Bhutan, Land Of Thunder Dragon

Welcome to Bagdogra/NJP then drive to Phuentsholing on your 8 days in Bhutan Arrive to Phuntsholing and check in to your hotels.

Phuentsholing: Phuentsholing (alt. 300m / 985 ft.) - The frontier town, it is a thriving commercial centre, situated directly at the base of Himalayan foothills. It is a fascinating place where different ethnic groups mingle prominently Indian, Bhutanese and Nepalese. Being the border town, Phuentsholing serves as the convenient entry/exit point for Bhutan and also the important link to visit the Indian state of West Bengal, Sikkim and Assam. Later visit;
Evening take a down town walk.
Overnight at the hotel in Phuntsholing

Get transferred to Thimphu on Day 2 of your Bhutan Itinerary After an early breakfast move for immigration formalities after done with immigration transfer to Thimphu, on arrival check-into the hotel. The capital town of Bhutan and the centre of government, religion and commerce, Thimphu is a unique city with unusual mixture of modern development alongside ancient traditions. With the population of about 90,000, it is perhaps still the world’s only capital city without a traffic light.

Also take a walk to the Coronation Park.
Located on the banks of the river (near the city stadium), these 5.6 acres of parkland offer a pleasant and relaxing environment to stroll or to sit and watch the river flow by.

Evening time can be spent strolling through the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts bazaar, to browse through example of Bhutan's fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and woodcarvings, jewellery, interesting items made from local materials.

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu. (Altitude 2,320m)

Visit enchanting local sites as part of your Bhutan tour itinerary Savor a delectable breakfast and gear up for local sightseeing in Thimphu.

Memorial Chorten: Also known as Thimphu Chorten, this stupa located on Doe Boom Lam is unlike most stupas in the world. The Memorial Chorten does not enshrine human remains but instead represents the mind of the Buddha. Teach your kids about the culture and tradition of Bhutan as you revel in these architectural marvels.

National Library: Your final stop for the day is the National Library and Archives of Bhutan. The library was established in 1967 and has been used to promote and preserve regional culture, ever since. Go through old sacred texts and know more about the rich history of Bhutan. Tashichhoedzong - The seat of the government since 1952 and presently houses the throne room and offices of the king, the secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance

Buddha Point: The Buddha Dordenma statue in Thimphu at 51.5 metres is among the largest Buddha statues in the world. Located atop a hill in Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park, the statue is gilded in bronze and gold. Seek peace in this scenic haven and cherish the wonderful time with your kids.

Bhutan Textile Museum: Visit the textile museum located near the National Library as your second sightseeing spot for the day. Established in 2001, the museum sustains and promotes the art of weaving. One can also buy books and textiles from the museum shop. Come back to the hotel for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Optional: Shopping (charges extra)

Get transferred to Punakha on Day 4 of your Bhutan tour itinerary This morning drive to low lands of Punakha valley touching Dochula Pass 10,000 ft and on the way stop at Hongtsho village. Stop at the immigration check point to stamp in your permit. You will be driving through the first mountain pass in the western part of Bhutan.

You will find the 108 Druk Wangyal chortens on the top of the pass where the ridges are draped in colorful prayer flags greet you.

Stop at Lamperi and visit the Royal Botanical Park for 30 minutes. Proceed down towards Punakha. On the way stop and take a short walk through the villages toChimmi Lhakhang - The divine madman also known, as Drukpa Kinley is a famous teacher with whom the phallic symbol is associated. Tales told by your guide would have excited you to visit Chimmi Lhakhang. Japanese and several American couples visited this temple and were blessed miraculously with children.
Afternoon visit majestic Punakha Dzong placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, the dzong was built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative seat of the region. It was here that the dual system of government was introduced in the 17th century and in 1907, enthroned the first King Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuk Shop for souvenirs and come back to the hotel in Paro for a good night’s sleep.

Get transferred to Paro on Day 5 of your Bhutan tour itinerary After a piping hot breakfast, Paro en route visit Simtokha Dzong. This dzong, built in 1627 is the oldest in Bhutan. It now houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.

Afternoon in Paro, visit Ta Dzong, once a watchtower, built to defend Rinpung Dzong during inter-valley wars of the 17th century, Ta Dzong was inaugurated as Bhutan’s National Museum in 1968.

Afterwards, walk down a hillside trail to visit Rinpung Dzong. Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal , the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called Nemi Zam Return to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.

Enjoy a thrilling trek to Tiger’s Nest today as per your Bhutan travel itinerary. Arise fresh amidst unpolluted expanses and gorge on a delicious breakfast. The day presents you an incredible trek to Tiger’s Nest. The ascent is an easy one and you can reach the top in almost 2 hours, if you are an enthusiastic trekker. Beginners might take a little more time.

Tiger’s Nest: Also known as Taktshang Goemba or Paro Taktsang, Tiger’s Nest is a monastery that is perched on a cliff and offers you spectacular scenery of blue pine and rhododendrons forest. Legends state that Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on a tigress’ back to mollify a local demon. Later, he meditated here for three months.

Once you have enjoyed the adrenaline rush with this Bhutan trekking, come back to the hotel and relax your weary self.
Tip: Clicking pictures is not allowed inside the monastery. So, make sure you hold back the photographer in you.

Drive from Paro to Phuentsholing on Day 7 of your Bhutan tour itinerary After Breakfast drive to Phuentsholing. Evening an exploratory walk around Main Street and market area.
Overnight at the hotel in Phuntsholing

After a hearty breakfast, check-out from the hotel and head to New Jalpaiguri Railway Station /Bagdogra Airport.
Tour Ends.