Bhutan is known to be the second least populous country located in South Asia that is locked by India, Tibet, China and the snow-clad Himalayas and natural landscapes all across it. Bhutan has been always welcoming its visitors for its spirituality, cuisine, handicraft industry, and also its cultural identity that stands apart from all other countries in South Asia where you can experience the beauty of the nature and spend your days hiking up the mountain passes, stroll along the small villages and hamlets and also pay a visit to several museums and libraries along with eateries that offer you the local foods namely, soups, stews and dumplings for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, Ema Datshi, rice wine or ara, cheese from yaks and butter tea are some of the popular local foods and beverages in Bhutan as well.
Bhutan Tour Package from Kolkata:
If you are migrating from Kolkata and seek to reach Bhutan for a wonderful vacation,then you can easily take a flight to the Paro International Airport where you will be picked by the Swan Tours representative who further accompany you to the hotel which will be pre-booked. The Kolkata to Bhutan Tour Package will include all the explorations of the sightseeing spots like, museums, temples, monasteries, libraries, stupas and statues, the transfers from one place to another with utter safety and security, Travel to famous places namely, Punakha, Thimphu and so on. If you are counting on any of the exciting tour packages, then you will be glad to just sit back and enjoy the getaway services with your dear ones without stressing upon the bookings of eateries, accommodation, tickets for travels and so on.
Itinerary
Day 1 –ARRIVE KOLKATA
Group will be met by our representative outside the customs enclosure and escorted till your check in at hotel.
Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of India’s West Bengal state. Founded as an East India Company trading post, it was India’s capital under the British Raj from 1773-1911. Today it’s known for its grand colonial architecture, art galleries and cultural festivals. It’s als o home to Mother House, headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, whose tomb is on site.
Traditional welcome at the hotel. Overnight.
Day 2 –KOLKATA
Morning after breakfast, half day sightseeing tour of Kolkata
Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and Victoria Memorial Hall. You will also drive past General Post Office, Shaheed Minar, Eden Gardens, Akashvani Bhavan, Howrah Station, Writers’ Building, Governor’s House, a few Ganges ghats, High Court, Maidan, Town Hall, Fort William, Race Course, Lal Dighi.
Lunch at Tollyganj Club (optional) or at the hotel
Kolkata is famous for its club culture and today we visit one of the oldest golf club of the country – The Tollygunge Club. The Club is located in Tollygunge , a southern suburb of Kolkata only 9 Kms from the centre of the town & 20 min. drive from Chowringhee Road. The club grounds cover an area of 100 acres.
The Tollygunge Club was founded by a Scottish banker, William Dixon Cruickshank to provide facilities for games, sports and pastimes in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, and to afford to its members all the usual privileges, advantages, conveniences and accommodation of a residential and Gymkhana Club. The Clubhouse and surrounding areas carry a rich store of legends, anecdotes and memories and the Club has inherited a tradition of sports from its inception in 1895. The Club house is now over 225 years old and the Club has just turned 113 years of age.
Evening tram ride.
The tram system in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India, operated by West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) after Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) was dissolved, is the only tram network operating in India. Being the oldest operating electric tram system in Asia, it has been running since 1902
This ride will start from near Oberoi Grand Hotel and will be for 02 hours.
Measuring 9.68 km, the route between Gariahat to Howrah Bridge via Ballygunge Phari, Park Circus, Mullick Bazar, Moulali, Sealdah, Rajabazar, Maniktala, Kankurgachi and Ultadanga is the longest.
After ride, return to hotel.
Evening welcome dinner at the hotel. Overnight.
Day 3 – KOLKATA-PARO
Moring breakfast transfer to airport to connect flight for Paro.
Arrive Paro and transfer to Thimphu( 55 kms : approx.1.30 hrs drive)
Arrive Paro by flight.
The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular in entire Himalayas. Flying along Himalayan foothills, the journey offers fascinating views and an exciting descent into the Kingdom. Bhutan’s first gift to you as you disembark from the aircraft will be cool, clean fresh mountain air.
After immigration formalities you will be welcomed by our representative with a “tashi khaddar” (white scarf offering to the guest which is an auspicious way to welcome guest.
After the welcome ceremony, board the vehicle and drive to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan. The road leads through the Paro valley to the confluence of Paro and Thimphu rivers at Chuzom (confluence).
On arrival, in Thimphu check-into the hotel. 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. With the population of about 1,00,000 it is perhaps still the world’s only capital city without a traffic light.
Lunch.
After lunch walk around National Memorial Chorten, a large white structure crowned with a golden spire. It is located close to the center of Thimphu city and is one of its most iconic monuments. This is the most ideal spot to interact with locals who throng in large numbers to circumambulate the chorten, whirl the large red prayer wheels and pray at a small shrine inside the gate. The paintings and statues inside the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.
Afterwards take a short drive to the north of town to Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang). Located at a short drive from Thimphu city centre, visitors can get a good overview of the Thimphu valley from the Buddha point (Kuensel Phodrang). You can pay your obeisance and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest statue in the country and then walk around and take a glimpse of the valley.
** Here at the Buddha point you have an option to perform meditation at a designated room.
After divine moments under the giant Buddha statue, drive back to hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu (altitude 2,320m)
Day 4 – THIMPHU
EXCURSION AND EXPERIENCE IN THIMPHU
Early morning take a short drive to northern end of town to perform Tshewang ceremony at 12 century Changangkha Lhakhang : It is a fortress like temple and monastic school perched on a ridge above Thimphu, south of Motithang.
This is a special prayer ceremony held at the monastery by a team of monks for the peace, prosperity and good health, guests are required to lit butter lamp at monastery alter.
Return to hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, we take a short drive to Choki Art and craft school where we learn the art of Thangkha painting (sacred scroll) under the supervision of an expert master.
The art of Thangkha painting is as old as the people themselves and it has been passed down from generation to generation, from a master painter to a novice student. We use natural pigmented soils to paint. We will learn to paint the eight lucky signs & Buddhist deities those often painted on the wall of monastery and Bhutanese home.
After the painting session, board bus to drive 15 km to Pangri Zampa, 16th century one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan located just north of Thimphu. Here is a monastic school where Buddhist students monks learn Lamaism and astrology based on Buddhist philosophy. An interaction with student monks here at the monastery can be a gratifying experience.
Return to town in time for a picnic lunch arranged at the most scenic spot flanked by the crystal-clear Thimphu Chhu (River).
Lunch is followed by a short city tour visiting Textile Museum, the living national art of weaving. The place introduces the major weaving techniques, styles of local dress and textiles made by women and men.
Continue on to Simply Bhutan Museum: The newly commissioned museum depicts the ancient Bhutanese architecture which is being lost to modernization. The uniqueness of the structure is in its composition of the materials used. The structure is built reusing old timber, window and door frames and other items from traditional and old demolished houses. The best part is the portrayal of the age-old life styles of the Bhutanese people.
Drive further up to visit Trashichhoedzong, “fortress of the glorious religion”. This is the center of government and religion, site of monarch’s throne room and seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans.
Before dinner time, take leisurely walk to local craft Bazar recently established under patronage of Department of cottage & small industry and in collaboration with the department of culture, tourism council and the department of agriculture marketing and cooperatives, this market offers genuine Bhutanese arts & crafts thus contributing in promotion, protection and preservation of traditional arts.
Evening before dinner time, we will invite one of the learned scholars who deliver the most comprehensive lecture on any chosen subjects such as Buddhism and it philosophy, Gross National Happiness & general introduction to Bhutan and its people.
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 5:EXCURSION TO PUNAKHA( 150 KM. APPROX.5 HOURS ROUND TRIP JOURNEY
After breakfast drive up to Dochu-la pass (3,088m/ 10,130 ft) stopping briefly here to take in the view and admire the chorten, mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road. If skies are clear, the following peaks can be seen from this pass (left to right): Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m ), Kangphugang (7,170 m ), Zongphugang (7, 060 m ), a table mountain that dominates the isolated region of Lunana – finally Gangkar puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497m.
At Dochula Pass, 108 chortens or stupas known as Druk Wangyal Chortens have been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. These chortens are built in three layers, the first lowest level layer has forty-five chortens, the second has thirty-six and the top layer has twenty-seven, built around the main chorten.
Prayer flag hoisting at Dochula pass:
Prayer flags are an integral part of Bhutanese landscape and also the cultural and religious heritage of the country especially the textile and weaving craft. They are ubiquitous in Bhutan; in and around monasteries, chortens or stupas, dzongs, lhakhangs, homes, on the railing of bridges and mountain roads, and invariably on or near the summit of the mighty peaks that preside over the country. Red, blue, green, yellow and white, they add a splash of rainbow colours to the rugged landscape. Deeply religious, the people of Bhutan believe that with each flutter, a flag releases the prayer printed on it into the air which in turn carries it to the heavens.
Picnic lunch at Riverside.
Later visit Punakha Dzong or (Palace of Great Happiness), built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This majesticdzong served as both the religious and the administrative center of Bhutan in the past. It measures some 600 by 240 feet and has a six-story, gold-domed tower. Inside are courtyards and religious statuary that hint at the depth of history and spiritual tradition embodied here. Your guide will illuminate your understanding of this intricate culture that is exotic to us, though long established here.
Then embark on a rafting expedition to Pho Chu river. Pho Chu, with its approx 16 km course with about 15 rapids of class 2 – 4 is the most popular for rafting in Bhutan. During this meticulously organized river rafting trip, you journey through the most scenic and secluded miles featuring incredibly blue water, breath-taking alpine scenery, sighting world’s rarest birds and amazing rapids on the backdrop of striking 17th century Punakha Dzong.
Evening tea & refreshment at the end of rafting expedition and later drive back to Thimphu.
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 6:DRIVE TO PARO ( 55 KMS: 1.30 HRS DRIVE)
After leisurely breakfast at hotel and short stroll around hotel area board the bus to Paro. Drive is ecstatically interesting passing through paddy fields, orchards, stupas with large section of road running parallel to the river.
On arrival, check into hotel.
The beautiful valley of Paro encapsulates within itself a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends. It is home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, National Museum and country’s only airport. Mount. Chomolhari (7,314m) reigns in white glory at the northern end of the valley and its glacial water plunge through deep gorges to form Pa Chhu (Paro river). Paro is also one of the most fertile valleys in the Kingdom producing a bulk of the locally famous red rice from its
Later witness / participate in Archery:
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and every village has its own archery range. Using bamboo bows (although modern compound bows are now common in cities) team of archers shoot at targets only 30 centimeters in diameter from a distance of 120 meters. Each team has a noisy crowd of supporters who, as well as encouraging their own side, try to put off the opposition. Archery competition are among the most picturesque and colorful events in the country and are the integral part of all festivities. Inter-village rivalry is common throughout the Kingdom and this rivalry is no more fiercely expressed than during annual archery tournaments.
Lunch served at archery venue.
Post lunch, visit to:
Ta Dzong, originally built as Watchtower, now houses National Museum. The extensive collection includes antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.
Ta Dzong visit is followed by a short walk down to visit Rinpung Dzong, meaning (“fortress of the heap of jewels”), which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount. Sumeru and other cosmic Mandala.
Rest of the evening relax and enjoy the serenity of sleepy Paro valley.
Overnight at hotel (altitude 2,280m)
Day 7:PARO: TIGER NEST HIKE( 5 HOURS ROUND TRIP WALK)
After breakfast, drive to Satsam chorten for excursion to Taktsang monastery:
On arrival at trail-head point, embark on a walking excursion to Taktshang Monastery: It is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery and hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognised as a most sacred place and visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and now visited by all Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime.
Later in the afternoon return to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure or shopping/souvenir hunting etc.
A gala evening awaits you at hotel premises with bonfire (rain permitting). The grand way to end your 6 day Bhutan sojourn, an experience you’ll cherish the rest of your life!
Overnight at hotel in Paro.
Day 8: DEPARTURE
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the airport for flight to Kolkatta. On arrival in Kolkata, transfer to Airport hotel. After wash and change and dinner, transfer back to airport to connect flight for onward destination.
End of Service.
