The scintillating Bhutan Fair Festival will commence from the picturesque Paro and run for 11 Nights and 12 Days. The tour will comprise of trip to some of the stunning tourist destinations such as Paro Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, the hugely popular Tango Monastery etc. Lush valleys and hilly forests are a complete treat for the travelers.
Some of the key highlights of the Bhutan Fair Festival are Black Hat Dance (Shana) and the Gings (emanations of Guru Rinpoche), Dance of Offering and Fire Dance (Mecham). Our expert representative will escort you throughout the vacations and make your trip enjoyable and informative.
Tour Duration : 11 Nights / 12 Days
Places To Visit : Paro - Thimpu - Punakha - Bumthang
Day 1: Arrive Paro
On day 1 of our journey, we arrive at Paro. A GHIJ representative would welcome the tourists here and would arrange for their check in at a hotel. Paro has the only international airport of the country. After settling the luggage and relaxing in the hotel for some time, you can also visit Paro Dzong that was built way back in 1646. Starting your Bhutan festival tour today, you can also get to see the National Museum, which was earlier the watchtower for the Dzong. Next on our plan is a stop at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of oldest temples here. Spend your evening strolling in the marketplaces. Overnight stay at Paro.Day 2: Paro - Thimphu (56 kms)
After breakfast, drive 56 kms to the capital city of Thimphu. The road to the capital city passes along a narrow valley with high, rocky hillocks on the left. Don’t forget to visit Simtokha Dzong en route. This place is known as a place of profound tantric teaching and has been established on a hillock a few kilometers out of town. This centre also houses the Institute for Language and Culture Studies.Days 3: Thimphu - Tango Monastery
First drive through the upper Thimphu valley to the base camp of Tango Monastery and then hike up to the Monastery. Have a hearty lunch. Tango Monastery is the centre for higher studies. This Monastery has been wonderfully established on the hill top. End your day with a walk down and drive back to Thimphu.Days 4: Thimphu - Punakha (73 kms)
After breakfast, we start our day with a 73 km drive to Punakha through Dochula Pass. If you have a clear sky, the view of the Himalayan Mountain ranges is simply awesome. Don’t miss visiting the enchanting 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo. Take a stopover at Metsina village; walk up through rice fields to the Devine Madman's Monastery - Chhimi Lhakhang.Days 5: Punakha - Bumthang (213 kms)
Today, we start for a 213 kms drive to Bumthang while passing Trongsa and Wangdue districts and visiting Wangdue Dzong en route. It is situated on a ridge near a river junction. We can also drive on to Trongsa via Pele la pass, which is cited as a wonderful opportunity for photographs.Drive to Bumthang, a wonderful retreat with lush valleys and hilly forests. With its four valleys, Chumey, Choekhor, Tang, and Ura, Bumthang is a perfect place to visit as it offers opportunity to visit a yathra (textile weaving) factory. Overnight at hotel in Bumthang Jaker.
Day 6: Bumthang Sightseeing and Jambay Lakhang Drub (Festival)
We can start our day with a visit the Jambay Lhakhang, which was built in the 7th century by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet. You must also visit Kujey Lhakhang. The oldest temple here was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. This temple was established around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche meditated and left his body imprint. Take a stop at Tamshing Lhakhang.
Jakar Dzong, "castle of the white bird" is a must visit here. The legend goes like this that when the lamas assembled to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly and settled on a division of a hill. The lamas took this as an omen, and this hill was chosen as the site.
The first day of the festival would begin at around 8:30 pm in the evening. The highlights of the festival are:
- Black Hat Dance (Shana) and of the Gings (emanations of Guru Rinpoche
- Dance of Offering (Tshogcham)
- Fire Dance (Mecham)
Day 7: Bumthang Jambay Lhakhang Festival
After breakfast, we attend the full second day of this festival which starts around 10:30 am on the second day. You can watch ritual dances performed in the court yard of Jambay Lhakhang.
Details of the 2nd day of this festival are as follows:
- A ceremony where a small girl representing the daughter of Sindhu Raja blesses the villagers.
- Dance of Singje Yab Yum (Lord of death and his consort)
- Dance of Nyulema and Peling Ging Sum (Three kinds of Ging)
- Dance of the Jachung Bochung (Two mythical birds)
After breakfast, the travelers go on to attend the full day of the 3rd day of Jambay Lhakhang Drub which begins at 10:30 am.
Given below are the details of the day's program:
- Dance of the four stags (Shacham)
- Dance of Ging Tsoling
- Dramitse Ngacham (Dance of the drums from Dramitse)
- Pacham - Dance of the heros
- Phole Mole: A Play about the nobleman and the lady.
Start your day a bit early with a hearty breakfast, and then drive to Phobjikha valley. Here you can visit Gangtey Gompa (monastery) which houses the only Nyingmapa monastery in the country. After a 213 kms drive in the day, overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 10: Punakha - Paro After breakfast today, our GHIJ representative will arrange for a drive through upper Punakha valley passing through different farmhouses. We can then walk to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten (50 Mins) temple that was built by the Queen of Bhutan while praying for peace and stability in this ever-changing world. This temple has been established on the hilltop overlooking the valley below.
After lunch we drive back to Paro. Overnight stay in a hotel at Paro.
Day 11: Paro - Taktsang Monastery Drive up till the base camp of Taktsang and then we hike up to the most famous Monastery of Bhutan. This hike will take about an hour and from there it takes 2 hours to reach the monastery. Have lunch at this place and walk back down.
Then we drive up to the valley to see the remains of Drukgyel Dzong, 18 km. from Paro. This is the place from where the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century.
Day 12: Paro - Delhi
On the last day of our Bhutan Festival tour, a GHIJ representative will arrange for our airport transfer from where we board a flight back to Delhi. Thus comes to end an enchanting journey of the blissful Bhutan Festival tour.
