Chhukha Tshechu Festival 2024

Meet and greet at the Paro Airport and drive to Thimphu.

A short stop on the way to view Tamchog lhakhang. It was built in the 15th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo, popularly known as “The iron bridge builder”. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, visit national memorial chorten (1974) built in honor of the Third King, Late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The paintings and statues give a rare insight into Bhutanese culture.

Then visit the craft bazaar where you can buy Bhutanese handicrafts and art works.

In the evening, visit Tashichho dzong, seat of the national government and the central monastic body.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, visit to:

– Tallest statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5 meters) at Kuensel Phodrang.

– Changangkha lhakhang, the oldest temple in Thimphu built in the 12^th century by Phajo Drugom Shigpo.

– Takin preserve center (A queer looking animal believed to be a mix of goat and a cow and has baffled the zoologists).

– Sangaygang view point.

– Dupthop lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

Lunch at Simply Bhutan museum restaurant, where you can enjoy typical Bhutanese dishes, ara (local wine), witness folk dances, visit to the folk museum and many more.

In the afternoon, visit to:

– National postal museum where you can make your own personalized stamps.

– The school of 13 arts and crafts (Painting school).

In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Punakha. On the way, visit to:

– Dochu La pass (3140 m) with its 108 stupas and view the beautiful Himalayan mountain ranges in the north.

– Chimi lhakhang built in 1499 by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as “The divine madman”. The temple is also called “the temple of fertility”. He travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as a “Neljorpa” (Yogi) using songs, humor and outrageous behavior to dramatize his teachings of salvation through sex. This monument is also the highlight of honeymoon tours in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, visit to:

– Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is the winter residence of Je Khenpo (The chief abbot of Bhutan). Punakha was also an ancient capital of Bhutan until the rule of the second King of Bhutan.

In the evening, hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choling monastery.

– This monastery was built by Her Majesty the Queen Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck. Perched high on a hill on the bank of the river, the chorten houses paintings belonging to Nyingmapa traditions.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the Morning, walk across the longest Suspension bridge in Bhutan (160 meters).

This bridge is considered the longest of its kind in Bhutan and connects the two sides of the Pho chu river. You will get a great view of the river, valley, temple, and a good boost of adrenaline as well. Today it serves both for locals and tourists who want to visit the temple.
Drive to Wangdue Phodrang and view the dzong, and then drive to Thimphu.

This dzong was built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and was razed by fire in 2012.
Lunch at Dochu la cafeteria and drive further to Thimphu.

While in Thimphu, witness archery match at Changlimithang stadium.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Chhukha. We stop on the way to view the Dobji dzong. Drive further to Chhukha and witness the Chhukha tshechu festival 2023 (Full day).

Later in the evening, drive back to Paro.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the Morning, visit to:

– Ta dzong built in 1649, an ancient watch tower which now houses the national museum of Bhutan. This unusual building is in a conch shape with 2.5m thick wall.
– Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The dzong presently functions as the administrative centre of Paro district.

In the afternoon, excursion to the beautiful Cheli la pass from where you can see the beautiful view of the Himalayas. The pass boasts of the highest motorable road in Bhutan (3988 m)

In the evening, drive back to Paro.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the Morning, drive to Satsam Chorten and 2 hour hike till the Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang).

– The primary temple was built around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave in 1684 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay. The legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew here on the back of a flying tigress.

In the afternoon, visit to:

– Drugyal dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It served as a defense post against the Tibetan forces in ancient times.

– Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples in a single day to pin the ogress to the earth forever. Six of these temples lie in Bhutan; most prominent of them are Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang and Kichu lhakhang in Paro.
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell (End of Chhukha tshechu festival tour).