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CAPTIVATING JOURNEY |
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CULTURAL TOUR |
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This is the trip of a lifetime, taking you to little-visited parts of the country to encounter a life-style that has changed little over the centuries. The journey to the East of the country requires some stamina since a lot of slow driving on winding high altitude roads is involved but the rewards are immense. On your journey, you will cross several passes, the highest one reaching 4,000 metres. The views of the high peaks of the Eastern Himalayas are stunning. The landscape is covered with varieties of red and pink rhododendrons, Magnolias, wild peach and cherry – and varieties of pine, spruce, silver fir, oak, coated in places with old man’s beard and orchids. Spring and Autumn colours are a feast for the eyes. Visit temples and Dzongs, explore isolated villages and stop at local centers of handicrafts such as weaving, paper-making and wood-carving.
Take time to acclimatize on arrival in Paro and enjoy the serenity of the Paro valley, visiting the impressive Paro Dzong and its museum, the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan and other places of interest. The day hike to Taktsang, the “Tiger’s Nest” is an unforgettable experience in itself. A two-hour drive takes you to Thimphu, the capital. Certainly, in comparison to Paro, Thimphu could be described as “bustling” but the atmosphere is still that of a small town. A full day of sightseeing and wandering will give you the flavour of Thimphu city. The next stage of your journey takes you to 3,000 metres.. Fluttering prayer flags frame the view of the Eastern Himalayan ranges seen from the Dochula Pass. A few hours later you will find yourself in the semi-tropical Punakha valley. Punakha Dzong is usually abuzz with activity. You’re sure to find throngs of young, red-robed monks in the grounds of the monastry or lining the deep turquoise river on which it is sited. The same river leads to the imposing Wangdi Dzong . Climb again through the Black Mountains, over the Pele La Pass (3,300m.), to Tongsa at 2,200 metres. The beauty of the drive along the edge of a deep gorge cannot be surpassed. Tongsa Dzong, a maze of courtyards and towers set on different levels, topped with a bright yellow roof, is built right on the end of a spur at the point where three gorges meet. The wide open spaces of the Bumtha plain, at 2,700 meters provides a contrast of scenery half way through your journey. Converted to Buddhism in the Eighth Century by Guru Rimpoche and the birthplace of several of the saints of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism, the area is scattered with temples and pilgrimage sites. Cultural and culinary delights await you here. Explore the countryside on foot to get a glimpse into the daily life of the people. |
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The journey from Bumtha to Mongar, Tashigang and Tashiyangtse takes you on a much less frequently traveled road and accommodation in the government lodges is more basic than in western Bhutan. A detour to Lhuntse, the origins of the Bhutanese royal family, takes us along a stunning scenic route and leads to one of the oldest Dzongs in the country. From Tashigang the road hugs the river all the way to Tashiyangtse where the stupa of Chorten Kora, built in the same style as the stupa in Kathmandu, sits next to the gushing Kholong-chu river. The Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary is home to Black-neck Crane in the winter months and the hike or drive to reach it passes through a pastoral idyll of terraced rice fields tracing the path of the river,rushing in some places, gently flowing in others. Having reached the furthest corner of Bhutan and witnessed a way of life rich in its simplicity, it is now time to retrace our steps, via Bumtha and return gradually to Thimphu which now, more than ever, seems to be a bustling centre of activity! |
This trip can be planned to coincide with at least one festival, whether at Bumtha or Mongar in November, Tashigang in December, Chorten Kora in March or Gompa Kora (near Tashiyangtse) in April.
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