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Jambey Lakhang Festival Tour
Duration: 12 Days (October only)
The Jambey Lakhang festival goes from 17-21 October
Day 01
Paro- Thimphu
You can fly to Paro either on Druk Air from Calcutta or from Bangkok. Whichever way you come, be it Calcutta, Bangkok or Kathmandu the view of Jhulmori peaks are just wonderful in more ways than one. Across picturesque sites you will land on the tiny airstrip in Paro.After a brief stop at Paro take an adventurous flight to Thimphu, the capital.
Day 02
Thimphu sightseeing.
In the morning you can take a walk to the Memorial Chorten, a shrine built in the memory of the late king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. The Bhutanese people come to this place and walk around the temple which a lot of devotion and constant prayers on their lips. After breakfast you can begin the sightseeing tour of Thimphu which includes; memorial chorten, Zilukha nunnery, textile museum, heritage museum one more stop at the weekend market during the noon . It is wonderful to see so many people in one place, where the high heeled residents of Thimphu jostle with village folks for fresh, cheapest food and vegetables. It is also interesting to see different vegetables and other food not commonly seen in the west.
Day 03
Thimphu-Wangduephodrang-Trongsa
In the early morning you will have to drive east towards Tongsa.On the way you can make a stop at Dochu LaPass, 10,000ft from where the view the eastern Himalayas is spectacular. Gangkar Punsum, 24,770ft the highest mountain in Bhutan can also be seen from here. The road from Dochula Pass descends through a forest and finally emerges into Punakha and the Wagdue valley which stand at an altitude of 1400m. From the town of Wangdiphodrang , the road again gradually winds its way up and crosses the black mountains over the PeDuration: 12 Days (October only)
The Jambey Lakhang festival goes from 17-21 October
Day 01
Paro- Thimphu
You can fly to Paro either on Druk Air from Calcutta or from Bangkok. Whichever way you come, be it Calcutta, Bangkok or Kathmandu the view of Jhulmori peaks are just wonderful in more ways than one. Across picturesque sites you will land on the tiny airstrip in Paro.After a brief stop at Paro take an adventurous flight to Thimphu, the capital.
Day 02
Thimphu sightseeing.
In the morning you can take a walk to the Memorial Chorten, a shrine built in the memory of the late king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. The Bhutanese people come to this place and walk around the temple which a lot of devotion and constant prayers on their lips. After breakfast you can begin the sightseeing tour of Thimphu which includes; memorial chorten, Zilukha nunnery, textile museum, heritage museum one more stop at the weekend market during the noon . It is wonderful to see so many people in one place, where the high heeled residents of Thimphu jostle with village folks for fresh, cheapest food and vegetables. It is also interesting to see different vegetables and other food not commonly seen in the west.
Day 03
Thimphu-Wangduephodrang-Trongsa
In the early morning you will have to drive east towards Tongsa.On the way you can make a stop at Dochu LaPass, 10,000ft from where the view the eastern Himalayas is spectacular. Gangkar Punsum, 24,770ft the highest mountain in Bhutan can also be seen from here. The road from Dochula Pass descends through a forest and finally emerges into Punakha and the Wagdue valley which stand at an altitude of 1400m. From the town of Wangdiphodrang , the road again gradually winds its way up and crosses the black mountains over the Pele La Pass (11,152'), where we make stop for views of the snow clad peaks, including that of Bhutan 's sacred peak Mt. Chomolhari. In the afternoon, we arrive in the town of Trongsa . Trongsa, has one of the largest and certainly the most impressive Dzong in the country. Trongsa Dzong is a rambling collection of buildings that trail down the ridge, with remarkable street like corridors and wide stone stairs running down. It was from here that the present royal family emerged as the most powerful force at the beginning of this century. The first two hereditary kings ruled the country from here and it is still a tradition that the crown prince first serves as the Trongsa Penlop before ascending to the throne. In the evening, stroll around the small town area and see some weavers.
Day 04
Trongsa- Jakar
From Trongsa the trail gradually ascends and crosses the Yotong La pass and then drops down into the Chume valley, which is the first of the four Bumthang valleys. You can stop at the road side village of Zugney to see the people and culture and then stroll for about 15 minutes to the Prakar temple. In the evening you will drive to Jakar, which takes about forty odd minutes. After tea and snacks at the hotel, visit Namhai Nyingpo monastery and stop at the Swiss farm, where you can buy cheese, Apple wine, brandy or ciders.
Day 05
The Bumthang Valley
In the morning you will have to drive to the Kurjey lhakhang complex and then walk upon a suspension bridge into Tamshing Lhakang. Visit Tamshing lhakhang and walk through the village to the nearby Konchuksum. While you walk across the farmland to the Swiss farm area, you can visit other sights such as the indigenous hospital, Chakar ('iron castle), woodcraft workshop, dying workshop, and the five water wheels behind Wangdicholing palace, etc. You also have the option to attend half a day of the festival.
Day 06
Bumthang Jambey Lakhang Festival
The Festival at Jampay Lhakhang which apparently is an monastery but of equal importance to the Bhutanese, can be attended by you. The festival is an extravaganza of multicolored costumes and people. You can visit the Chakar temple, and continue to Kurjey monastery complex. After visiting Kurjey, we start the walk across the suspension bridge over the Chamkhar river to Tamshing Lhakang. Walk through the village to a smaller Kunchok sum temple and then continue the walk through the farm land to swiss farm area. At this point, your vehicle will meet you and transfer to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the new monastery of Namhai Nyingpo, the traditional hospital, Jakar Dzong, Lamay Gompa and other sights as per available time.
Day 07
Bumthang-Mongar
The drive to mongar across the Thrumshingla pass is a long yet a beautiful one. Once you reach Sengor village, you will notice that there is a road which has been carved out of rock cliff with several brooks, leaping out onto the road as it descends. As you approach Mongar, you will see a lot of vegetation. The final stretch is climb from Kuri Chu river valley to Mongar at 1600m. Unlike western Bhutan, where most towns and villages are in the valley, in Eastern Bhutan, they are on the top of hills or ridges and Mongar is no exception.
Day 08
Return to Jakar
Once you have visited the wonderful Mongar you will return back to Jakar. For this you will have to retrace your step back from Thrumshingla to Jakar.
Day 09
Bumthang - Gangtey
From the town of Jakar you will have to climb out of the Bumthang valleys on the twisting mountain road and towards Yotong La pass (11,000ft). Near the pass there is an area of wild bamboos the Red Panda thrives. The road then descends into Trongsa, where the group will make tea stop. Drive past Rukubji, Chendebji, and other villages and cross Pele La (11,000ft/3,353m). Just beyond the pass, follow the turn off gravel road from Lawala to Phobjika. It takes approximately one hour from the main road through the forests that brings into the hidden and stunningly beautiful glacial valley of Phobjikha . Phobjikha is famous for its ancient Gangtey Gompa monastery and also for the black necked cranes (locally called "Thrung Thrung Karmo') that migrate here around fall and stay through the winter. Just before the spring, they return to the higher Tibetan plateaus. Many myths and legends exist about this bird in Bhutanese society and it has inspired many folk songs and dances including the dances that you may see at the archery game.
Day 10
Gangtey-Punakha
From Gangtey you will drive Punakha via Wangdiphodrang. At Punakha you can visit the Dzong, which is famous both for its beauty and its creator, the first Shabdrung in the fifteenth century. In the afternoon you will drive to Thimphu Overnight in Thimphu.
Day 11
Thimphu - Paro
After breakfast, you will tour the Textile Museum and the Folk Heritage Museum, and you can explore the interesting handicraft shops. In the afternoon, you will drive to Paro. In the evening you can visit a traditional farmhouse and, if you wish, enjoy a typical Bhutanese dinner. Overnight in Paro.
Day 12
Depart Paro
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