Jambay Lhakhang Drup

                                                                                                  JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP

Detailed Tour Itinerary

Day 1: After arriving at Paro International Airport, drive to Thimphu which will take around 1 1/2 hours drive. 

• Visit Changgangkha Lhakang (temple): It is an old fortress like It was established in the 12^th century on the site chosen by lama Phajo Drukgom shigpo, who came from Tibet. The main or the central statue is Chenresign (God of Compassion). The prayer books in the temple are much larger than the normal Tibetan texts.

• Kuenselphodrang: Commonly known as Buddha point where the largest Buddha statue in the country isperched on the hill top overlooking the beautiful valley of Thimphu.

• Walk through Thimphu Down

Day 2: Thimphu Tour

• National Textile Museum: It is a good place to see the art of traditional weaving being kept alive andpreserve through exhibition and it houses a good collection of old textiles and can also see people weavingwith intricate designs.
• Short drive to sangaygang (a view point) to see the beautiful Thimphu valley and on the way can stop for a short visit to a zoo to see the national animal Takin. Takin is an extremely rare member of goat They are usually found in herds in the very high altitude of 13,125ft and over.
• Visit to Dechenphodrang (Palace of great bliss): Monastery located at north of Thimphu. It is a monastic school for about 500 young monks. Visit the monastery and have interaction with monks. The Palace of bliss serves as a home and learning center for the young
• Tashichhoe Dzong: a fortress which was built in 1641. It houses the office of the king and the head of the monk body (JeKhenpo). Can have the opportunity to see the monks and the true Bhutanese architectureand the religious wall paintings.
• The National Memorial Chorten (Stupa): Constructed in 1947 as a memorial for the third king of Bhutan, who is widely regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. The term chorten literally means ‘seat of faith’ andBuddhists often call such monuments the ‘Mind of Buddha’. Can meet the elderly generationcircumambulation especially in the
• Traditional Bhutanese paper making factory: The handmade paper making in Bhutan stemmed from the age old tradition originated in 8^th century of Bhutanese history. The traditional paper is recognized andheld high esteem both in country and outside world.

Day3: Thimphu to Punakha

• After breakfast visit Simtokha dzong few kilometers from Thimphu towards Punakha: It was built in 1629 byZhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel who unified Then travel to Punakha through Dochula Pass 3140m. Duringa clear sky you all can enjoy the great view of the Himalayan Mountain range. Then pass by the beautiful 108 chortens (stupa) built on the hill by Her Majesty the Queen mother, ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk for the security andwellbeing of His Majesty, the king of Bhutan. Can also visit Druk Wangyel Lhakhang (temple).

• Then drive down all the way to Lobesa valley at 1200m. You all will be driving at some point through the rain forestwith breathtaking Lunch at Lobesa.

• Visit Chime Lhakhang (Temple of Divine Madman).it is about 20 minutes‟ walk from the road junction betweenPunakha and Wangdue through the mustard and paddy The temple is popularly known as the temple of fertility. The couples who visit the Lhakhang are blessed by a replication of the iron bow and arrows of Drukpa Kuenley, alsoknown as the “Devine Mad Man”, his scriptures and the phallus, which is the symbolic representation of fertility. ChimeLhakhang is today one of the most valued and visited temples in Bhutan. People from all corners of the countryand from abroad visit the Lhakhang to seek blessing.

Day 4: Punakha Tour 

• After breakfast walk over traditional cantilever bridge to visit Punakha Dzong, located on the island of thePho-chu (Male River) and the Mochu (Female River). It is also known as Pungtang Dechen Phodrang Dzong “the palace of great happiness or bliss”. It was constructed under the command of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637. It is the second largest Dzong in Bhutan. The Dzong houses the sacred relics of the southern Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Rangjung Kasarpani and the sacred remains of Ngawang Namgyal and the Pema

• Then travel through upper Punakha valley passing through suspension bridge and through paddy fields to thebeautiful Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten: Her Majesty built the queen mother for the wellbeing of thekingdom and the benefit of all sentient beings It is about an hour hike from the base up to the temple and about 30minutes to come down. You will have the most beautiful view of Punakha from there.

• Walakha Lhendrup Cholling Nunnery: is the first Buddhist institute that would allow nuns to pursue higherBuddhist studies unto the master‟s The nunnery was completed in 2010, with more than 170 nuns. The college is built with unique features of structures skillfully carved with black marble blocks surrounding the stupa, depicting the 84 mahasiddhis, 16 arhats and the great lamas of Drukpa Kagyu lineage.

Day 5: Punakha – Bumthang 

• After breakfast at the hotel, drive towards Bumthang through Trongsa valley. Trongsa is the ancestral home of the royal family of Bhutan.^. The drive will take you through dense forest of oak trees and rhododendrons and Pele la pass (11000 ft). You will also drive through open meadows and valley of yak herders via Chendebji Chorten (stupa).

• Upon reaching at Trongsa visit the Trongsa Dzong which is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan. It is built in 1644 and it is an architectural masterpiece.

• Lunch at Trongsa

• After Lunch drive towards Bumthang. Bumthang is one of the most religious place in Bhutan where great teachers meditated and left in their wake many scared grounds. You will drive through Yotong la pass 3450m. On the way visit the Yathra weaving Centre (Yathra is the name of the colorful hand woven woolen cloth that is produced in this region. Yathra weaving center is on the way before reaching bumthang right next to the road. It will be a short stop and it’s a small weaving centre.

• Will be driving through chummey valley reaching Jakar.

Day 6: Bumthang  Tour

• After breakfast, visit Jakar Dzong: is one of the largest and most impressive dzong in Bhutan and it houses the administrative and monastic offices of Bumthang valley. It was originally constructed in 1667, but built after being severely damaged by the earthquake in 1897.

• Then will take a leisure religious walk connecting the sacred temples and monasteries. Firstly visit Jambay Lhakhang (castle of the white bird): It is one of the 108 monasteries that were miraculously built by King Songten Gampo over the night. Most of the 108 temples are believed to be in Tibet and two are in Bhutan, Jambay Lhakhang and Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro.

• After a short walk visit to Kurje Lhakhang (Kurje means “Body imprint”): is considered to be one of the Bhutan’s most sacred Lhakhang. A body print of Guru Rinpoche is preserved in a cave around which the oldest of the three buildings is built.

• Then either walk to Tamshing Lhakhang which takes around 30 minutes or drive: the local Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa established the two-storey building in 1501.

• After lunch drive to Membertsho:  It is also known as the “buring lake” and is considered as one of the most pilgrimage sites in Bhuan. It is said that the great Therton Pema Lingpa has found many treasures here which were kept hidden by Guru Rinpoche.

Day 7: Jambay Lhakhang Drup

Attend the Jambay Lhakhang Drup with the local folks.

Day 8: Bumthang to Gangtey

• After breakfast, drive back towards Gangety.

• Lunch at Chenbjee

• Check in at the hotel.

• Visit Ganget Monastery, a monastery of the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism, the main seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition.

• Visit the Black Naked Crane Center.

Day 9: Gangtey to Paro

• Drive towards Paro.

• After lunch, Visit Kichu Lhakhang: is one of the oldest and an important Himalayan Buddhist temple situated at Paro. Songtsan Gampo, a Tibetan Emperor, originally built it in 7th century. It is said to be one of the 108 monasteries that were miraculously built by him. The story goes that a demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism.

• Then visit Dranjey Goempa and Meditate at the temple. Founded in the 16th–17th century by Drukpa Kagyu lineage masters of Tibetan Buddhism. The name Dranjey roughly means “place of meditation and liberation” — emphasizing its purpose as a retreat and practice center.

• Dinner with the little monks at the temple.

Day 10: Paro (Tigers Nest Hike)

Early morning hike toward Taktsang: It is located on the face of a sheer 1000m cliff. The monastery was first built in 1692. The place is highly sacred to the Bhutanese in that they believe Guru Rinpoche, the father of Bhutanese Buddhism landed here on Back of a tigress. Taktshang Goemba is a must to visit for all the visitors as it is one of the most religious monasteries in the country. The monastery is and will not be connected with motor roads as to preserve its sacredness. After visiting the monastery, walk downhill back to the road on the way stop for lunch at the farm house.

Day 11: Paro Departure

In the morning after breakfast your tour guide from All in One Bhutan Tours and Treks will escort you to the Paro airport for your flight to your onward destinations.