Paro Tshechu

Day 01: Arrive Paro
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Fly to Paro, Bhutan (7,590') on Druk Air, the national airline of Bhutan.
After visa formalities at the Paro airport, you will be driven to the hotel overlooking the beautiful Paro Valley. We'll have a late afternoon visit to the National Museum housed in an old watchtower above Paro Dzong (a dzong is a fortress-monastery). The museum's collections include displays of spectacular thangkas (religious scroll paintings), bronze statues, Bhutan's beautiful stamps, and the Tshogshing Lhakhang (Temple of the Tree of Wisdom) with its carvings depicting the history of Buddhism.Overnight at Hotel.
 Day 02: Kila Goenpa nunnery Hike
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Drive to cheila, which stands at 3788 meter to witness the amazing Himalaya vistas and surrounding mountain grandeur admit pristine pine forest Time permitting visit the Kila Goenpa nunnery: Nestled in a craggy patch on the mountainside below the Chele la pass and perched precariously along the rock face. This small nunnery is home to many nuns who have renounced their worldly life and have chosen to lead the path of enlightenment. The Temple is about an hour walk amidst magnificent wooded area. Overnight in Hotel
Day 03: witness the opening of Paro Tshecue.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
 A typical opening itinerary would include the following ceremony
Source: Tourism council of Bhutan, www.tourism.gov.bt

• Day One: (Inside the Dzong)
• Dance of the Lord of Death and his Consort (Shinje Yab Yum)
• Dance of the Lords of Cremation Grounds (Durdag)
• Dance of the Black hats (Shanag)
• Dance of the Drum from Dramitse (Dramitse Ngacham)
• Dance of the Eight Kinds of Spirits (Degye)
• Religious Song (Chhoshey)

Overnight in Hotel
Day 04: Second day at Paro Tshecue.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
 A typical second day itinerary would include the following ceremony
Source: Tourism council of Bhutan, www.tourism.gov.bt
(Outside the Dzong)

• Dance of the Lord of Death and his Consort (Shinje Yab Yum)
• Dance of the Black hats with Drums (Shanag Nga Cham)
• Dance of the Three kinds of Ging with Sticks (Gynging)
• Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Grounds (Durdag)
• Dance of the Three kinds of Ging with Drums (Driging)
• Dance of the Three kinds of Ging with Drums (Ngaging)
• Dance of the Stag and the Hounds (Shawa Shachi) 1st Part

 Along side visit other interesting sights in the Paro valley. It includes a visit to Kyichu Lhakang. Then, we drive to the head of the valley and visit Drukgyel Dzong built in a location that was chosen for its control over the route to Tibet. A spectacular view of Mount Jumolhari (23,996 ft/7314 m) can be seen from here. Also visit the impressive Rinpung Dzong and make short walks to private village homes and stroll around town. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 05: Day tour to Thimphu
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Embark on a day tour to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. There are many places of interest to visit in Thimphu and your Bhutanese guide will take you to those places which are of interest to the group. In the morning you will visit the Late King’s Memorial Chorten, the National Library, the indigenous hospital specializing in herbal medicine, the handmade paper factory.
In the afternoon, tour of the school of fine arts where young students learn the traditional arts and crafts (Zo Rig Chusum – the thirteen crafts). The Handicraft Emporium and the local handicraft centers to see the weavers at work and experience the varieties of textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, jewellery etc. on display and drive back to Paro. Overnight in Hotel
Day 06: Paro – Hike to Taktsang Monastery
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
 Drive about nine miles north of Paro town to the trailhead where we start our 1½-hour hike to a Tea House from where we enjoy the great view of Taktsang Monastery (its name means "Tiger's Nest"), perched on a cliff 2,700' above the floor of the Paro Valley. Our hike follows a steep switchback trail and serves as a great warm-up for our trek. After a break with tea and cookies, you have the option to sit outside the building and admire the monastery and its beautiful surroundings. If you feel energetic you can continue another thirty minutes to a closer viewpoint. After lunch at the tea house we descend to the valley floor. Drive back to Paro. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 07: Fifth day at Paro Tshecue.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
 A typical last itinerary would include the following ceremony
Source: Tourism council of Bhutan, www.tourism.gov.bt

• Early morning the great Thangkha (Thongdroel) is shown and Shugdrel ceremony is performed.
• Dance of the Heroes (Pacham)
• Dance of the Ging and Tsholing
• Dance of the Eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche (Guru Tshen Gyel)
• Dance of the Sixteen Fairies
• Religious Song (Chhoshey)

 Day 8: Paro - Depart
(Breakfast)
After breakfast transfer to the Paro airport for departure to onward destination.
Festivals
Festivals are not pageants or entertainment. They are not held as tourist attractions. They are genuine manifestations of a religious tradition from thousands of years. Obtrusive, disrespectful and discourteous behavior should be refrained from. The dance ground is not a place to eat, drink or smoke, talk or laugh loudly at inappropriate times, flash cameras or intrude on the dance space. Common courtesy should rule one’s actions when photographing the dancers or onlookers.
Do and Don’ts

• Refrain from passing negative comments on religion, royal family and chief abbot
• Locals are very sensitive, you don’t want to sound rude
• Always ask for permission if you are photographing a person
• Dress modestly. Singlet and miniskirts are not well accepted norms
• Enter temples and monasteries only if you have permission. Allow your guide to lead you
• Remove your shoes before entering the temple
• Leave your camera at a safe place, if photography is prohibited
• Refrain from using hats and sunglasses inside religious places
• Use your right hand or both hands to give or receive
• Leaving a donation at the temple is on personal discretion. Normally all Bhutanese do
• Use your palm to show rather than finger, when pointing
• Refrain from pointing your feet at anyone; cross your legs or kneel when sitting in religious places
• Pass clockwise at all chortens and mani walls (elongated chortens inscribed with mantras)
• Don’t wash, swim or throw objects into lakes, many of which are considered sacred

 
 

PARO