D3-
Monday Sept. 28 Thimphu day hikes:
After breakfast we will be driven 12km north of Thimphu to hike to Tango and Cheri monasteries. It will take about 45 minutes to hike to each monastery. There are no restaurants so we need to bring our own water or a snack with us (check with the travel agent to see if they would provide that. Can we walk to Drolay Goembo on the way to Tango Monastery?). Cheri was the first monastery established in Bhutan by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1620 when he was 27 years old. Zhabdrung spent three years in strict retreat at Cheri and resided there for many periods throughout the rest of his life. It was at Cheri in 1623 that he established the first Drukpa Kagyu monastic order in Bhutan.
Tango Monasterywas founded by Lama Gyalwa Lhanampa in 12th century and in 1616 the
Tibetan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, meditated in its cave. Tango Monastery is a Buddhist
college, and it's the residence of the Desi Tenzin Rabgye, a young boy who is the
reincarnation of the 16th-
Tango
Cheri
Tuesday Sept. 29 Thimphu festival
Today we will attend the Thimphu festival. A festival is also performed for Bhutanese
to recount the history of Bhutan and Guru Rinpoche. Watching a festival is an act
of building karma in our lives. Many families get together and come out with their
best dress to witness the festival. The festival will last until 3-
Interesting things to see:
* The only capital city in the world without a single traffic light.
Wednesday Sept. 30 Thimphu to Wangdue (sightseeing) (3-
After breakfast we will be driven to Wangduephodrang, with a stop en route for tea at Dochu La (3,100 meters), where on a clear day you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas.
After lunch you will drive to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan, and visit Punakha
Dzong, which is noteworthy both for being one of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan
and also for having been built by the first Shabdrung in 1637. On the way back from
Punakha, you will stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-
We need information about Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park to decide what to do, or to spend time in Thimphu town (what to see in the town?)
Very good hiking information including trail maps can be downloaded from the following web site:
www.bhutan-
Click picture