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Access to Adventure - - -› Bhutan Tourism - - -› Western & Eastern Bhutan

Bhutan Tourism

Western & Eastern Bhutan

Duration :- 12 Nights / 13 Days
Places to See : Delhi - Paro - Thimphu - Punakha - Wangdiphodrang - Gangtey - Tongsa - Bhumthang - Mongar - Tashigang - Samdrup Jongkhar - Guwahati

Day 1: Delhi - Paro flight 1115/1500 hours
Assistance and transfer to Druk Hotel or similar. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 2: Paro
After breakfast, drive to Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined fortress where Bhutanese warriors fought Tibetan invaders centuries ago. The snowy dome of sacred Chomolhari, "mountain of goddess" looms directly over the dzong. Along the way, see the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. After lunch visit Ta Dzong, originally built as watch tower, now houses National Museum of the Kingdom. It boasts antique thankhas, textile, weapons and armory, household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts. Then walk down the train to visit Rinpung Dzong, meaning 'fortress of the heap of jewels" which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the courtyard of the Rinpung Dzong are fine wall paintings.

Day 3: Paro - Thimphu drive - 54 km/2 hours
After breakfast, drive to Thimphu, the capital town passing via idyllic countryside, through villages and paddy fields, Enroute visit the Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of the country now houses the School for Bhutan studies.

Afternoon sight-seeing of Thimphu valley, visiting Taschihhodzong; the seat of the Government, Memorial Chorten, the Stupa built in the memory of Bhutan's third King and Handicrafts Emporium displaying rich traditional crafts of the Kingdom.

Day 4: Thimphu - Punakha
Morning, in Thimphu visit to National Library which has fascinating collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and texts, the Painting School: famous for traditional thankhas paintings and traditional Medicine Institute where centuries old healing arts still practiced. .

Then proceed to Punakha across Dochula pass (3050 M) which provides a superb view of the highest peaks of Bhutan, such as Gangkar, Puensum, table Mountain, Masakhang etc. On arrival check-in at the hotel. .

After lunch visit Punakha Dzong. Punakha until 1955, served as the capital town of Bhutan and still it is the winter seat of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot. Punakha Dzong built by Shabdrung Ngawang, Namgyal in 17th century and situated at the junction of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers.

Day 5: Punakha - Wangdiphodrang - Gangtey, 146 km
After breakfast drive to Wangdiphodrang, 17 km to visit Dzong which is pierced on a spur at the confluence of the Sunkosh and Tangmachu rivers. The dzong was built in 1638. The position of the Dzong is remarkable as it completely covers the south and east-west. Wangdi district is famous for its bamboo work, slate and stone carving. .

After lunch at Wangdiphodrang, drive for 3 hours to arrive at one of the most beautiful open valleys in Bhutan - Gangtey. Gangtey is the winter heaven to the rare Black Necked Crane, migrating down from the Tibetan Plateau. On a hillock overlooking the small villages is the Gangtey Monastery. This is the only Nyingmapa temple in the country. Overnight at the Lodge.

Day 6: Gangtey - Tongsa, 65 km
Five hours drive upwards to the Pele La Pass, crossing over the Black Mountains which divide western and central Bhutan Pass through rich rhododendron and Yak settlements. Cross the Nikarchu bridge to enter the Tongsa regions in Central Bhutan. A great white stupa built in Nepalese design from 18th century stands below the road. .

The approach to Tongsa is through the winding roads which make journey quite time consuming. Lunch stop at Tongsa. Tongsa Dzong at an altitude of 2200 M is the most impressive of the Dzongs in Bhutan. Built in 1647 by the Shabdrung, the dzong is a mater piece in architecture.

Day 7: Tongsa - Bhumthang, 68 km
In the morning visit the outer premises of Tongsa Dzong.
After lunch, 2-3 hours drive to Jakar (Bhumthang) across the Yontola Pass at 3404 m.
Arrive Jakar (Bhumthang). Overnight at the Lodge.

Day 8: Bhumtang
This is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. Here the great teachers meditated and left in their walk many sacred grounds. The Guru and his lineage of Tertons, teasure finders, have led to the sprouting of many temples in the valley. Visit the famous Kurjey, Jamby and Tamshing Lkhakhangs. Also the Jakar Dzong, seat of the distt. administration.

Day 9: Bhumthang - Mongar, 198 km/7 hours
The journey continues eastwards, winding through more rugged terrain. The drive with spectacular views, will take about 6 hours. Pass through Ura village before climbing sharply to the highest motor road pass in the Kingdom, the Thrushingla Pass - 12465 ft. Gradually descend to Sengor watching cascading waterfalls along the way. The descend stops on a bridge over the Kurichu before climb begins again through pine forests, maize fields and eastern hamlets to Mongar town. The Mongar Dzong, albeit built not too long ago, still maintains the architectural traditions of the old dzongs.

Day 10: Mongar - Tashigang, 91 km
Drive across Korila Pass (2298 m) to Tashigang. Korila Pass is marked by a pretty chorten and a stone wall. The drive from here takes down through Nhatsang and Yadi villages. After Yadi a gorgeous view of the 18 beds can be seen till arrival at Manas Chu, the biggest river in Bhutan. Overnight at Tashigang.

Day 11: Tashigang
Morning excursion to Tashi Yangtse with packed lunch. Visit Chorten Kora and Gom Kora, built in the 17th century by Minjur Tempa. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava meditated at the site of the temple in the 8th century to subdue a demon who dwelt in the rock. This little temple contains the statues of Guru Padmasambhava and Avalokiteshvara.

Day 12: Tashigang - Samdrup Jongkhar, 180 km
6 to 7 hours drive in the south to the small frontier town of Samdrup Jongkhar. Along the way see Sherubuste, the only college in the country, the blid school and the weaving centre in Khaling.. The drive is on up/down road.

Day 13: Samdrup Jongkhar - Guwahati, 110 km
Drive to Guwahati in India for onward programme.


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Access to Adventure - - -› About Himalayas - - -› People & Tribes of Himalayas

About Himalayas

People & Tribes of Himalayas

The population, settlement, and economic patterns within the Himalayas have been greatly influenced by the variations in topography and climate, which impose harsh living conditions and tend to restrict movement and communication. People living in remote, isolated valleys have generally preserved their cultural identities.

However, improvements in transportation and communication, particularly satellite television programs from Europe and the United States, are bringing access from the outside world to remote valleys. These outside influences are affecting traditional social and cultural structure.

Nearly 40 million people inhabit the Himalayas. Generally, Hindus of Indian heritage are dominant in the Sub-Himalayas and the Middle Himalayan valleys from eastern Kashmir to Nepal. To the north Tibetan Buddhists inhabit the Great Himalayas from Ladakh to northeast India.

In central Nepal, in an area between about 1830 and 2440 m (between about 6000 and 8000 ft), the Indian and Tibetan cultures have intermingled, producing a combination of Indian and Tibetan traits. The eastern Himalayas in India and nearby areas of eastern Bhutan are inhabited by animistic people whose culture is similar to those living in northern Myanmar and Yunnan province in China. People of western Kashmir are Muslims and have a culture similar to the inhabitants of Afghanistan and Iran.

The economy of the Himalayas as a whole is poor with low per capita income. Much of the Himalayas area is characterized by a very low economic growth rate combined with a high rate of population growth, which contributes to stagnation in the already low level of per capita gross national product. Most of the population is dependent on agriculture, primarily subsistence agriculture; modern industries are lacking.

Mineral resources are limited. The Himalayas has major hydroelectric potential, but the development of hydroelectric resources requires outside capital investment. The skilled labor needed to organize and manage development of natural resources is also limited due to low literacy rates. Most of the Himalayan communities face malnutrition, a shortage of safe drinking water, and poor health services and education systems.

Agricultural land is concentrated in the Tarai plain and in the valleys of the Middle Himalayas. Patches of agricultural land have also been carved out in the mountainous forested areas. Rice is the principal crop in eastern Tarai and the well-watered valleys. Corn is also an important rain-fed crop on the hillsides.

Other cereal crops are wheat, millet, barley, and buckwheat. Sugarcane, tea, oilseeds, and potatoes are other major crops. Food production in the Himalayas has not kept up with the population growth.

The major industries include processing food grains, making vegetable oil, refining sugar, and brewing beer. Fruit processing is also important. A wide variety of fruits are grown in each of the major zones of the Himalayas, and making fruit juices is a major industry in Nepal, Bhutan, and in the Indian Himalayas.

Since 1950 tourism has emerged as a major growth industry in the Himalayas. Nearly 1 million visitors come to the Himalayas each year for mountain trekking, wildlife viewing, and pilgrimages to major Hindu and Buddhist sacred places. The number of foreign visitors has increased in recent years, as organized treks to the icy summits of the Great Himalayas have become popular. While tourism is important to the local economy, it has had an adverse impact on regions where tourist numbers exceed the capacity of recreational areas.

Historically, all transport in the Himalayas has been by porters and pack animals. Porters and pack animals are still important, but the construction of major roads and the development of air routes have changed the traditional transportation pattern.

Major urban centers such as Kathmandu, Simla, and Srinagar, as well as important tourist destinations, are served by airlines. Railways link Simla and Darjiling, but in most of the Himalayas there are no railroads. The bulk of goods from the Himalayas, as well as goods destined for places within the Himalayas, generally come to Indian railheads, located in the Tarai, by road. The pack animals and porters transport goods from road heads to the interior and back.

About Himalayas