Thimphu Sight Seeing

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Memorial Chorten with its golden spires shining in the sun, its tinkling bells, and an endless procession of elderly people circling around it. Erected by the Royal Grandmother, Ashi Phutsho Choegran, in memory of her son, King Jigme Dorje, it contains a fine collection of Buddhist statues and is a center of Tantric Buddhism. A short drive away is the Folk Heritage Museum founded by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Dorje Wangchuck. Its function is to connect the Bhutanese people to their rural past through the exhibition of items and artifacts used in rural households and the demonstration of rural customs, traditions, and skills. The museum building, itself an interesting artifact, is a traditional, rammed mud-and-timber house. It contains everyday household objects and traditional domestic tools still used by rural Bhutanese families. Afternoon visit the Changangkha Lhakhang which is an old fortress like Temple and monastic school perched on a ridge above Thimphu. South east of Mothithang which was established in the 12 century on a site chosen by Lama Phajo Drugom Shigpo. Late afternoon we will visit the Tashicho Dzong, the “fortress of glorious religion,” and seat of the national government. Its majestic architecture in finely balanced proportions is complemented by artistic decorations and paintings. Followed by a walk up and down the high street lined with little shops of all descriptions is fascinating. There is always a colorful gathering passing from ubiquitous monk bodies to Bhutanese businessmen, to nomadic farmers that come to trade supplies We then drive to visit the weaving centre where you will see a traditional weaving demonstration. Evening at Leisure. Overnight Hotel.

Punkha – Paro

Paro retains its bucolic nature in spite of the existence of development projects. Fields of brown or green depending on the season covers most of the valley floor while hamlets and isolated farms dot the landscape. Afternoon visit the National Museum, located in Paro Dzong’s 17th-century watchtower. The building itself boasts an unusual shape said to resemble a conch shell. It was in this tower that Ugyen Wangchuck, the future first king of Bhutan, was imprisoned in 1872, when he came to put down a revolt. See a fine collection of old thangka paintings and textiles, ancient weapons, and Bhutanese artifacts. The museum, by the way, is considered a temple due to the religious objects it houses, and as such we are requested to remove our shoes and to move inside in a clockwise direction. To Paro Dzong itself, also called Rinpung Dzong, the Fortress of a Heap of Jewels. Constructed in the early 15th century as a diminutive fort, it was presented to the religious and political authority of Shabdrung Ngarvang, who developed it into a much more commanding fortress in 1646. This is without doubt one of the kingdom’s finest examples of traditional Bhutanese architecture. Rinpung’s central tower and galleries are notable for their superb woodwork and classical paintings of Buddhist cosmology. We see representations of the universe as interpreted by two different philosophies.

Almost burnt to the ground in 1907, it was restored with money raised from a special tax levied throughout Bhutan. Today the dzong is the administrative seat of the district of Paro, and it also serves the state’s 200-member monastic community. Cross a nearby traditional wooden bridge called Nyamai-Zam, which spans the Paro River. In times of war, the bridge would be removed to protect the dzong from Bhutan’s enemies. Evening at leisure. Overnight Hotel

Drive to Phuentsholing

Bhutan border. Overnight Hotel.

Darjeeling Sightseeing

Early morning starts for Tiger Hill to watch the spectacular sunrise and its amazing effects on the Mt. Kanchanjunga (the 3rd tallest peak on the earth), Visit Ghoom Monastery and Batashia Loop War Memorial while returning to the Hotel. After breakfast followed by Half day best point local sightseeing covering Japanese Temple, Peace Pagoda, Padmaja N. Zoological Garden, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tibetan Refugee Self-help Center and Rock side. After that visit to the Mall (Chowrasta) along with local Market for City Life. Overnight at hotel.

Pemayangste Visit & Drive to Yuksom

In the morning visit the Pemayangtse Monastery. This is a premier monastery of Sikkim built in the 17th century. Afternoon a short walk to Sangobhholing Monastery (02 km/45 min) located on a hillock above the hotel. On a clear day the view of the mountain range is breathtaking and continuing drive to Khecheopalri Lake is one of the sacred Buddhist mountain lake where it is believed that whatever is wished in front of the lake comes true. Myth has its that when a leaf falls on the placid clear water surface is picked by a bird. A further drive takes you to Yuksom (the meeting place of three monks) – the first capital of Sikkim. O/N at hotel.

Gangtok Sightseeing

Early morning we drive to Tashi View Point for Sunrise scenery. While returning to Hotel we also visit the places like Hanuman Tak, Ganesh Tak etc. All these points provide excellent scenery of Mt. Kanchanjunga and other more snowy peaks of Nepal. And after breakfast stroll around Sikkim bazaar covering various iconic Chortens, Stupas, Tibetology Institute, Institute of Handicrafts and Hand-looms along with Rumtek Monastery & Dharma Chakra Centre (24Kms). There is a beautiful flower show as well – we will have time for it. Overnight at Hotel.