Thimpu | Punakha | Paro

Day 1: Arriving at Kolkata

Arrive at Kolkata airport and explore the city of Kolkata. Visit Victoria Memorial and Kalighat Kali Temple.
After that continue with the city tour visiting Howrah Bridge, Eden Garden (Outer view), and Mothers House.

Overnight stay in Kolkata.

Day 2: Kolkata – Paro – Thimphu

Arrive at Paro International airport, then transfer to Thimphu. If time permits explore the city admiring the unique Bhutanese way of life. Overnight stay in Thimphu.

Day 3: Thimphu

Proceed to explore Thimphu, visiting the following places of interest –  National Memorial Chorten, a stupa built to commemorate the third king of Bhutan who reigns from 1952 – 1972. The third king is considered the father of modern Bhutan. Buddha point, a gigantic Buddha statue installed to liberate all sentient beings from this samsara. Takin Reserve – Burda’s taxi color is a national animal of Bhutan, a strange-looking animal that resembles a goat and a cow was created by the divine madman in the fifteenth century. BBS viewpoint- you will have a breathtaking view over Thimphu valley.

Overnight in Thimphu.

Day 4: Thimphu – Punakha Sightseeing

Proceed to Thimphu – Punakha via Dochula pass- drive to Punakha crossing over the high pass ofDochula at an elevation of 8820 Ft above sea level. If the weather is clear you can see the eastern Himalayan ranges from this point. walk around the 108 DrukWangyelChorten and continue driving downhills through lush forest adorns with diverse plant species such as spruce, hemlock, blue pine, cedar, maple, and magnolia all the way down to the lower valley of Louisa.

While arriving at Lobisa take a short walking trip to ChhimiLhakhang and drive to Punakha to visit the stunning PunakhaDzong, a grand fortress built on the confluence of river mo. chu and pho chu. Punakha dzong is a landmark in Punakha built in1639 by the founder of Bhutan Shabdrung Namgyel who spend his entire life living in this fortress until his death in 1651. After the tour of this Dzong, you will be transferred to the hotel and check-in at the hotel.

Overnight in Punakha.

Day 5: Punakha – Paro

Proceed to Paro, en route stop over at Tachoggang and walk by the riverside, and cross over the suspension bridge over a crystal clear glacier that feeds the river. Across the river stand a Tachoggang temple dedicated to Hayagriva which is said to be founded by the Tibetan saint ThangtongGyalpo, who visited Bhutan in 1414 in search of iron ore and built 108 iron-chained bridge in Bhutan.

The specimen of his iron-chained bridge is restored here. Next stop by the riverside at Issuna to enjoy the pristine nature with the fast-flowing glacier Feeds River. on arrival visit the national museum of Bhutan and Paro dzong and check into the hotel.

Overnight in Paro.

Day 6: Paro – Hiking to Taktsang Monastery

Proceed for a hiking trip to Taktsang Monastery which takes about 5 hours for the round trip – transfer to the base and start hiking up through a wide mud trail through a lush pine forest adorn with lichens, and prayer flags all the way up. About 45 min of strenuous hiking is a tea house with the perfect setting of Taktsang hanging on the face of a sheer cliff about 900 meters above the valley floor. Legend has it that in the mid of eight century Guru Padmasambhava landed here riding on the flying female tigress taken into the form of fierce thunderbolt, known as Guru DorjiDroley.

Guru spent about four months in a cave on meditation and contemplating a trance to subdue the evil spirit terrorizing the people living in the valley. After subduing the evil spirit guru blessed and sanctified the site as the second Kailash.

Overnight in Paro.

Day 7:  Paro – Kolkata

Transfer to Paro Airport for your return journey.