Secluded high in the eastern Himalayas with
unique customs and people with deeply held
beliefs. Bhutan is a land of dzongs and monasteries;
monks, majestic mountains and a rich heritage;
and an architectural style like no other on
earth and a land full of warm-hearted, friendly
people who go to unusual lengths to preserve
each element of Bhutanese life. Today as a
visitor picks up a telephone to call home or
travels over a wide network of roads, it may
be difficult to imagine that as recently as
the 1960's telecommunication was non-existent
in Bhutan and travel within the kingdom could
only be made by horseback or on foot...there
were no roads.
Beyond building a telecommunication network
and roads, Bhutan has been integrating the
process of modernization with the rich heritage
of its past. Bhutanese, go to unusual lengths
to preserve each element of their life; from
environment to dress to language to religion
Bhutanese have managed to keep their centuries-old
culture and traditions alive. Besides learning
as much as from the past, Bhutanese.
The official estimate of Bhutan's population
in 1990 was about 600,000 but other sources
estimate the population for 2000 was just
under 2 million. Those living in Bhutan of
Nepali origin have been excluded from the
official census since 1990 which results
in such a large discrepancy in population
numbers.
Bhutan has four major ethic groups: Bhutia,
Sharchops, Nepali, and other indigenous groups.
The Bhutia, who are descended from Tibetans,
live in the central and northern regions
of Bhutan. This ethnic group basically dominates
politics in Bhutan particularly with it's
contribution of government officials and
monks that come from it. Believed to be Bhutan's
earliest settlers, the Sharchops live in
the southeastern and eastern region. They
speak both Tibeto-Burman languages as well
as Hindi.
The Nepali people are the latest immigrants
to Bhutan. Living in the southwestern and
south central section of Bhutan, immigration
of Nepali's has been forbidden by the Bhutanese
government since 1959. Fear of Bhutan becoming
too heavily populated with Nepalese brought
about this and the ban on living in the central
Himalayan region. Bhutan traditions and culture
are to be retained and not dilute Bhutanese
distinctiveness. There are small groups of
ethnic minorities that live all throughout
Bhutan with the largest group living in the
Duars. This group is related to those groups
living in India's Assam and Bangla states.
Bhutan is a heavenly abode in the heart
of the vast Himalaya. But it is little known
to the outside world just being wedged between
giant neighbors and secluded by some of the
highest mountain ranges. Bhutan-the last
paradise on the earth reflects age-old religion,
culture, arts & architecture in its golden
peaks in the background of deep green valley
and hillside.
Outline Itinerary
Day
1
Fly
from Kathmandu to Paro. Drive from Paro
to Thimphu which takes two hours. You board
Druk-Air flight to Bhutan which provides
the most fascinating views of the Himalayas.
Whether flying along the Himalayan ranges
from Kathmandu or over the foothills from
Calcutta, each flight is a mesmerizing
aeronautical feat and offers an exciting
descent into the kingdom. As you enter
Bhutan the plains come to an abrupt end
and the mountains keep rising. The silver
river thread the valleys, waterfall plunge
down the forested mountains and to the
north the great snowcapped peaks of the
inner himalayas rise up in the sky. As
you enter Paro you will see the Paro dzong
and one of the most fertile valleys of
Bhutan. After lunch you drive to Thimphu.
During evening you are free to explore.
You stay overnight in a hotel in Thimphu.
Day
2
Drive
from Thimphu to Punakha and it takes three
hours. Thimphu, perhaps the most unusual
capital in the world, is a bustling town
which is home to the most revered Bhutanese
family, the Royal government and the judiciary
and to several foreign missions and development
projects.
In morning you visit the Tashichhodzong,
the main secretariat building. It is from
here that the King and other prominent
civil servants run the country. The Head
Abbot and the central monastic body also
reside here during the summer.
Bhutan's National Library is located close
to the thanka painting school and contains
the best collection of religious and historical
literatures in the Himalayas.
During afternoon you visit the Memorial
chorten built in the memory of the late
King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, 15 century
Changangkha monastery and drive further
down with good views of the Thimphu valley.
Visit one of the Handicraft Emporium where
one can buy Bhutanese textiles and other
Arts & Crafts stores. Here you can
buy stunning Kiras that can be used as
bed covers or wall hangings, jewelry and
much more.
In evening you drive to Punakha, the road
winds up from Simtokha Dzong into the pine
forest and through small villages for 20
kilometres and then opens miraculously
onto the northern ridge of the mountains.
The views over the Himalayan panoply at
Dorchula Pass at 10,500 feet is one of
the most spectacular in all Bhutan as you
can see the whole range of the Bhutanese
Himalayas from here. You stay overnight
in a hotel in Punakha.
Day
3
Drive from Punakha to Paro via Wangdiphodrang.
Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan
until 1955. The town of Punakha, while
dominated by its Dzong, developed in 1990's
through several government sponsored programs.
This day you visit Punakha Dzong. The
Dzong is situated between the two rivers.
You will have to hike through the suspension
bridge to reach the Dzong. The Dzong was
built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
and is situated between Pho Chu (Male River)
and Mo Chu (Female River). For many years
until the time of the second king, it served
as the seat of the Government. The construction
of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoche,
who predicted, “…a person
named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that
looks like an elephant”. There was
a smaller building here called Dzong Chu
(Small Dzong) that housed a statue of Buddha.
It is said that Shabdrung ordered the architect,
Zowe Palep, to sleep in front of the statue,
while Palep was sleeping; the Shabdrung
took him in his dreams to Zangtopelri and
showed him the palace of Guru Rimpoche.
From his vision, the architect conceived
the design for the new Dzong, which in
keeping with the tradition, was never committed
to paper. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang
Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness).
The war materials captured during the battle
with Tibetans are preserved here. Punakha
is still the winter residence of Je-Khenpo
and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened
the new national Assembly here in 1952
Next you drive to Wangduephodrang, the
last town on the highway before entering
Central Bhutan. Sitting on top of the hill
looking out over the junction of the two
rivers, Wangduephodrang's formidable Dzong
is the town's most visible feature. After
lunch you drive to Paro enroute visiting
Simtokha Dzong. This is the oldest fort
in Bhutan.
Day
4
Sightseeing in Paro. This day is planned
for sightseeing in Paro. You visit the
old fort ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong, which
offers a very scenic drive of a typical
Bhutanese landscape. The dzong was destroyed
by accidental fire and left in ruins as
an evocative reminder of the great victories
it was built to commemorate. On a clear
day the Mt. Jhomolhari(7314metres, 24000
feet),the sacred summit, reaches skyward
beyond the Dzong.
Afterwards visit the Ta Dzong (built in1656
and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower,
which now houses the National Museum. This
unusual round building is believed to be
in the shape of a conch shell. The centerpiece
of this Museum is a complex four-sided
carving depicting the history of Buddhism
and its propagation. One side is Sakyamuni
and the great teacher Atisha, representing
the Sakya School. On the next lies Geylup,
a disciple of Dalai Lama. Another is Nyingma
lineage, the head is Guru Padmasanva, and
the final is Drukpa Kagyu with the figure
of Vajra Dhara.
Below the museum is the Paro Rimpung Dzong
(literally meaning “Heap of Jewels”,
built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal,
the centre of civil and religious authority
in this valley. Here you can see finest
example of Bhutanese architecture.
En route you visit the near by Kichu Lhakhang
built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen
Gampo. This Monastery is one of the 108
monasteries built across the Himalayan
region by the Tibetan King to subdue the
Demons that lay across the Himalayan region.
The rest of the monasteries lie in other
neighboring countries.
Along with these you are quite attracted
by the Paro’s market and farm houses.
During evening you visit a traditional
farm house to get insight into the Bhutanese
way of life. You stay overnight at a hotel
in Paro.
Secluded high in the eastern Himalayas with
unique customs and people with deeply held
beliefs. Bhutan is a land of dzongs and monasteries;
monks, majestic mountains and a rich heritage;
and an architectural style like no other on
earth and a land full of warm-hearted, friendly
people who go to unusual lengths to preserve
each element of Bhutanese life. Today as a
visitor picks up a telephone to call home or
travels over a wide network of roads, it may
be difficult to imagine that as recently as
the 1960's telecommunication was non-existent
in Bhutan and travel within the kingdom could
only be made by horseback or on foot...there
were no roads.
