15 DAYS BEAUTY CULTURAL TOURS :: THE LAST SHANGRI-LA

Day 1: Fly to western Bhutan where only the beautiful Air-port in the kingdom lies. The representative of the Men-Lha Adventure Company will warmly receive you and escort you to the hotel for the refreshment.
Valley of paro:
Willow trees line many of the roads. Contrasting bright green of the rice terraces in summer, and brilliant white of the dzong and temple give the valley a fresh and pleasant atmosphere. Paro valley lies above 2280mtrs in the western Bhutan. Broad valley is an excellent agriculture land.
In the afternoon:

National Museum: Built in 1649 as a watchtower but in 1968 it was converted into National Museum by the Third King. 7storied Building in couch shape. One of the best museum in Asia.

Paro Dzong: Dzong is (Monastery Fortress in English). The person who unified Bhutan in 1616 called Zhabdrung Rinpoche built it in 1646. It survived the 1897 earthquake but a fire severely damaged the dzong in 1907. It is one of the most impressive and well known with finest example of Bhutanese Architecture.

Kychu monastery: Built in 659AD by the Tibetan King Songtsen Geompo to pin down the Ogress.
The construction of Kychu Monastery in Paro and Jambasy Monastery in Bumtang (central Bhutan) first put Bhutan on the Buddhist Map. Dinner and over night at hotel in Paro.

Day 2: Sightseeing in an around Paro Valley.
Taktshang Monastery: this place was founded by the Precious Master (Guru Rinpoche) in 8th century (747AD) during his second visit to Bhutan. He has meditated for four month’s and founded this place as one of the most secret pilgrim site for Buddhist. It is also believe to be said that who ever visit this place once in their life will be counted as thousand time’s. After visiting this place can purified your sin that has been committed. It is about 5hours hike, if you complete the hiking in an around Monastery.

Dungtse Monastery: Built in 1421 by Famous Tibetan saint Thangthong Gyalpo also known as ChagzamPa, A famous iron chain bridge duilder. It contains most extraordinary frescoes painting in the Himalayan world. The temple is conceived as a Mandala( a mystic Cosmic diagram). Over night in hotel.

Day 3: Drive to only the capital city without traffic light in the world (Thimphu). Thimphu valley is located at an altitude of 2320m. It is the capital city of Bhutan (the Himalayan. Kingdom. The construction of the of the new motor road from Phuntsholing (India Border) to Thimphu (capital City) prompted this noble thought. This is only the capital city without traffic light in the world. Capital of Kingdom (Thimphu). The population is about 50,000. The population is increasing each year due to rural-urban migration.

Visit the following places in the Thimphu.
National Library: It is located to the west of the golf course. It was established in 1967 to preserve and promote religious and culture degradation from rapid modern development. It has 4500 English titles mainly on Buddhism. 3 baskets of Buddha teaching are in Burmese script and 50volume have Pali tipitaka in Devanagri script and it has 10,000 volumes of religious text. It also contents the world largest book with 7feet wide and 5feet tall.

Painting School: It is known as Zorig Chosum In Bhutan (Institute for thirteen Art’s). Where 13Art’s practiced in the Kingdom. It was established in 1971 to preserve its invaluable heritage. The institute offer six year’s course.

Heritage Museum: The museum content three-storied traditional rammed mud and timber. The museum showcase the traditional artifacts used now and in the past. It was recently inaugurated on 28th July 2001.

Textile Museum: It is located in the heart of the city, which gives you a fair Idea of the living national art of weaving. It was founded in 2000. Museum introduces the major weaving techniques and styles of local dress and textile made by the Bhutanese Women and man.

Traditional Hospital: The institute of traditional medicine service was established in 1967 as Indigenous Unit under the department of Health service. It promotes traditional system of medicine in the country. Conduct research and quality control of drugs. Provide alternative medicine as complementary to the allopathic system.

Memorial Chorten: This Memorial Chorten (Stupa) is the highlight of the capital city with its towering golden spires shining in the sun and its bell tinkling in the wind. This stupa was built in 1974 in the memory of 3rd King who passed away in 1972. Lunch in the local restaurant dinner at hotel and overnight. (Thimphu). Driving distance: 2and half Hours, 65Km.

Day 4: Drive to Punakha Valley and wangdue valley over Dochu-la Pass with 3140mtrs. Take a view of the eastern Himalayan Peaks. It is located at 1250mtrs, the size of the place surprising considering the role that punakha played in the history of the kingdom. It was the country’s capitals for 300 years.The fertile punakha valley allows two rice crops a yrs. Orange and banana is grown in bundance.


Wangdue Valley: This is another valley, which is one of the largest districts in the
Kingdom, which lies above 1350mtrs. Since it is located on an exposed promontory overlooking the river.
The town here is very congested to make it wider, but the government has made the town plan on another side where people can make it wider.

Visit Punakha Dzong: This dzong was built in 1637and consider as a 2nd oldest dzong in the country. It covers the island at the confluence of the two rivers; as it lies in between two rivers that is believe as a male river and female river. It is also use as a winter residence for the monk body. The dzong has a very beautiful painting that has done after the renovation in 1999

Hike to Fertility Temple: This monastery was built in 1456 by the cousin brother of Drukpa Kuenley (Divine Madman). A visible monastery on the hillock across the valley on the right side of the Punakha road. It is also known as the temple of the fertility. Those who visit the temple today will be blessed by the pairs of iron phallus and Arrow and bow, which were used by the Divine Mad Man Drukpa Kuenley.
Driving distance: 3 hours 77km

Day 5: Drive to the north direction of Punakha Valley by following the Female River Of Punkha Valley.
New stupa: The new stupa is known as Khamsum Yueley Namgyal Chorten. This is built about 7km away from the punakha dzong. A dome and a stack of 12 circular rings’, then an umbrella, the sun, moon and finally a jeweled pinnacle top the three-level chorten. It is a very unique chorten and one of its kinds in the world. It took 8and half years to complete. Walk through the rice terrace that gives you the fresh air.

Wangdue Dzong: The position of the dzong is remarkable as it completely covers the spur and commend an impressive view over both the north,-south and east-west highway. The dzong was built in 1638 and consider as 3rd oldest dzong in Bhutan. Over night and dinner at Hotel. Driving distance: 3 hours, 77Km.

Day 6: Drive to Jakar(Bumthang) valley which is the most historical valley in the kingdom with visible signs of the visit of the great Buddhist saint from India, Guru Rinpoche, in the 8th century. The valley lies above 2560mtrs from the sea level. In route visit Trongsa Dzong which was built in 1647 and it is consider as a longest dzong in Bhutan. In the 19th century it could have been consider the capital of Bhutan due to the importance and power of its governor, the Trongsa penlop. It is still a tradition that the crown prince first serves as Trongsa penlop before ascending to the throne. You will also cross the high passes that are call Pelela Pass 3320mtrs; Yotong la Pass 3400Mtrs and Kekela pass 2970mtrs. Driving distance: 7hours 210km

Day 7: Sight seeing in an around Bumthang valley.

Jakar Dzong: The original monastery here was built in 1549 and named it as a Jakar Dzong (Monastery of the White bird). When the monks from Trongsa arrive here in summer, they perform a ceremony commemorating the defeat of the Tibetan Invaders from Lhodrak in 1644. Dzong of the “white Bird, is very elegant and more modest in size then other dzongs.

Jambay Lhakhang: It was built in 659AD by the Tibetan King Sontsen Geombo to subdue the Ogress that was covering the Himalayan country. He built 108monasteries by sending 5000 disciples, among 108 this is one of the monastery built on left knee of the ogress, as we believe that the human has 108joins in our body. It is very sacred pilgrim site in the country founded in 659AD. Here the religious festival (Tshechu) is performing during the autumn season.

Kurjey Monastery: This monastery was founded as a pilgrim site in 8th century 747AD during the 1st visit of the Guru Rinpoche(Precious Master). We can still witness the cave where the precious master meditated and subdued the local deity Shelging Karpo. Also Queen Mother built additional monasteries surrounding.

Lunch in hotel and drive for rest of the sightseeing, visit Koenchosum monastery restored by the treasure discover Terton Pema ling Pa in 15th century. The temple is famous with its bell, which bears an inscription from the 8th century. It must have been cast for the Tibetan Royal Family so that they can hear the “sound of Buddhism. It is said when the bell rung, its sound could be heard as far as Tibet.

Tamzhing Monastery literally the “Temple of Good Message, is 5km from the chamkhar town. It is one of the most important Nyingmapa temples in the Kingdom. It was built by Terton Pemalingpa (treasure discover) with the help of Khandrom (Female Celestial being) in 1501. it contain a Iron chain Jacket that was believe as a rain Jacket which used to worn by Terton Pemalingpa. The inner wall contains the original Un restored image that were painted by him in 15century.

Day 8: Drive to Mongar. The journey from Bumthang to Mongar is one of the most beautiful in the Himalayas crossing 3900mtrs high the Thrumshing la pass. Mongar marks the beginning of the eastern Bhutan. The second largest town in the sub-tropical east. Mongar, like Trashigang further east, is situated on the side of the hill in contrasts to other town of western Bhutan, which are built on the valley floor.
Mongar Dzong: it is site of one of Bhutan’s newest dzong, built in 1930s. yet the dzong is built in the same method and tradition of all the other dzongs, no drawings and nails have been used. A visit to the dzong gives a visitor s an impression of how traditional Bhutanese architecture has continued to thrive through the centuries. Driving distance: 7hours, 198km.

Day 9: Drive to Trashigang. Trashigang is the largest district in the kingdom lies about 4000mtrs high from the sea level. Once it was center of a busy trade with Tibet. Today the junction of east west high way with road connection to sumdrup-Jongkhar and then to the Indian state of Assam. This place is also used as the market place for the hill people from Merak and Sakteng who are the remarkable for their exceptional features and costumes.
Driving distance: 3-4hours 93km.

Day 10: Drive back to Mongar. Drive back the same road about 93km passing through the Korila Pass(2,500mtrs). The place marked by a pretty chorten(stupa) and a stone wall. Over night in hotel at Mongar. Driving distance: 3-4hours, 93km

Day 11: Drive to Bumthang. Drive back the same road about 198km via crossing the Thrumshing la Pass with 3900mtrs in dens forest of Thrumshing la National Park. If we are lucky we could also see red Panda Beer in route. Driving distance: 7hours, 198kms

Day 12: Drive back to Thimphu the capital city of the kingdom with following the same road. You will also cross the same passes, which crossed during your drive to Bumthang. The Dochula pass 3140mtrs Yotongla pass 3400mtrs and pelela pass 3320mtrs. Over night at hotel in Thimphu.
Driving distance: 8 hours, 270kms

Day 13: Drive to Haa Valley.
Haa valley lies above 2640mtrs from the see level. Here they grow only wheat and Potato. First school in Bhutan was opened in this valley.
Visit Temple in Haa: Lhakhang Karpo: It is also one among the 108monasteries that was built by the Tibetan King (songtsen Geombo) in 659AD. It contents the status of the present Buddha sakyamuni and the eight bodhisattva. At present it is use as a monastic school for the monk body. It lies in the beautiful Valley.
Lhakhang Nagpo: This monastery is in Black painting, which means black monastery. It was also built in the same year with the 108monasteries in 659AD. Inside the monastery you can still see the lake where one of the Tibetan King used to offer the holy water to God. Driving distance: 6hours, 150km.


Day 14: Drive to Paro Valley over chelela Pass with 3988mtrs. Take a view of the Northern Himalayan peaks, which are above 6500mtrs. Drive is through the dens forest of Pine, Spurs, Ever Green Oak and ETC. Evening leisure time for you to buy suvinour for yours friends of family. Over night at hotel.
Driving distance: 3 and half hours, 66km.

Day 15: You will be escorted by the representatives to Airport for your departure.