Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People’s Republic of China. Bhutan is separated from the nearby country of Nepal to the west by the Indian state of Sikkim, and from Bangladesh to the south by the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal.
Bhutan existed as a patchwork of minor warring fiefdoms until the early 17th century, when the area was unified by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who fled religious persecution in Tibet and cultivated a separate Bhutanese identity. In the early 20th century, Bhutan came into contact with the British Empire, after which Bhutan continued strong bilateral relations with India upon its independence. In 2006, Business Week rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world, based on a global survey.
Bhutan’s landscape ranges from subtropical plains in the south to the sub-alpine Himalayan heights in the north, with some peaks exceeding 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). The state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism, and the population of 691,141 is predominantly Buddhist, with Hinduism the second-largest religion. The capital and largest city is Thimphu. In 2008, Bhutan made the transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy, holding its first general election. Bhutan is a member of the United Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC); it hosted the sixteenth SAARC summit in April 2010. The total area of the country has been reported as 38,394 square kilometres (14,824 sq mi) since 2002. The area had previously been reported as approximately 46,500 km2 (18,000 sq mi) in 1997.
Day 1 Arrive Paro
The flight to Paro crosses the Himalaya Mountains, affording spectacular views of the awesome peaks, including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drake peaks in Bhutan. If you arrive via Kathmandu, which offers the most breathtaking view of the range, it’s possible to see Mount Everest and Mount Kanchenjunga as well. Upon arrival Paro, you will be greeted by our representative and transfer to hotel.
In the afternoon you can visit the Paro Dzong. It was built in 1646 and now houses government offices religious institutions, as do all the Dzongs (forts) currently. You’ll cross a traditional wooden bridge on the way to the Dzong. You can then tour the National Museum, formerly the watchtower for the Dzong. Its now houses a collection of fine arts, paintings, thankas, statues and antiques. Afterwards you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country. In the evening you can stroll through the Paro market and town.
Overnight in Paro.
Day 2 Paro – Thimphu
After breakfast hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, this is Bhutan’s most famous monastery. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong in Lhuntse to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastry now stands. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion. After lunch, drive to Thimpu. In the evening you can explore Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan and absorb the lifestyle of the people. You can also visit some interesting handicraft shops.
Overnight in Thimpu.
Day 3 Thimphu sightseeing
After breakfast you will visit the King’s Memorial Chorten (built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972). Changgangkha Monastery, the radio tower (for a great view of Thimpu Valley and the Thimpu Dzong), and the zoo, which contains the national animal of Bhutan: the takin. From there you will visit the nunnery temple, the National Library (where ancient manuscripts are preserved), the School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school). After a relaxing lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, a traditional paper factory, the majestic Tashichodzong and Simtokha Dzong (the oldest fortress in the kingdom).
Overnight in Thimpu.
Day 4 Thimphu
After breakfast you will drive to Wangduephodrang, with a stop in route for tea at Dochu La (3,100 meters), where on a clear day you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas. After lunch you will drive to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan and visit Punakha Dzong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan and also for having been built the first Shabdrung in 1637. On the way back you will stop at Metshina Village ant take a 20 minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lakhang, which is a fertility temple, where you may receive a special fertility blessing if you wish.
Overnight in Wangduephodrang.
Day 5 Excursion to Gantey
You will begin the day by driving to Gantey, You’ll pass through dense forests of oak trees and rhododendrons and arrive at Gantey village, where you’ll visit Gantey Gompa, the only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan. From Gantey, you can see the picturesque Black Mountain range as well as Phobjika Valley, the winter habitat of the
Black-necked cranes. In the evening you can stroll through the town of Wangduephodrang and visit the shops. The nearby villages are known for their slate and stone carvings and bamboo work.
Overnight I Wangduephodrang.
Day 6 Wangduephodrang – Paro
Set out for Paro with a stop in Thimphu for lunch and a visit to the Folk Heritage Museum. In the afternoon, you will continue the drive to Paro. In the evening you can visit a Traditional farmhouse and if you wish, enjoy a hot-stone bath and a typical Bhutanese dinner.
Overnight in Paro.
Day 7 Depart Paro own Destination
Día 1: Arribo a Paro
Durante el vuelo en un día claro se pueden tener vistas impresionantes de los Himalayas incluyendo las montañas sagradas Jumolhari y Jichu Drake. Al llegar a Paro lo estará esperando un representante de la empresa para trasladarlo a su hotel.
Por la tarde se puede visitar la Paro Dzong (fortaleza de Paro) la que fue construida en 1646 y en la actualidad alberga oficinas gubernamentales e instituciones religiosas. Luego se puede visitar el Museo Nacional, antiguamente la atalaya del Dzong. En el museo se puede encontrar una colección de pinturas, thankas, estatuas y antigüedades. Posteriormente se puede visitar Kyichu Lhakhang el templo más antiguo del país.
Alojamiento en Paro.
Día 2: Paro – Thimphu
Después del desayuno se asciende al Monasterio Taktsang, el cuál cuelga de un acantilado 900 metros sobre el valle, siendo uno de los más famosos monasterios de Buthan.
Después de almuerzo se conduce a Thimphu la capital de Buthan
Alojamiento en Thimphu
Día 3: Thimphu y sus atractivos
Después del desayuno se visitará el Chorten Memorial del Rey (construido en memoria del tercer rey de Buthan quien gobernó entre 1952 y 1972), el Monasterio Changgangkha, la torre de radio (para tener una gran vista del valle de Thimphu y de Thimphu Dzong), el zoológico que alberga el animal nacional de Buthan: el takin. Más tarde se visita el monasterio de monjas, la Biblioteca Nacional (donde antiguos manuscritos son preservados), la Escuela de Artes y Oficios (también conocida como escuela de pintura).
Después de un relajante almuerzo se visitará el Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tradicional, una fábrica tradicional de papel y los majestuosos Tashicho Dzong y Simtokha Dzong (las más antiguas fortalezas del reino).
Alojamiento en Thimphu
Día 4: Thimphu – Wangduephodrang
Después del desayuno se conduce a Wanguephodrang con una parada en la ruta para tomar un té en Dochu La (3.100 mts), donde en un día claro se pueden ver espectaculares vistas del Himalaya. Luego del almuerzo se conduce a Punakha, la anterior capital de Buthan donde se visita Punakha Dzong, el que es conocido por ser una de las más hermosas fortalezas en Buthan y además por haber sido construido por el primer Shabdrung (gran Lama) en 1637. En el camino de regreso se para en la villa de Metshina donde tras una caminata de 20 minutos a través de campos de arroz se llega a Chimi Lakhang el templo de la fertilidad, donde se puede recibir una bendición de fertilidad si se desea.
Alojamiento en Wangduephrodang
Día 5: Excursión a Gantey
Se inicia el día conduciendo a Gantey donde se pasará por densos bosques de roble y rododendros hasta arrivar a la villa de Gantey donde visitará la Gompa Gantey, el único monasterio Nyingmapa en el occidente de Buthan. Desde la villa de Gantey se puede ver la pintoresca cordillera Black Mountain así como el valle Phobjika, el habitat de invierno de la grulla cuello negro.
Por la tarde de vuelta a Wanguephodrang se pueden visitar las tiendas del pueblo o visitar las villas cercanas conocidas por sus trabajos en bambú y piedra.
Alojamiento en Wangduephodrang
Día 6: Wangduephodrang – Paro
De vuelta a Paro con una parada en Thimphu para almorzar y visitar el Museo de Costumbres Populares. En la tarde se puede visitar una casa de campo tradicional o disfrutar un baño de piedras calientes y una típica cena butanesa.
Día 7: Vuelo desde Paro a propia destinación
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