While crossing you will notice that it acts a lot like a trampoline, and while jumping is fun, be sure to be careful! When standing on the bridge and looking towards forward against the current of the river, it feels and looks as if you are flying on the bridge! There is a separate bridge next to this one that is specifically for cattle to use, as crossing over an iron chain bridge is very difficult and dangerous for them.

After your arrival in Thimphu, you will check-in at your hotel. You will relax & freshen up a bit, post which you will visit the following:-

Clock Tower :-
Clock Tower Square has a tower with four clock faces located in Thimphu, capital of Bhutan. It is a famously known landmark in Thimphu.

There are many shops, hotels and restaurants surrounding the square. he clock tower square is located below Norzin Lam, Thimphu above the national football stadium in the heart of the capital.The Clock-tower has a typical Bhutanese architectural outlook with rich Bhutanese carvings and paintings.There are traditional hand crafted dragon with golden painting on all the four faces of the tower which symbolizes the county as an independent dragon kingdom. The tower has beautiful paintings and carvings of flowers which add more magnificence to the tower. The shops, restaurants and hotels in the clock tower square have a blend of fine traditional and modern architectural Bhutanese design with multi-coloured wood frontages, small arched windows, and sloping roofs. The buildings around the square are all small three storied structures

•  Overnight stay in a hotel in Thimphu.

BBS Tower AKA Sangaygang which is located North West of the Thimphu Valley is the popular spot or famous for the dating and taking a walk around the blue pines, it's around miles drive from the Thimphu valley. The Places has the top hills which gives a clear view of the entire Thimphu valley in a nutshell and the feeling from there is just fantastic. Bhutan First Broadcasting Service BBS which runs the radio and television network in the Country has the largest tower built there. Though it is a restricted zone to entry the place during the night hours. The place is ideally located uphills with good motor road to access across the hills, which gives elderly and sporty people a pleasure for a walk and jog uphills from the base area. Most people living in Thimphu get themselves shed few kilos of calories while giving themselves a hourly walk or jog towards the Tower place. As you go towards the BBS Tower, you get the chance to take the road or climb the steep slopes or take gentle steep and burn the fats of your body.

Sangaygany is the most heard place with the lovers around the Capital City of Thimphu, as the lovers and people of all kind rush towards the top of the hills, their feeling and sentiment changes watching the picturesque Thimphu Valley from a point as when in evening, you get to see the sun closest the Thimphu valley and the lovers or people just feel warmth inside their heart.

Lovers from all junction comes there taking a ride with their loved one or some comes walking uphills keeping their vehicle parked in the base camp and chanting the lovers mantra.Perhaps the most lovers get their sweetheart towards the evening side. With increasing in the romance, most couples can be seen in and around sangaygang. The place has caught the attention of everyone hearts that if you are asking for a blind date, sangaygang has never been out of the mind for romantic people.

Indeed Sangaygang is never short of couples or people at any given time, people come their for joy ride whilst other to date and some give themselves a hard for their body to shed few calories. You go there, get yourself refresh from the office work or to ease the tension or just take your loved one or with family in cool evening of the Thimphu breeze. It is heard and rumors that sangaygang has become the lovers point for a newly couple to go out for their first date as when he boy or the girl ask for a date, sangaygang is the first and the foremost place where they prefer. This has become a trend in the Capital City where most people knows or have the knowledge of why a couples go there. Wouldn't that be a fun for anyone going for a blind date or taking your sweetheart.

Sangagyagng has attracted most of the people around when in holidays or weekend, they prefer to go there and have fun. Family gathered there for a lovely dry picnic and some photograph session .With the advent of romance, joy ride, walk or jog sangaygang has never let anyone to go without a smile on the face or the glimpse of the Beautiful Thimphu Valley.

Changangkha lhakhang :-
The Chagkha Lhakahng temple is a early medieval Buddhist temple in the capital city Thimphu. The temple is situated on a ridge overlooking the city, near Mohitang on the outskirts of Thimphu. The temple is the oldest temple in Thimphu and was constructed by Lama Phajo Drukgom Zhigpo in the 12 century AD. Lama Phajo Drukgom Zhigpo is also the founder of the Drukpa Kaygo School of Buddhism. The Lhakhang‟s central deity is Chenirizig. There is a large statue of Chenrizig, the 11 headed, thousand arm manifestation of Avolokiteshwara. The prayer books in the temple are larger in size compared to the usual Buddhist texts. There are also large City view from Sangaygang Sangaygang prayer wheels and paintings in the walls of the temple. The temple offers an excellent view of the city of Thimphu from its courtyard.

Kuenselphodrang :-
The KuenselPhodrang or the Buddha point is the world‟s largest sitting Buddha statue, the statue is 167 feet high. The statue is situated on top of a hill overlooking the city of Timphu, it can be accessed by road and is about 15 minutes away from the city‟s center. The word Kuensel means everything is clear and from this place you will sure enjoy a great view of the Thimphu Valley on both sides. The statute will house a temple inside it, the statue and its adjoining car park and recreational center are currently under construction and is expected to be ready by December 2012.

The statue is constructed out of bronze and is studded with many semi-precious stones. Since they are no factories in country that can make such a large bronze cast structure, statute is being manufactured in China and the pieces are brought to Bhutan and are assembled here. On the drive to the statue the steep winding hill road offers an unparalleled view of the city of Thimphu and is an excellent place to capture a view of the city especially after dark. A journalist once described the view as “seeing an osasis of light in the desert of darkness “as the city light of Thimphu shine very bright in an otherwise dark Thimphu valley.

National memorial chorten :-
The National Memorial was built by Bhutan's third king, H.M. Jigme DorjiWangchuck who is also known as the "father of modern Bhutan." He wanted to erect a monument carrying the message of world peace and prosperity. However, he was unable to give shape to his idea in his lifetime due to pressures of state and other regal responsibilities. After his untimely demise in 1972, the Royal Family and Cabinet resolved to fulfill his wishes and erect a memorial that would perpetuate his memory and also serve as a monument to eternal peace, harmony and tranquility.

The National Memorial Chorten was gifted to the nation on 28 July, 1974. The exquisite wall paintings and the delicately carved statues reflect deep insights into Buddhist spirituality and a rich tradition of prayer and learning.The National Memorial Chorten is known as the „most visible religious landmark in Bhutan‟.The Chorten was consecrated by His Holiness, the Late Dudjorn Rinpoche. Unlike other Stupas the Chorten is not a shrine for the mortal of the late King. The Chorten on contains a photograph of the King in full ceremonial attire. The King had intend for the Choten to be “ aChorten that represents the mind of Bhuddha ”

The national Memorial Chorten is located in the center of the capital city, Thimphu and is designed like a Tibetan style Chorten. The Chorten is patterned of the classical Stupa design with a pyramidal pillar crowned by a crescent moon and sun. One of the most distinct features of the Chorten is its outwards flaring rounded part that makes the Chorten look more like a vase rather than the classical dome. The interior of the Chorten has a large number of paintings of Tantric deities, in explicit sexual poses that sometimes can be a little disconcerting to visitors.

• Overnight stay in a hotel in Thimphu.

On a clear day the pass offers visitors a spectacular view of the majestic eastern Himalayan Ranges. A cup of hot coffee or tea at the pass has almost become part of tradition for people travelling to and fro from Punakha to the capital city. There is a small cafeteria at the pass that offers a chance for travelers to enjoy a hot beverage or a snack, it is located just off the road and overlooks the pass and is an ideal place to sit back, relax and enjoy the view.

Another striking feature at the pass are the 108 DrukWangyalKhangzangChortens, that were built for the well-being of all sentiment beings on earth. The 108 Chorten were built as a tribute to the Kings of Bhutan for their selfless service and leadership they offer to the people of Bhutan. These Stupas or Chortens also represent the peoples love, appreciation and loyalty towards the country‟s King.

Punakha Dzong​ :-

The Punakha Dzhong or the PungtangDechenPhortangDzhong is located at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu River, combine to form the Puna Tsang Chu which in turn is a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The Dzhong was constructed by SahbdrungNgwangNamgyalWangchuck in 1638 on the exact spot as prophesized by the Guru Rinpoche some 800 years ago. According to the prophecy of Guru Rinpoche “a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”.

And lo behold! ShabdungNgawangNamgyal found that the peak of the hill was in the shape of an elephant‟s trunk and built the Dzhong at that very spot. Another legend associated with the Dzhong is that of ZowePalep, the architect of the Dzong received vision of the Dzhong in his sleep. This vision got imprinted in the architects mind and enabled him to construct the Dzhong without putting his plans to paper.

The Punakha Dzhong is the second largest and the second oldest Dzhong in Bhutan. The Dzhong is home to some of the most sacred relics of the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism; it is also home to the sacred mortal remains of ShabdrunNagawangNamgyal and Trenton Pema Lingpa the great treasure discoverer of Bhutan. The Punakha Dzhong has also served as the of capital Bhutan till 1955 before the capital was moved to Thimphu. The Dzhong is still the winter residence of the JeKhenpo (chief abbot) and the central monastic body.

The Punakha Dzhong plays host to the annual Punakha Theschu Festival which is very popular with the locals and tourists alike.

• Overnight stay in a hotel in Punakha.

The Chorten is situated along a hill up the valley and can be reached after a leisurely hike through the woods and rice paddies.

The YuelleyNamgyalChorten was constructed by Her Majesty the Queen Mother AshiTsheringYangdonWangchuck, in the 1990‟s, Built over a period of 9 years, Bhutanese craftsmen including carpenters, painters, and sculptors consulted holy scriptures rather than engineering manuals, to construct this 4-storey temple. The temple is dedicated to the well-being of all beings that reside in the Kingdom.

The temple is considered one of the finest examples of the use of traditional Bhutanese architectural style in modern times. If you can convince the temple keeper to let you inside with you camera and promise you will not click pictures of the sides of the temple them you will be able to see an awesome view of the Punakha Valley.

Later after hike you will visit Chimi Lhakhang.
The ChimiLhakang or the ChimelLhakang is a Bhuddhist monastery located in the Punakha District of Bhutan. The monastery stands on a small hill close to the village of Lobesa and was constructed in 1499 by NgawangChoegyel, the 14thDrukpaheirarch. The Temple is very deeply connected to the legends of Saint DrukpaKinley also known as the Devine Madman. It has been said that the demon of Dochu-La with a magic thunderbolt of wisdom in imprisoned him in a rock close to the temple.

DrukpaKuenley is called the Divine Madman due to his unorthodox methods of teaching via songs, humor and sometimes bizarre and shocking behavior with deep sexual overtones. You might be shocked to see that the temple houses a number of wooden phalluses that the Lama had brought with him from Tibet. Pilgrims who visit the monastery receive the blessing by being struck on the head with a ten inch wooden Phallus (erect penis). The symbol of an erect penis is said to ward off evil.

The monastery is also known as the temple of fertility and is visited not only by the Bhutanese but women from countries as far as Japan and United States to receive a special blessing that can help these women conceive children. These women receive the blessing by getting struck on the head with a 10 inch wooden/ ivory phallus. The Temple can be accessed by undertaking a short 20 minute walk across the rice fields from the nearest road head. The Lhakhang is a square shaped building with a golden spire on its roof. The temple has many rows of prayer wheels and the temples exterior has embedded slate carvings of various Buddhist saints. Near the temples entrance there is a small Chorten that marks the spot where the Lama subdued the demon of Dochu La.
Later late in evening we will go and explore Punakha Local Market.

• Overnight stay in a hotel in Punakha .

It was built in the early 15th century by the great master architect and yogi ThangtongGyalpo(1385-1464), who also built Dungtse Lhakhang in Paro and many iron bridges throughout Bhutan and Tibet. Tachogang means „temple of the hill of the excellent horse‟. It is said that while ThangtongGyalpo was meditating here, he had a vision of the spiritual horse Balaha-an emanation of Avalokiteshvara.

He decided there upon to build a temple at this spot, in addition to one of his famous iron bridges later carried away by floods in 1969. A traditional style bridge with iron chains was restored in 2005. The temple is privately run by the descendents of ThangtongGyalpo.DrupthobThangtongGyalpo was the man who built the iron chain bridges in Bhutan in the late 1300s, and is said to have built 108 of these bridges around Tibet and Bhutan.

Many of them are still in use today, showing how strong and durable the bridges are. The Dzong itself is private, but can still be entered by tourists if permission is given. The Dzong is relatively small and has many fruit trees, orange and apple, around and inside of it. The people who take care of the Dzong also herd cattle, and can be seen caring for them as you continue your tour around the area.

• Overnight stay in a hotel in Paro.

It defies architectural principles to the core and amazes tourists from around the world. It is a sight to behold. Taktshang or the Tigers lair as the monastery is called, it is widely regarded is one of the most important monuments of spiritual significance in Bhutan. Its history is deeply associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava, the revered Indian saint who came to Bhutan in the 8th century AD. The cave was named Taktshang after Guru Rinpoche flew into the cave from KurtoeSingyeDzong in eastern Bhutan while riding on a tigress. When he landed in the cave, he took the wrathful form of Guru DorjiDrolo who is regarded as one of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche to decimate the demons.Several saints have chosen this sanctuary to pray and meditate in solitude. The monastery was built in 1692 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgaye who is said to be one of the reincarnations of Guru Rinpoche. The Monastery consists of four main temples along with their residences that are constructed along the rock ledge. There 8 caves in total out of which 4 are relatively easy to access.

The monastery was ravaged by fire twice in the 1900s first in 1951 and later the fire of 1998, which nearly destroyed the monastery completely. The government then undertook a comprehensive reconstruction in 200 with funding from foreign donors. The monastery was recreated to its original splendor and re-opened to the public shortly thereafter. From the road, the hike toward Taktshang follows an uphill route and takes approximately 3-4 hours at an average walking pace on a clear, sunny day. We recommend that you carry sunscreen lotion, large quantities of drinking water, a walking stick just in case you need to shoo of the birds and a hat to further protect yourself from the sun.

Later after hike you will visit KyichuLhakhang. The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. The temple was built by the Tibetan King SongstenGampo in the 7th Century AD. The KyichuLhakhang was one of the 108temples constructed by him to subdue a demon that was terrorizing the people of the Himalayas. The temple is believed to have been visited by the Guru Rinpoche in the 8th Century during his visit to the Paro Valley. Other important personalities to have visited the temple in antiquity include Lam KhaNga and the PhajoDugomZhigpo.

The Lhakahng underwent many extensions during the ages with the last one being carried out in 1965 by the Queen Mother AshiKezangChodenWangchuck. She added another new structure to the temple called the Guru Lhakahng. As one of the oldest Lhakahangs, it houses many important relics.One of the most important relics of the temple is a 7th century statue of JowoSakyamuni which is believed to have cast the at the same time as it famous counterpart in Lhasa Tibet.

There are 2 orange trees located in the courtyard of the temple, there is a belief amongst the locals that these orange trees bear fruit all year long.This site is one of the most sacred holy sites is all of Bhutan, and our companies travel consultants recommend every traveller to visit this sacred temple.

Drukchoeding :-
DrukChoeding is also known as TshongdoeNaktshang. The temple was built by NgawangChhogyel, who was a prince of Ralung and the ancestor of ZhabdrungNgawangNamgyal, in 1525.In the temple, visitors will find a statue of the Future Buddha known as Jampa in the seated position. There is also an image of the deity known as Gyenyen who is the protector of Bhutan. Gyenyen is surrounded by a collection of ancient swords, shields and other weaponry.

Dumtselhakang
The Dumtselhakhang Temple is located just north of the city of Paro. The DumtseLhabhang temple is very unique in its design as it‟s designed like a Chorten (Stupa), which is highly unlike any guideother Lhakhang / temple in Bhutan. The Temple was built in the 1443 AD byThantongGyalpo, known as the iron bridge builder in Bhutanese legend. The DumatseLhakhang is built over 3 levels that represent the 3 spiritual realms of earth i.e. Hell, Earth and Heaven. The walls of the DumtseLhakhang are decorated in beautiful hand-painted murals that depict these 3 realms of earth. These beautiful murals are regarded as some of the finest examples of Bhutanese art in the country.

To visit the DumtseLhakahng tourists require a special permit that has to be obtained in advance, we recommend that you ask your Bhutan Travel Agent to apply for the same if you wish to visit the temple before you depart from your home country. Another thing that BhutanTravelAgency.com recommends is that you must carry a flashlight with you while visiting the temple. The inner reaches of the temple are very dark and only illuminated by a few butter lamps and the odd small window.

In the evening you will be taken to visit local market of Paro to shop and to take home gifts, Bhutan offers a variety of goods that revolve mainly round textiles. You may shop for items like hand-woven textiles that is either in raw silk or silk, carved masks of various animals, woven baskets of cane and bamboo, wooden bowls known as Dapas, handmade paper products or finely crafted gods of silver.

You can also shop for thangkha paintings and Bhutan‟s exquisite postage stamp. One can come across these items in the many handicraft shops in and around and also in major towns. Please remember that buying and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden in Bhutan.

• Overnight stay in a hotel in Paro.

less...