Bhuskar's Kitchen

SPRING FRAGANCE TOUR (10NIGHTS/11 DAYS)

Day 01 Arrive Paro: Upon arrival in paro, clear custom and immigration. keep your copy of visa with you on the hand. Your visa has been paid for. Meet your guide and drive outside and you will be taken to your hotel. After having lunch you will start sight seeing includes Rinpung Dzong meaning "fortress of the heap of jewels". Built in mid 17th century, it now serves as the administrative and judicial seat of Paro district and residence for the 200 monks of Paro. It is also the venue for Paro festival held in the spring; Ta Dzong (national museum) At the top of the hill above Paro Dzong is an old watchtower that was renovated in 1968 to house the National museum. It was completed in 1656 and was originally the Ta Dzong (watchtower) of Paro Dzong and dungtse temple was constructed by the great bridge-builder Thangtong Gyelpo in 1433. It is said to have been built on the head of demons, which was causing illness to lineage.
Paro is one of the most beautiful valleys in the country and Bhutan’s only airport is located here, it is located among the terraced fields, and elegant farm houses. Willow trees line many of the roads, contrasting with bright colors of the fields and the most popular and important sites also found within Paro district. Paro town (2,280m) is still a small city with one main street and less then one hundred small family-ran shops. In the weekend there is a market in Paro. Over night: Hotel Paro
Day 02 Paro – Dochula via Thimphu (3050m/10,000ft):

Thimphu, capital of Bhutan located at an altitude of 2300m from the sea level has fascinating sight seeing and view points. In our fourth day we will have entire day by spending seeing the splendor and beauty of Thimphu city, our first stop in Thimphu will be at Sangay Gang where our television satellite and radio station is installed, after that will drift down to Motithang Mini zoo, here we can see our national animal Takin. Takin is an animal with the head of goat and the body of the cow created Tibetan saint by the name Drukpa Kunley  popularly called by the epithet “The Divine Madman” 15th century. After Zoo we will move to Changangkha Lhakhang, then to Kuensel Phodrand where you seeing Lord Buddha 165ft tall statue and whole Thimphu city and valley beautifully can be seen. On the way back to city we will visit National memorial chorten(stupa) built in memory of our late Third King Jigme Dorji WangchuK and visit   textile museum of Bhutan and Zulukha nunnery and view then to centenary farmer’s market where varieties of products are brought to sell. We will have lunch in Thimphu and after having lunch we will move to Dochula and on the way to Dochula we will visit Simtokha Dzong an oldest Dzong in Bhutan.NIGHT AT DOCHULA RESORT
Day 03 Dochu-la – punakha On the next day we will walk to the Dochu-la temple and walk around 108 Chortens built at Dochula – pass and we will explore the views of eastern Himalaya ranges if the weather is clear. Apart from this you will also explore the areas to see lots of species of rhododendrons, Magnolia and many other flowers also visit the National Botanical garden located about 30minutes drive from Dochu-la pass. We will have lunch at dochula resort and after lunch, slowly we will move to punakha crossing chimi lhankhang, this temple is built by drukpa kuenley in 15th century, by Lama Drukpa Kinley (the Divine Madman) who was a great Yoghi. He came to Bhutan to spread Dharma (Buddhist teaching). We will move to Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyel and also nowadays the winter residence of more than 400 monks for 6 months. It is one of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan and served also as the ancient capital of Bhutan. In the evening you will have your dinner in the hotel and have free time to stroll around in Punakha.Overnight: punakha
Day 05 Punakha – Trongsa (2,200m/7,218ft):
After having breakfast will drive to trongsa which is approximately 142 km or 4hrs and 30 minutes drives from punakha to trongsa. Just reaching pele la, we will move to phojikha valley. Phojikha valley is Phobjikha is part of conservation area within black mountain national park. It is the winter home blacked necked crane. So we will visit Gangtey. It is name of monastery which was founded by pema thinly in 1613 who was reincarnation of pema ling pa (great treasure founder in 15th century).It is also one of the oldest and largest monasteries in western parts of Bhutan. Once the monastery being finished visiting we will move to Trongsa. On the way to Trongsa where you will see the Mountain Jomolhari, Mt.jeudrake and many other mountain here you will be descended through the villages of Rukubji, Chendeji, (here we make a small stop to visit the Chendeji Stupa which built was in the early 19th century by Lama Shida, to subdue the demons then finally we will reached to Trongsa.
Over night in Trongsa
Day 06 Trongsa – Bumthang/Jakar
As soon as we have breakfast we will visit Trongsa dzong and Ta Dzong or watch tower. It is above the town area is shaped like tower with wings. It contains a shrine dedicated to Gesar, the legendary epic warrior king, and another named after Jigme Namgyal, the father of the first king. Then we will drive to jakar which take 2& half hours through yontong la (3440 m) and drive to Chummey valley of 2700m. Then later for 45 minutes drive from chumey valley, we will pass the village of Zugney and parkar. Eventually we will cross kiki la pass of 2860 m from sea level to arrive in Jakar, Jakar is now administrative central for Bumthang district. Then lunch in your hotel in Bumthang. After lunch enjoy the cool breeze and beautiful sceneries of the valley. Night at Bumthang.Overnight: Hotel Bumthang
Day07:Bumthang
After breakfast we enjoy the view of bumthang and around jakar. Apart from these we will cover the important historical places in bumthang firstly we will visit Kurjey lhakhang. It is named after the sacred power place where Guru Rinpoche (8th century) left the imprint of his body (kurjey) on the solid rocks, which can be seen from inside the shrine even today then to Jambay Lhakhang. Jambay lhakhang is founded in 17 century by Tibetan king songtsen Gompo when he started building 108 lakhangs which paro kechu and jambay lakhang fall under the Bhutanese territories. Next we will move to Tamshing temple. It located opposite to kurji lakhang and founded by the great treasure founder pema ling pa in 1501. Later to Jakar Dzong, it is means the castle of white bird overlooking the chokor valley. It is built in 1667. After that we will move to burning lake where great treasure founder Pema ling pa discovered treasure from this lake with holy book and burning butter lamp. In the evening the dinner will be served in your Hotel. If the time permits you can visit the Wangdicholing Palace, the first palace for the Royal Family of Bhutan
Overnight: Hotel Bumthang
Day 08 Bumthang – Punakha (1,300m):
After break fast we will head to punakha from Bumthang. While we head back to punakha we will cross the passes including Kiki la pass, Yotong la pass and Pele la Pass. We will see Chendebji stupa is similar to the one at Boudhnath in Nepal. On the way we will have pass by the beautiful rural area and landscape, at the same time your will enjoy the breathtaking scene and views along the rout and you will take some photography. We will visit the Wangdiphodrang Dzong and the authentic small town. Dinner will be served in the Hotel. Wangdiphodrang Dzong: Wangdiphodrang town (1250m) lies 13kms south of Punakha town on a small ridge at the bank of Punakha Tsang Chu River, combination of Pho and Mo Chu Rivers. The Dzong was built in 1639, by Zhabdrung Ngwang Namgyal, who was the founder of Bhutan.

Finally we will hold the night at punakha.Overnight: Hotel Punakha
Day 09 Punakha – Paro 2,200m/7,218f:

After break first we will drive to paro passing Dochula and Simtokha Dzong which it is oldest Dzong built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1629. We will serve your lunch at Thimphu. After lunch continues drive to Paro. On the way will enjoy the scenes which we have missed out while we go at the fist time and the dinner at paro.Overnight: Hotel Paro.
Day 10 Paro – Sightseeing & hike to Tiger Nest

Next day we will hike to Taktshang monastery, it is located on the face of a 1.000m seemingly impossible sheer, vertical cliff, above Paro Valley. This takes little more then an hour. (Ponies are provided on request to ride up till this Cafeteria, but rest of way, including return downhill must be done on foot.) You can get a good view from the Cafeteria or hike further uphill for at least another hour to the temple itself. Within the vicinity there are several other temples and sites to be seen. Lunch is served at the tea house on the way back from the Taktsang Monastery. Back downhill, your driver will meet you and drive you to your Hotel. After this exciting experience you will be going back to the Hotel where your dinner will be served and you can enjoy your free evening time to stroll around Paro town.
Day 11 Paro – Exit
On the final day of our tour we will drive to paro air port by our driver and our guide to see you off at paro air port.