The Paro Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Bhutan which begins on the 10th day of the 2nd month of the Bhutanese calendar. Paro Valley is a historic town with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered through the area. In 2019 the date of festival is from 17th- 21st March.
It is said that the chipdrel ceremony of escorting the chief abbot of the monk body, Penlop and the mask dances are introduced by Penlop Dawa Penjor. Penlop Tshering Penjor is also said to have introduced many Peling chams such as Ngaging, Driging and Juging etc. He himself is a descendant of Pema Lingpa’s lineage. The traditions set up by these earlier leaders are still intact and people in the valley still revere the Tshechu.
People come in with their best garment and food both for religious and socialization purposes. Nowadays, the tourists add to both the number and variety of people attending the Tshechu. Thongdrel “deliverance from hell by the sight of it or attainment of nirvana by the sight of it” on the 5th day of the Tshechu, is a masterpiece of silver embroidery of Guru Rinpoche, his eight manifestations and two consorts.It is brought to Dayangkha at 3 am and displayed covering the entire three storied building and taken away by 7 am before the sun breaks, in case the sunlight decolonize the great religious piece. Maximum number of people is seen on this day.
Besides the Paro valley and the festival, this tour will also visit Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan and the Punakha, Wangdue, the glacier valley of Phobjikha etc.
Day 01: Arrive Paro
Fly into Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s National Airline. The great snow-capped peaks of the inner Himalayas rise up to the heavens can be seen during clear weather. As the plane approaches Bhutan, if you look down farmhouses as dots on the hillsides can be seen.
Check into your hotel in Paro and after refreshments, visit the following:
• Ta Dzong, built in the 17th century as a watchtower for the Paro Dzong. Rinpung Dzong, built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now being used as an administration center and school for monks.
• Then walk down to Rimpung Bridge (Traditional Bridge), oldest bridge in Bhutan.
Overnight at a hotel in Paro.
Day 02: Paro Festival – Thimphu
After Breakfast visit the Paro Dzong where the masked dance-dramas, Bhutanese all dressed in their traditional finery witness the age-old, wonderfully colorful and of this typical Buddhist festival are going on. Be amongst throngs of Bhutanese from the Paro valley and from outlying villages of esoteric Religious masked dance-dramas performed by specially trained groups of Buddhist monks.
DAY 03: Thimphu sightseeing.
• Visit the weekly Thimphu market.
• Change money at the Bhutan National Bank
• Visit the Thimphu Post office.
• Visit the Arts and crafts school and the Traditional Medicine Institute.
• Visit Memorial Chorten.
• Observe traditional paper making from Daphnia and Edgeworthia
• Visit the Takin rehabilitation center.
• Drive up to viewpoint and take a hike beyond to see the clear picture of Thimphu Valley.
• Downtown Thimphu on foot visiting Handicrafts Emporium and other Arts & Crafts stores. Buy stunning kiras which can be used and bed covers or wall decoration, jewelry’s and many more.
Overnight in a resort in Thimphu.
Day 04: Thimphu to Punakha
After breakfast we will drive to Punakha Valley.Visit Dochula Druk wangyel temple situated at 3150 meters above sea level.
We will continue drive down into the Punakha valley. Hike to Chhime Lhakhang , an ancient monastery near Punakha, dedicated to fertility and founded by Lam Drukpa Kuenley. Overnight in Punakha.
Day 05: Punakha to Phobjikha
After breakfast we will drive to the beautiful Gangtey and Phobjikha valley. Visit the Gangtey Gompa monastery and hike through the valley after reaching Phobjikha.Overnight Phobjikha at Hotel.
Day 06: Phobjikha- Paro.
After breakfast, travel to Gangtey Gompa. Visit Gangtey Gompa, which now houses one of the only Nyingmapa monasteries in Bhutan. Later drive back to Paro Valley.Lunch at Punakha. Overnight at Paro.
Day 7: Paro Taktsang hike.
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. Afterwards visit the famous 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang..
Farewell dinner with in the evening. Overnight at a hotel in Paro.
Day 8: Fly from Paro.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer you to the Paro International airport.
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