Jambay Lhakhang Drub is one of the most important festivals which are held in the premises of Jambay Temple which was built in 7 century and to honor Guru Rinpoche (who introduced Tantric form of Buddhism in Bhutan). The main high light of this festival is ‘the scared naked dance known as Ter Cham and Mewang-the fire blessing’. A fire dance or Mewang is held in the evening to bless the infertile women so that they may bear the children.
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Day 01: Paro Arrive at Paro (2280m):
The flight to Paro offers one of the most spectacular views of all mountain flight. One can see Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, and the peaks in Bhutan such as Jhomolhari, Jichu Drakey and Tsherim Gang. T
After Lunch Travel to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan.
Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.
Day 02: Thimphu Sightseeing
Visit the School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where children are taught the traditional art of woodcraft and painting. Then visit Folk Heritage Museum, which is loated in the same area, and further down to the Textile Museum.
After lunch, visit Tashichhodzong, “the fortress of the glorious religion”.
visit the National Memorial Chorten, the worlds tallest Buddha stupa and the farmers market.
Then, visit the Kezang weaving center in Changzamto and local crafts shops, to browse through examples of Bhutan’s fine traditional arts. Visit the Post office to make stamps and check out the famous stamps made from Bhutan.
Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.
Day 03: Thimphu -Punakha -Wangduephodrang
After breakfast, travel to Punakha through Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft). If you have a clear sky, the view of the Himalayan Mountain ranges is spectacular and you can even see the Gasa Dzong as a white dot in the horizon. Visit the beautiful 108 chortens built on the hill by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo for the security and well being of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.
Travel onto Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. Visit the Punakha Dzong, located on the island of the Pho – Chu (male) river and the Mochu (female) river.
Evening, walk through the Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to the Devine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where one can receive a special fertility blessing .Overnight at a hotel in Wangdue/Punakha.
Day 04: Wangduephodrang – Bumthang
After breakfast, drives to Bumthang via Pelela pass at the altitude of 3,150 meters, a wonderful opportunity for photographs. En-route stops at Chummy village to visit yathra weaving central. Which Yathra are made into colourful scarves, bags, blankets and sweater. Continue drive to Bumthang. Mingle with the locals and overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Bumthang festival sightseeing
Kurjey Lhakhang (Kurjey means, “Body imprint”). The temple to the right was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built around the cave in which Guru Rinpoche meditated and left his body imprint. Tamshing Lhakhang. This temple is also known as Tamshing Lhendrup Chholing (Temple of the Good Message). And visit Jakar Dzong. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of monks. Later in the evening witness the festival. The first day of the festival begins in the late night.
Later visit the famous jambay lhakhang festival.
The details of the first day of the festival are:
Black Hat Dance (Shana) and of the Gings (emanations of Guru Rimpoche.
Costume: Dancers, wearing long brocade robes and ornate black hats, perform this dance. The dancers’ who represent the Ging wear shorter robes with masks. This dance is performed to purify the ground and to chase away evil influences.
Dance of Offering (Tshogcham): A dancer offers the body of evil spirits to the deities. After the offering is made the audience goes outside the temple where an arch of pine bushes has been erected.
Fire Dance (Mecham): The arch of pine is set on fire. The fire is said to purify the earth of evil spirits. People who pass through the arch have their sins cleansed. A dancer chases away the evil spirits.
Day 06: Jambay Lhakhang Drub and MebarTsho (Burning Lake):
After breakfast, attend the second day of Jambay Lhakhang Drup (festival). You will watch number of different dances, subdivided into three categories: those that are intended to give moral instruction; those that are designed to drive away evil spirits and those that celebrate the Buddhist faith in its many guises. This is the occasion where the local people, dressed in their finest clothes, come to attend the festival with packed lunches.
After lunch drive to Tang valley to visit MebarTsho (Burning Lake), night will halt in the hotel.
The details of the Second day of the festival are:
Dance of SingjeYab Yum (Lord of death and his consort): The Lord of Death and his consort perform this dance to protect the four realms over which he has power.
Dance of Nyulema and Peling Ging Sum (Three kinds of Ging): The Nyulema is an evil spirit represented by a boy in a skeleton mask. The Ging with the sticks catch the Nyulema. The Durdag or the Lords of the Cremation Ground (represented with dancers wearing white skeletal masks) bring forward a box, which represents evil spirits. The Ging with swords celebrate the victory of religion over the evil spirit.
Dance of the Jachung Bochung (Two mythical birds): Dancers wearing masks representing the auspicious birds perform the dance. The play of the Atsara Gapo Pawo Solgyo (Atsara who acts like a Pawo) though most of the stories and plays were originally with Buddhist sub text they now serve as comedy relief for the crowd. This story is about an Atsara (clown with a red mask) who is mad. The Atsara injures his son, as he did not recognize him. He tries to save his son’s life by impersonating a pawo or medium and tries to perform a religious curative ceremony. Being unsuccessful he has to finally call a doctor and a monk to cure his
Day 07: Bumthang – Phobjikha
After breakfast drive to Trongsa. And then Visit Trongsa Dzong – seat of the district administration, built in the 1648. And visit Tower of Trongsa -converted into the museum from watchtower that once guarded Trongsa Dzong from internal rebellion, stands in Bhutan’s history.
Then drive to Phobjikha after lunch.Phobjikha- is a bowl-shape valley on the western slopes of Black Mountain. After lunch visit Gantey Goenpa – is a major attraction with an old monastery date back to the 16 century. Later walk around the valley which is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes, which migrate, from remote parts of Tibet, China and Siberia during winter to this valley. Overnight will be at hotel..
Day 08: Phobjikha -Paro
After breakfast, Travel back to Thimphu and then Paro. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Paro.
Day 09: A Day Hike to Paro Taktsang Monastery
After breakfast, drive up to the base camp of Taktsang and then hike up to the most famous Monastery in the entire kingdom of Bhutan perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to the viewpoint will take about an hour and it will take 2 hours to the monastery. Lunch at the viewpoint.
Overnight at a hotel in Paro.
Day 10: Departure from Paro
In the morning, your tour guide from Yelha Bhutan Tours & Travels (local Bhutan travel agent) will escort you to the airport for your onward destinations.
we hope to provide the ultimate best value for all our guests. We choose some of the finest hotels, offer free upgrades to make our visitors feel the most welcomed and well-taken care of while traveling in Bhutan. We take pride in providing first class accommodations for our travelers.
A wide variety of accommodations are available ranging from luxurious 5-star hotels to cozy little hotels, homestays in traditional Bhutanese homes to camping under the stars. Visitors can be assured of comfort, ambiance and hospitality.
The types of accommodations can be divided into:
Hotels in Bhutan are rated according to a National 5 Star rating System. All Tour Operators are required to provide their guests with Government Categorized Hotels and Resorts, a minimum of 3 Star accommodations so you can be assured of your comfort. Most hotels provide their guests with Basic Necessities, Room Service, Free Wi-fi, Television and some of them also have Fitness Centers and Spas
The luxury packages are based on 4 star luxury hotels and 5 star International Hotels Chain (Aman Kora, COMO Uma, Zhiwaling, Le Meridien and Taj Tashi) with extra charges in addition to the Mandatory Daily Tariff of USD $250/person/night.
Visitors also have the option of spending a night in a traditional Bhutanese Farm House with a Bhutanese family. Agriculture is still one of the major sources of livelihood among the Bhutanese people and a farm-stay will give you an excellent glimpse into the day-to-day life of a typical Bhutanese family. You’ll be able to observe age old Bhutanese farming traditions as the family goes about its daily tasks. You’ll enjoy delicious home-cooked meals and the unparalleled hospitality of a Bhutanese host.
There’s nothing like camping in some of the most breath taking landscapes of Bhutan. Visitors embarking on long treks will be provided with tents and whatever other camping equipment is deemed necessary. Regardless of where you stay, visitors can be assured of their comfort and traditional Bhutanese hospitality.
Tourist can buy mobile sim cards. It can be activated within minutes and will cost only about USD$2. Internet connectivity of 3G-4G will be available. Yelha Bhutan tours will be providing free Wi-Fi access in the resorts for the guest.
All visitors in Bhutan are advised to get their insurance coverage from their own country. Bhutan doesn’t have travel insurance facilities.
Bhutan uses a 240 v system. Electrical supply is generally good, but can be less stable in the smaller towns outside the capital, Thimphu. If you are using computers and other sensitive equipment, be prepared for fluctuations and power surges. Many rural areas are still without electricity although some farms have solar electrification
Bhutan uses the Indian round pin sockets. You can find adaptors in many of the hardware shops in the capital, Thimphu.
There is a ban on the sale of cigarettes in Bhutan. Smoking is also prohibited in public places, hotels and offices.
The export of antiques is prohibited by law. Tourists should buy only artifacts that have been certified for sale and for export. The government provides an official seal to certify that artifacts can be taken out of Bhutan.
Bhutan is perhaps one of the most photogenic places in the world. The landscape, nature, architecture and the people make it a photographer’s paradise. People are generally happy to pose for pictures, but do ask before you do so if you are focusing on one person. Photography is not permitted inside Dzongs, monasteries and temples as they are considered living institutions.
It is advisable to bring your own photographic equipment and needs. Films and camera batteries are available generally only in major towns. Slide film is generally not available so bring plenty of slide rolls if you’re shooting slides.
