakfast Sightseeing in Thimphu valley including visit to the following: The National Library, housing an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts; the Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School) where students undergo a 6-year training course in Bhutan's 13 traditional arts and crafts. Later visit Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions. Then, visit the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, to browse through example of Bhutan's fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, interesting items made from local materials. After lunch, visit King's Memorial Chorten continuously circumambulated by people, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of 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. Evening drive past Trashichhoe Dzong, "fortress of the glorious religion". This is the center of government and religion, site of monarch&' throne room and seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans. After that we visit Lord Buddha Statue, The Buddha Dordenma is located amidst the ruins of phodrang, the palace of Sherab Wangchuck, the thirteenth desi Druk, overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. On completion, it will one of the largest statues in the world, at a heigh of 169 feet (515.5 meters) , accommodating 100,000 8-inch tall and 25,000 12-inch tall gilded Buddhas respectively in the interior. The statue is surrounded by 943 acres of forest area that comprises the kuenselphodrang nature park. (Sunday and Government holidays some sight seen close then you can cover next day)

After breakfast, drive up to Dochu-la pass (3,088m/ 10,130 ft) stopping briefly here to take in the view and admire the chorten, mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If skies are clear, the following peaks can be seen from this pass (left to right): Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m ), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m ), Kangphugang (7,170 m ), Zongphugang (7, 060 m ), a table mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana - finally Gangkar puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497m. After visit to Punakha Dzong, Built strategically at the junction of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region, Punakha Dzong has played an important role in Bhutan's history. Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King. Overnight stay Punakha/Wangdue.

After breakfast drive to Paro visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom. Then you will visit the Ta Dzong. This Dzong was built in 1651 as a watch tower. It means the victorious fortress which was built in 1647 by Shabdrung to celebrate his victory over the Tibetan invaders. In the afternoon you will visit the Rinpong Dzong. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan. Overnight stay in Paro.

Chele la (pass), at an elevation 3,988 meters is considered to be one of the highest motorable passes in Bhutan. About an hour's drive along a thickly-forested road, is this Pass-a botanical paradise. The pass provides stunning views of the sacred mountain Jomolhari and Jichu Drake. It is also marked by hundreds of prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Here, visitors can see cascades of wild roses; purple and yellow primulas; and swathes of deep blue iris covering the forest floor. The top of the pass bloom with rhododendrons in a variety of colours-pale pink, deep pink, burnt orange, mauve, white and scarlet. Later in the afternoon drive to Paro same way back. The drive will be under 2 hours. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

After breakfast proceed to Hasimara from Phuentsholing.