Bhutan– The Kingdom of Happiness or the Last Shangri La or the Land of Thundering Dragons hasn’t been much explored, and remains unseen by millions of travellers. However, this 7-day itinerary to Bhutan – The Last Shangri La, has a little bit of everything, be it adventure, culture or tradition.
Contents
7 Day Itinerary in Brief
Day 1 – Arrive in Bagdogra and drive to Phuentsholing.
Day 2 – Phuentsholing to Thimphu. Explore Thimphu pubs and bars.
Day 3 –Thimphu sight-seeing – National Memorial Chorten – Buddha Dordenma– Folk heritage museum
Post breakfast, first head out to the 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma. This Vajra Throne Buddha is located in the Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and is one of the largest statue of Buddha in the world.
The hill top location provides a panoramic view of Thimphu and some amazing photo shoot location. Learn more about Buddhism, like the significance of the 8 lucky symbols, and the history of Buddha as depicted on the wall paintings inside.
Next, visit the National Memorial Chorten which is built in honour of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk and admire the Thimphu Dzong or the Tashichho Dzong, the largest Dzong in Bhutan, and also the seat of the office of the King of Bhutan, from a nice vantage point.
Visit the Thirteen Traditional Arts and Crafts School and the Folk Heritage Museum, before continuing to the National Library, where you’ll find the world’s largest published book.
Once you are done with all the sightseeing, head out to the Thimphu Post Office, and send a postcard or two, from the Last Shangri La, to your near and dear ones. You can get a post card for around Nu 20 and the international postage stamp amounting to Nu30. Then head out for a nice long walk along the lanes of Thimphu and check out the different souvenirs that are sold at the Norzin Lam Craft Stalls!
Day 4 – Thimphu to Punakha via Simtokha Dzong, Dochu La Pass, Chimmi Lhakang – Punakha Dzong and suspension bridge
Day 5 – Punakha to Paro – Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong)
Day 6 – Hike to Tiger’s Nest– Bhutanese hot stone water bath
Day 7 – Visit Namgay Artisanal Brewery overlooking Paro airstrip, and Paro – Phuentsholing
If you love your beers, or fancy trying out some new tastes, make your way to the Namgay Artisanal Brewery. This picturesque brewery, offers amazing panoramic views of Paro city, and of the Paro airstrip as well, which is directly in your line of sight.
The beers are dirt cheap, and the artistic labels also make the Bhutanese beer as nice souvenirs to take back to India. Try out the wheat beer, and the red rice beer for sure.
Day 8 – With loads of happy memories, bid adieu to Bhutan and make your way from Phuentsholing to board your flight back from Bagdogra, India
Also, when in Bhutan, you should be definitely ticking these things off your bucket list!
Thats me with a bunch of monks I ran into at the Punakha Suspension Bridge
Visiting the various Dzongs – Punakha | Paro | Thimphu
Monasteries in Bhutan are known as Dzongs or goembas, pronounced very differently from the Tibetan equivalent, gompa. They provide the necessary solitude for both study and meditation. Usually built on rocky buttress or on a remote hillside. The architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monks’ accommodation.
In Bhutan, Dzongs serve as the religious, military, administrative, and social centers of their district. They are often the site of an annual tsechu or religious festival.
The most popular Dzongs that you should visit are the Rinpung Dzong or Paro Dzong, Punakha Dzong, Simtokha Dzong (Thimphu) and Tasichho Dzong (Thimphu) – which has been the seat of the Government of Bhutan since 1952.
Rinpung Dzong aka Paro Dzong
Visiting the Temple of Fertility near Punakha
Chimmi Lhakang also known as The Fertility Temple of Bhutan, is dedicated to the Divine Madman and childless couples from all over the world come here to pray for children, and are believed to be blessed with a baby after the visit.
The hike, through open fields and specially through the village of Sopsokha, will surely stun you up. As you will see plenty of Phalluses, painted on walls, and also available in different sizes as souvenirs.
As travellers, we come across so many unique traditions and beliefs across the world, and getting to know more about this tradition in Bhutan by visiting The Fertility Temple of Bhutan, is one such experience without which your trip to Bhutan will be incomplete.
Phallus Souvenirs
For your information, in Bhutan, the phallus is a symbol of prosperity and luck, and is also used to ward off evil and malice, which is why you’ll see phalluses everywhere, being sold off as souvenirs in different shapes, or as paintings on walls, not only in this village of Sopsokha, but also in other cities of Bhutan, like Thimphu and Paro.
Witnessing a festival – Paro Tsechu
Paro Tsechu is one of the most popular festivals in Bhutan. Featuring dances performed by trained monks and laymen in amazing masks and costumes, Tsechus (festivals) are one of the best ways to experience the ancient living culture of Bhutan. A Tsechu is a Buddhist festival in honour of Guru Rimpoche, the saint who brought Buddhism to Bhutan.
The tshechu involves a series of dances, held over three days, to honour Guru Rinpoche. The timing of the event varies by district and from temple to temple, but are always held of the 10th day of a month in the Bhutanese calendar, a day dedicated to Guru Rinpoche.
Paro Tsechu is held in spring and Thimphu Tsechu is held in the autumn, and these two are the largest of the festivals held in Bhutan. Interestingly, Tshechu dances generally follow the same sequence, although there are local variations.
Hiking up Tiger’s Nest
Tiger’s Nest or Taktsang Lhakang in Bhutan, located 10 km north of Paro, at an altitude of 10, 000 feet, is Bhutan’s most iconic landmark.Tiger’s Nest or Taktsang, constructed back in 1692, is located on a cliff about 3000 feet above Paro Valley, with the temple being one of the most important holy sites in the kingdom. A hike up the Tiger’s Nest is a 100% must, and trust me, the 2 hours of hike up, is definitely rewarding.
The legend says that Guru Rimpoche flew to the site atop the back of a tigress and meditated in the cave for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours in order to subdue evil demons residing within it. The cave has been considered a sacred site ever since and many famous saints have travelled to meditate in it.
The climb up to the viewpoint will take around 1 1⁄2 hours and from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of the cliff. Stop for refreshment at the View Point Cafeteria. Then walk further up to the monastery which will take about 30 – 45 minutes. Ideally, you should be done in a matter of 5 – 6 hours, including spending around one hour at the monastery itself.
Start the hike up by 8 – 8:30 AM, and you should be back at base by 1-2 PM just in time for lunch. The entire trail is a wide dirt trail, and is easily doable by almost everyone. The trail gets easy once you cross the view point, as from this point on, there isn’t much of an altitude gain.
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Hi, I am Arnav Mathur, a hard core foodie and a travel aficionado at heart. Having changed over 8 schools in 6 different cities, every 2 years, since birth, traveling and socializing has been in my DNA. “Follow your Passion and Travel to a new place every 3-4 months and Eat, Travel, Live and REPEAT.”That’s my mantra to live a life without regrets.
Very interesting read. I had no idea that Dzongs serve as religious, military and administrative centers. I always thought they are only religious. I’d love to visit the Monasteries in Bhutan someday. Your pictures are so enticing!
Bhutan seems like such a beautiful country that is rich in culture. The fertility temple is so interesting! Haha what a story would that be if Scott and I went to the happiest country in the world (Bhutan), visited the fetility temple and then became pregnant (not that we are trying yet)….but our future kid would have a pretty cool story to tell and a phallic keychain to go along with it hahaha.
Bhutan is certainly one of the most gorgeous countries in the world. This post takes me back to the first “foreign” trip that I ever had. The tiger’s nest picture is so incredible. My favorite part were the Himalayan passes – chela la and Dochu la. The Dzongs are such architectural masterpieces!
Bhutan is indeed like a jewel of the Himalayas. A place that seems so untouched and pristine, far from the world, indeed a Utopia of sorts. We have not been to Bhutan but would love to get there. This seems to be a perfect itinerary to follow. One of the places that really haunts us is, The Tiger’s nest, it seems straight out of a fairy tale.
This is one of the most detailed posts that I have read about Bhutan. Thank you so much for sharing this itinerary. We would love to visit during the Paro Tsechu festival. Saving this for future reference.
That’s an interesting itinerary that you have shared Arnav. I was really small when I had visited Bhutan with my parents. I was really amazed by the beauty, and I would love to go there soon. I’m definitely going to follow your itinerary as I find it the best.
How interesting! I had heard about the temple of fertility in Bhutan, but had no idea the phallus is seen as a symbol of prosperity and luck. Some very interesting insights here, I would love to visit!
This was almost like reading my own trip a couple of years back. I had the same itinerary more or less except that I also camped on the banks of Mochu river, did river rafting and visited Haa valley, a hidden gem of Bhutan. When I was there, there was no ongoing festival. It is great that you got to see Paro Tsechu festival.
I travelled to this area when I was quite young and was in India but don’t remember much. Reading your post makes me feel like visiting again and enjoying that natural beauty. I live the good as well of this region so another reason for visiting. Would be interesting to camp by the river with my kids. Thanks for sharing a beautiful destination with very sweet memories.
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Very interesting read. I had no idea that Dzongs serve as religious, military and administrative centers. I always thought they are only religious. I’d love to visit the Monasteries in Bhutan someday. Your pictures are so enticing!
Bhutan seems like such a beautiful country that is rich in culture. The fertility temple is so interesting! Haha what a story would that be if Scott and I went to the happiest country in the world (Bhutan), visited the fetility temple and then became pregnant (not that we are trying yet)….but our future kid would have a pretty cool story to tell and a phallic keychain to go along with it hahaha.
Bhutan is certainly one of the most gorgeous countries in the world. This post takes me back to the first “foreign” trip that I ever had. The tiger’s nest picture is so incredible. My favorite part were the Himalayan passes – chela la and Dochu la. The Dzongs are such architectural masterpieces!
Bhutan is indeed like a jewel of the Himalayas. A place that seems so untouched and pristine, far from the world, indeed a Utopia of sorts. We have not been to Bhutan but would love to get there. This seems to be a perfect itinerary to follow. One of the places that really haunts us is, The Tiger’s nest, it seems straight out of a fairy tale.
This is one of the most detailed posts that I have read about Bhutan. Thank you so much for sharing this itinerary. We would love to visit during the Paro Tsechu festival. Saving this for future reference.
That’s an interesting itinerary that you have shared Arnav. I was really small when I had visited Bhutan with my parents. I was really amazed by the beauty, and I would love to go there soon. I’m definitely going to follow your itinerary as I find it the best.
How interesting! I had heard about the temple of fertility in Bhutan, but had no idea the phallus is seen as a symbol of prosperity and luck. Some very interesting insights here, I would love to visit!
This was almost like reading my own trip a couple of years back. I had the same itinerary more or less except that I also camped on the banks of Mochu river, did river rafting and visited Haa valley, a hidden gem of Bhutan. When I was there, there was no ongoing festival. It is great that you got to see Paro Tsechu festival.
I travelled to this area when I was quite young and was in India but don’t remember much. Reading your post makes me feel like visiting again and enjoying that natural beauty. I live the good as well of this region so another reason for visiting. Would be interesting to camp by the river with my kids. Thanks for sharing a beautiful destination with very sweet memories.