Beautiful 9 Days 8 Nights Punakha Religious Holiday Package

Meet & Greet upon arrival at Bagdogra Airport/ NJP then transfer to Phuntsholing (298Mts / 977Fts), a small town at the Indo-Bhutan borders. You will come across of many beautiful tea bushes and the jungle of Gorumara. Check into hotel and rest for the day. In evening leisure walk around Phuentsholing and Jaigaon local markets. Bargaining in Jaigaon local market can be done. Meanwhile we will apply for the visa for Thimphu and Paro. Overnight in Phuntsholing followed by dinner at hotel or outside restaurants. Phuentsholing (alt. 300m/985 ft) - The frontier town, it is a thriving commercial centre, situated directly at the base of Himalayan foothills. It is a fascinating place where different ethnic groups mingle prominently Indian, Bhutanese and Nepalese. Being the border town, Phuentsholing serves as the convenient entry/exit point for Bhutan and also the important link to visit the Indian state of West Bengal, Sikkim and Assam.

After breakfast and permit formalities completed, move for Thimphu the capital town of Bhutan through lustourous valleys and mountains. Its elevation is an elevation of 2,250 mts. Check into Hotel. Thimphu (alt. 2400m/7875ft) - The capital town of Bhutan and the centre of government, religion and commerce, Thimphu is a unique city with unusual mixture of modern development alongside ancient traditions. Although not what one expects from a capital city, Thimphu is still a fitting and lively place. Home to civil servants, expatriates and monk body, Thimphu maintains a strong national character in its architectural.

The Bhutan travel experience continues south of Punakha to Gangtey, we first visit the Gangtey Gompa (Monastery)- The Gangtey Monastery generally known as Gangtey Gompa, is an important monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. It is located in the Wangdue Phodrang District in central Bhutan, is perched a top a small hill that rises from the valley floor. The Monastery is surrounded by a large village inhabited mainly by the families of the 140 Gomchens who take care of the Monastery. In winter this families, together with the monastery’s ten monks, move away to another monastery, a day’s walk to the south. Gangtey, which is now controlled by the government, is the only Nyingmapa monastery on the western side of the Black Mountain’s and is also the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. It is directed by Gangtey Tulku, the ninth reincarnation (Tulku) to bear that name. Gangtey was founded by Pema Trinley, the grandson of Pema Lingpa, the famous Nyingmapa saint of Bhutan. Pema Lingpa visited this area and predicted that a monastery would be established by one of his descendants near the summit (tey) of a mountain (gang). Thus, in 1613, Pema Trinley establishes the monastery and became the first Gangtey Tulku. The religious traditions of Pema Lingpa still taught there. The second Tulku, Tenzin Legpa Dondrup (1645 to 1726), enhanced the size of Gangtey while keeping up good relations with Drukpas, and rebuilt the monastery in the form of a Dzong. The Phobjikha valley- The Phobjikha Valley is a vast U-shaped glacial valley, also known as Gangteng Valley, where the black-necked cranes – visit central Bhutan to roost, circling the monastery three times on arrival and repeating this circling when returning to Tibet. Black-necked cranes in Bhutan are winter visitors during late October to mid-February to the Phobjikha Valley as well as Ladakh, India, and Arunachal Pradesh, India. They arrive from the Tibetan Plateau, where they breed in the summer. The phobijikha valley is popular for its scenic splendor and cultural uniqueness. The valley is rich in faunal biodiversity and has, apart from the globally threatened black-necked cranes Grusnigricollis, 13 other globally threatened species the valley is enclosed by the mountain ranges, which experience snowfall.

After breakfast hike to Taktsang Monastery. It has an elevation of 10232 fts. The walk of approximately 2 hours uphill takes you almost a kilometre above the Paro valley floor. The view of Taktsang Monastery built on a sheer cliff face 900 metres above the valley floor is a spectacular sight. The Monastery is also an important pilgrim site for the Buddhists. The great Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown here on the back of a tigress when he brought the teachings of the Buddhist Dharma to Bhutan in the 8th Century. Refreshments and lunch will be arranged in the tent specifically pitched on the path to Taktsang Monastery. On the return drive to Paro, visit 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang. Kyichu Lhakhang It is one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom dating back to 7th century (the other is Jambey Lhakahng in Bumthang). The lhakhang complex is composed of two temples. The first temple was built by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century and in 1968, H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, built the second temple in original pattern. Inside this courtyard you will see the the orange tree, and if you blessed with orange accidentally then your desires will be fulfill, but you will not allow to pluck the fruits. It’s regarded as sin. Evening you can visit the local Paro market for some memorable shopping or just to feel the place for one last time. Overnight stay at Paro.

This morning you will be transferred to Phuentsholing. Evening at leisure. Visit the local markets of Phuentsholing and Jaigaon. Overnight at Phuentsholing.

This morning timely transfer to the Airport or Railway station for your onward journey.