ROYAL BHUTAN - 8 NIGHTS & 9 DAYS - Phuntsholing (2N), Thimphu (2N), Punakha (2N), Paro (2N)

Day 1 - Station to Hotel in Phuntsholing:

Welcome to Bhutan from Jaigaon & phuentsholing; Meet & greet on arrival at NJP station/IXB Airport. Drive and entry permit process. Check in Hotel. Overnight Stay in Phuntsholing.

Day 2 - Phuentsholing – Thimphu:

After Breakfast, Check out get the permit done and drive to Thimpu via the wonderful mystic town Gedu, which is about 9000 ft above the sea and Chukha Dam. On the way visit Crocodile Park,Kharbondi Gumpha,Wankha waterfalls and halt at Chojum to take photographs of confluence of two rivers of Bhutan, Thimpu Chu and Paro Chu. Reach Thimpu in the evening. Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 3 – Sightseeing Thimphu. Overnight stay at Thimphu. Visit the following places:

• Semtokha Dzong - Semtokha is 6 km from Thimphu; it is on a hill stand and was built in 1629 by Zhabdrung. It is the oldest fortress in the kingdom built by Zhabdrung. It now houses the cultural and Buddhist studies.
• The Institute for Zorig Chusum - It is also called as National Institute For Zorig Chusum. The school teaches the paintings and also making of sculpture and statues. It offers an eight-year course, which provides instructions in many of Bhutan’s traditional arts to boys and girls from throughout the country whose aptitude is more of artistic than academic
• National Library – the National Library was established in 1967 to preserve many ancient Dzongkha and Tibetan texts. Besides the lot of collection of the religious texts, we do have the good collection of English –language books, modern academic texts and science.
• The Folk Heritage Museum – This Folk Heritage Museum is a showcase the 19 century farm house and the living style of the Bhutanese family. It was founded by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
• Tashichhoedzong (Outside) - Meaning: Fortress of the glorious religion. It was built in 1641 and rebuilt into present structure by late king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (Father of Modern Bhutan) in the year 1962- 1969. It houses the secretariat building, the throne room and the office of the king, and the central monk body.
• Memorial Chorten - It was built in 1974 in the memory of third king late Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. The temple inside gives good examples of trantric Buddhist and its philosophy.

Day 4 – Thimphu Punakha (Overnight Stay in Punakha:

After breakfast today, proceed to Punakha. Dochula view point stop: The first stop after leaving Thimphu is Dochula pass at 3100m. Only about 45 minutes from Thimphu, it offers visitors their first glimpse of the Himalayan range. The road to Punakha branches left and curls its way down to the relatively low lands of the Punakha valley. As you are just about to reach Punakha

visit:-

• Punakha Dzong:Majestically standing on an island between the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, the city & dzong is one of the most photogenic of all Bhutan's ancient fortresses, and you will see pictures of it hanging in hotels and restaurants throughout the country. The dzong is joined to the mainland by an arched wooden bridge, and contains many precious relics from the days when successive kings reined the kingdom from this valley. In the evening, return to your hotel in Punakha for overnight stay.
• Nya Mey Zam Bridge:The Bridge with No Fish " is the bridge that connects Paro Town to Dzong ..It is one of finest specimens in Bhutan and local believes if one sees a fish in the river , it is ill omen..The earlier bridge which could be folded during war was washed away by flood in 1969.

Day 5 - Excursion to Gangtey:

After breakfast, drive to Gangtey (9,840 ft.). Gangtey is the home of Black Necked Crane which migrates from the arid plains of Tibet in the north. It is a beautiful valley of Bhutan. You can also visit Gangtey Gompha. Evening return back to Punakha.

Day 6 – Punakha – Paro /4 Hrs: In the morning, after breakfast , start for Paro , the picturesque town in Bhutan enroute…

• Simtokha Dzong is a small dzong, Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who unified Bhutan, the dzong is the first of its kind built in Bhutan. An important historical monument and former Buddhist monastery, today it houses one of the premier Dzongkha language learning institutes.
• National Museum of Bhutan: Situated right above Rinpung Dzong in Paro, the National Museum of Bhutan is a house that showcases Bhutan’s culture. Built in 1968, the museum stands inside the ancient Ta-dzong building. The museum houses the collection of finest specimens of Bhutanese culture and art and its highlights are paintings and some bronze statues, which are simply masterpieces. The items are demonstrated in large galleries and you can get to know a lot about Bhutan’s art and culture from these objects.
• Ta Dzong - 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.
• 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.
• Nya Mey Zam Bridge - The Bridge with No Fish " is the bridge that connects Paro Town to Dzong ..It is one of finest specimens in Bhutan and local believes if one sees a fish in the river , it is ill omen..The earlier bridge which could be folded during war was washed away by flood in 1969.

Day 7 - Paro Sightseeing - Overnight Stay in Paro. Taktsang Monastery (TIGER NEST):

• Drukgyal Dzong- Drukgyal Dzong was a fortress and Buddhist monastery, now in ruins, located in the upper part of the Paro valleyin Paro District of Bhutan. The Dzong was probably built by Tenzin Drukdra in 1649 at then behest of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate victory over an invasion from Tibet.
• Kyichu Lhakhang- Kyichu Lhakhang, (also known as Kyerchu Temple or Lho Kyerchu) is an important Himalayan Buddhist temple situated in Lamgong Gewog of Paro District in Bhutan. The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, originally built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songsten Gampo
• Taktsang Monastery- If you can brave the risky cliffs on a high mountain, Paro will astonish you in the form of Taktsang Monastery. After covering 1200 metres on a fierce cliff you will reach this sacred site, also known as the Tiger’s Nest. Take a deep breath after reaching the spot and then comfort your eyes and soul with the stunning view of the scenic surroundings and the valley lying underneath. The Taktsang Monastery was established by Saint Guru Rinpoche who came to Bhutan in 747 CE. Construction of the complex was completed in 1694. Discovering the Tiger’s Nest after 3 hours of trekking is real adventure but you may also opt for a horse ride from the parking lot.

Day 8 - Paro to Pheuntshoing (5-6 Hours Drive):

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to Pheuntsholing, 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. Evening free at leisure.

Day 9 - Drop to NJP STATION/IXB Airport:

After Breakfast, check out and drop to NJP Station/IXB Airport for your onward Journey.