Bhutan Religion

WHAT TO BRING FOR A TREK IN BHUTAN

PERSONAL CLOTHING: Strong normal clothing (according to season). Preferably cotton even for summer, woolen clothing for the evening and winter.

FOR TREKING ONE MUST BRING:
1. Sleeping Bag (down, 0-5 O C)
2. Strong comfortable trekking boots-water resistant for the rainy period (June-August)
3 .Sunscreen
4. Flashlight
5. Rain Coat (especially for rainy period-June-August)
6. Head gear/hat./cap; sun and rain protection
7. Water pills- for extra caution in purifying stream water: (boil water is provided a times during the trek)
8.Aspirin- incase of altitude sickness
9. Lots of socks
10. Warm undergarments

OPTION ITEMS TO BRING:
Sunglasses
Headgear
Folding umbrella (only for wet months-July and August)
One Towel
Pillow Case
Wet-packaged tissue paper

WHAT WE PROVIDED :
One guide, cook, helper, horses/yaks, tents, mattresses, meals and all other trekking accessories.

PARO
Kila Goenpa: 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.
( DRIVE FROM PARO – TILL CHELELA 1HR 30MIN THEN WALK THROUGH THE FOREST FOR 45 – 60 min. STAY THERE FOR MEDITATION AS LONG AS YOU WISH. OR RETURN AFTER 1 HR, WALK BACK TO THE BUS STOP. LUNCH AT VIEW POINT OF HAA VALLEY, THE NORTHERN MOST PART OF THE COUNTRY.
After the lunch walk to Dzongdrakha village. You can view the Dzongdrakha Goemba four sets of building and a large Chorten hanging on a side of a cliff. You will also get the opportunity to visit the typical Bhutanese village and the farmhouse on the way.

Jele Dzong: The ruin is situated at an altitude of 3450m above Paro valley. In the medieval times people often travel from one corner of Bhutan to another on foot and on horses. The Jele Dzong use to give food and shelter during the night halts made by these travelers. The hike to Jele Dzong is five hours walk from the Jeshegang village. Most of the walk is through mixed coniferous forests and often you will see white langurs, Himalayan musk deer and monal peasant. You will also see the magnificent views of the sun setting over the Himalayan peaks if you reach early.
(YOU CAN CAMP FOR A NIGHT OR RETURN BACK TO PARO THE SAME WAY, IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 5 HOURS BACK. TOTAL 10 hrs WALK, UP & DOWN).

THIMPHU
Phajodhing Temple: A saint Shakya Rinchen built the temple in 15th century and is located at an altitude of 3,700 meters, overlooking the Thimphu Valley. Surrounding the temple are many retreat houses for the people who come here and spend about 3 years in retreat. The hike is uphill north of Thimphu through mixed conifer forest with great views of Thimphu valley behind. You could still hike higher up to the mountain to witness the enchanting Thujedra and Jimilangtso lakes. This is the last day of the Drukpath Trek in reverse. Return back to Thimphu late afternoon.

Tango Cheri Monastery: With about 12 kilometers of drive you arrive at the starting point of Tango hike. It takes about an hour to arrive at the temple and is about 900 feet climb. Built in 12th century by Gyalwa Lhanampa, it serves as the monastic school for study of Buddhist Philosophy, metaphysics, mathematics, poets and many other Buddhist studies. On the same day you can hike to Cheri monastery, return back to the road, your car will drive you to the traditional bridge over the Thimphu River. From here you hike for about an hour and half. Crossing the lovely traditional bridge you climb steeply to the monastery. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal founded the temple in 1620.

Talakha Monastery: A walk of one and half hour above Simtokha Dzong will take you to the mountaintop where Talakha Monastery is situated at 3050m. Along the route many of the apple orchards have been fenced in, making this walk impossible. You can drive on a rough road partly and then set out on foot. (OPTIONAL) - From the small goemba you can further make a strenuous six to nine hour hike up to the 4280m Talakha peak. The 34th Je Khenpo Sheldrup Yoedzer built the monastery during the 19th century. On a clear day there is a wonderful view over the mountains north of Thimphu.

Trashigang Nunnery: Another very beautiful day walk leads to the Trashigang Nunnery, which is situated at 3200m. Starting at the village Yeosepang, above 15 kilometers from Thimphu on the road to Punakha, the path goes down to the valley, crosses the river, and then climbs for about one and half hours up to the monastery. It is an important meditation centre. Built in 1768 by the 12th Desi Kuenga Gyatsho, it is made up of little houses inhabitated by Drukpa nuns.

PUNAKHA
Chhimi Lhakhang: it's a 20 minutes walk across fields through the village of Sopsokha from the roadside to the small temple located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina. Ngawang Chogyel built the temple in 15th century after the 'divine Madman' Drukpa Kuenlay built a small chorten there. It is a pilgrim site for barren women.

Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal: a three-storey chorten built by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon in 1999 for the protection of the country, stands on a beautiful hillock called Ngezergang, and is about 6 miles from Punakha. It presents an incredibly complex iconography, which belongs to the Nyingmapa tradition.

Limbhukha: Drive to the Punakha Dzong and walk across the suspension bridge. Follow the farmhouses gradually climbing towards Dompola Hills. The view of the Dzong, Phochu, Mochu Rivers and the surrounding village is superb amidst chirpine forest. The climb is another two and half hours to the Limbhukha. Limbhukha is also known for its love of peace and tranquility. The legend say that during the medieval wars the "limpus" or the people of Limbhukha always volunteered as peace negotiators. This is depicted during the yearly festival called "Serda" when the men are found carrying a peace flags instead of swords and fireworks.

Talo: The picturesque village of Talo, scattered along a ridge above the Punakha valley at an altitude of around 2,800m, is known amongst Punakha villages for its nest and clean appearance. Talo Sangnacholing is built on a small plateau at the top of the village, and from there you can view of the entire valley and surrounding villages and the high hills beyond Wangduephodrang which mark the gateway to central Bhutan. The women here are particularly known for their beauty. Talo is about an hour's drive from Punakha.

Rinchengang Village: a small clustered village facing the Wangdue Dzong is known for its skill in traditional method of stone masonry. It is about 20 minutes hike uphill with great view of the Dzong, valley and the river.

Phobjikha Valley: (altitude 9600 feet), takes about two hours of drive from Wangdue Phodrang, a glacial valley located on the western slopes of the Black Mountain at an altitude of 9840 feet above the sea level. There is no telephone or electricity and is the winter home to the rare black-necked crane that migrate from high plateaus of Tibet in late fall to escape harsh winters. There are also muntjak (barking deer), wild boar, sambar, Himalayan black bear, leopard and red fox. The valley is a designated conservation area and borders Black Mountain National Park.

A place to see is Gangtey Goenpa: the largest Nyingma monastery in Bhutan. Gyalse Pema Thinlay built a small temple in 1613, which was later built into larger Goenpa by the 2nd reincarnation Tenzin Legpai Dhendup.

Villages: you can take a day hike around the valley visiting villages and observing the cranes during November - March. It is very scenic and mind soothing hike that would provide you with rewarding surprises.

Roosting Ground: it is about 20 minutes walk from the bridge crossing the swamp on rough wooden slabs. The best time is at dawn and dusk when all the birds in the valley congregate for the night (only possible during November - March).

Visit to the Crane Observation and Education Center: activities within the Center are; early morning crane observation and counting/ crane study using nature trails. The Royal Society established the centre for Protection of Nature (RSPN), the only NGO in the country.

Bumthang
Tharpaling/Chudrak Goenpa/ Kedhephu: Situated at more than 3600m the Chudrak Goenpa was built by Lorepa, a Drukpa Kagye lama from Tibet in 1234. It is also the spot where Guru Rimpoche had meditated during this period. Little above the Goenpa is the Kedhephu from where you can see the peaks of other surrounding mountains.

Petseling/Bathela: From Chamkhar hike for about three and half hours to reach Petseling Goenpa. Hike little above the Goenpa to reach at Bathela mountaintop, from where you can have the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

Kunzang Drak: It is two hours walk above Dragchel. It is one of the most important sites related to Pemalingpa the great treasure discoverer in Bhutan, who also constructed the Goenpa in 1488. Most of his sacred relics are kept here including the gilded stone bearing his footprint.

Wangthang Goenpa: Drive to Ura, which is 48 kilometers from Chamkhar town. Explore the Ura village en route to Wangthang Goenpa. The villages in Ura have clustered houses, which is quite unusual in Bhutan. Since last 25 years Ura has been transformed from a marginal community to a prosperous valley. From Ura hike to Wangthankha Goenpa which is situated above 3420 m.

Ngang Lhakhang: Three hours walk from Thangbi Goenpa is a small region of Ngang Yul "Swan Land" and this temple is 100m above the valley floor. Guru Rimpoche visited the site and Lama Namkha Samdrup, contemporary of Pemalingpa, built present temple in 15th century. Three-day festival is held here each winter with mask dances in honour of the founder of the temple.