9 Days Black necked Crane Festival

Elevation 2,320 m

You are welcome to Bhutan the land of Thunder Dragon. Upon your arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon your exiting the arrival gate. You will be driven to Thimphu where you check in to the hotel and let you taste your first Bhutanese cuisine.

Visit Buddha Point- at Kuensel Phodrang, there is a 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne of Buddha symbolizing indestructibility of Buddhism. It is the tallest statue of Lord Buddha. The view of Thimphu city in a valley from the Buddha point is spectacular and beautiful, especially at night.

Visit Heritage Museum – Dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past though exhibition of artefacts used in rural households.

Visit National Memorial Chorten- which was built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk the father of Modern Bhutan.

Centenary Farmers’ Market – Every Saturday and Sunday most of the Thimphu population congregate on the banks of the river where the weekend market is held. Here villagers from the valley and other nearby places come to sell their agriculture products.

Elevation 2,320 m

In the morning after breakfast we take a trek to Phajoding Monastery that is around 3 hours trek up and around 2 hours trek down. If time permits you we may trek further up to Thuje Dra from where you will see Skull Mountain. Thimphu view from this place is breath taking. You will also see the Rhododendron bushes stretching to unending ends. In the late noon we return back to Thimphu.
This monastery was founded in 1224 by Phajo Drugom Zhipo (Buddhist saint) who spread the Drukpa Kagyupa sect of Buddhism in Bhutan.
The Phajoding monastery is listed by the World Monument Fund (WMF) as one of the 5 endangered cultural monuments that need immediate help in the world.

Visit Changangkha Monastery – Changangkha Lhakhang is oldest temple in Thimphu built in 12^th century. It is situated above Thimphu, near Motithang. The monastery was built by Lama Phajo Drugom Zhigpo who came to Bhutan from Ralung in Tibet. This monastery houses Chenrizig: an 11-headed, thousand-armed manifestation of Avolokitesawara (a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas) as the central statue.
If time permits and you are in good shape after trek we will visit textile museum and paper making factory else we go for rest.

Visit Textile Museum – witnesses the art of traditional weaving.

Visit Paper making factory – witnesses the art of paper making.

Elevation 1,300 m

Dochula Pass- on the way to Punakha we will pass through the 108 chortens called “Druk Wangyal Chortens” that was built in 2003 by the present Queen Mother of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Indian militants and for the liberation of the souls lost in this operation.

Dochu La Nature Hike- It is a beautiful hike which takes more than 2 hours and takes you through deep forest of Rhododendrons, Magnolia, Juniper others and brings you to Botanical Garden at the bottom of the route.

Punakha Dzong- Built in 1637-38 by Ngwang Namgyel who was a 1^st Zhabdrung Rimpoche in Bhutan. The Dzong is built between the confluence of Pho Chu and Mo Chu. The Dzong is a winter resident for religious head, Chief Abbott, the Jhekhenpo.