Punakha Tshechu (Festival)

Our guide will greet and welcome you to Bhutan in the traditional Bhutanese way. On our way to the capital city, Thimphu, we will make several stopovers, a spiritually fulfilling one at the 15^th century Tamchog Lhakhang built by Drupthob Thangtong Gyalpo, a Tibetan spiritual adept famed for building iron chain bridges across Bhutan and Tibet. One such bridge is the approach bridge to the temple. Drupthob Thangtong Gyalpois said to have spent 60 years in his mother’s womb contemplating the way in which to benefit sentient beings.

A sightseeing tour around Thimphu, the melting pot of Bhutan, can give you a good introduction to the Bhutanese way of life. Today, we visit the popular Memorial Chorten in the heart of the city built in the memory of the third King of Bhutan. A continues stream of Bhutanese and foreigners throng the place. The devout – both old and young – doing their pious rounds and monks saying prayers best represent the spiritual side of Bhutan. Other places of interest in Thimphu include the National Library, the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Takin Preserve, the giant Buddha statue on the hill above Thimphu city, the oldest dzong in Bhutan, Semtokha Dzong, built in 1629 by the founder of Bhutanese state, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Our journey today takes us across the Dochula Pass at 3,150 m above sea level. A coffee stop on the pass adorned with 108 stupaswill give us an opportunity to enjoy the spectacular view of Jigme Singye Wangchuck mountain ranges sparkling in the distance.
From Dochula, we descend to Lobesa where we stop for lunch. Twenty-five minutes walk from the road point near Lobesa is Chimi Lhakhang. The temple, built by Tibetan Lama Ngawang Chogyal, is today associated with his cousin, Lam Drukpa Kinley, popularly known as Divine Madman. Popularly known as the Fertility Temple among tourists, it is believed to bless childless couples with children.The village around the temple is teeming with the painting of phallus in homage to the great Divine Madman. After the visit to the temple, we drive to Punakha.

The annual Punakha Drupchen, held on the courtyard of the resplendent Punakha Dzong, is one of the most colourful in Bhutan.
The festival features mask dances and dance drama that recreate spiritually poignant events and depict the state of the medieval Bhutan. The dance drama recreates the battle scene in which Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal hoodwinked the Tibetan invaders into believing that he had thrown the most sacred relic into the river. The festival thus brings people face-to-face with the past.

When Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal came to Bhutan fleeing Tibet in 1616, he brought along a precious relic called Rangjung Kharsapani, a self-emanated image of Avalokiteśvara. After the Zhabdrung established himself in Bhutan, the Tibetan forces came marching to Punakha to capture the dzong and seize the relic. However, the Zhabdrung enacted an elaborate procession and proceeded to Mo Chu [river] and pretended to throw the bone of contention, the relic, into the river. Tibetans returned home, dismayed at the “Bhutanese foolishness”.
The festival enacts this scene faithfully every year. Some 136 people dressed in medieval battle outfit perform a dance, shouting and whistling as they climb down the front stairs of the dzong. The men hoot their way to the river bank where the Chief Abbot of Bhutan (Je Khenpo) throws a handful of oranges representing RangjungKharsapani into the river. 

Punakha Dzong, officially known as Pungthang Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang (the Palace of Great Bliss), was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of Bhutanese state, in 1637. Built on the confluence of Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River), this dzong was the winter capital of Bhutan in the past. The Central Monastic Body still spends winter in Punakha Dzong following the age-old practice

Today, after watching the festival until lunch time, we drive to Paro. We drive across the Dochula Pass once more. If we want, we can stop briefly on the pass and enjoy the scenery.

Paro is dotted with many places of historical and religious significance, some in the valley and others around the valley. We have but only two days. So, we visit the ones that are best known among tourists. We start with a visit to Taa Dzong or the Watch Tower that houses the National Museum of Bhutan and Rinpung Dzong built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the religious and administrative centre of the district.
We then drive to the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong (the fortress of Drukpa victory), built to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan forces in 1644. The dzong was destroyed by fire in 1951. 
Next we visit Kyichu Lhakhang, a few kilometres north of Tshogdue Town. Built in the 7^th century by the Tibetan dharma king Songtsen Gampoas part of the construction of 108 temples to subdue a demoness, it is considered one of the most sacred in the country. Another temple constructed at the same time by the same king is Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang. Jampa Lhakhang is believed to have been built on the demoness’ left knee and Kyichu on its left foot. The construction of this temple could have been Bhutan’s first encounter with Buddhism.

Today, we visit the most photographed monastery in Bhutan, Taktshang. Clinging to the face of a cliff 900 metres above Paro valley, Taktshang, known to outsiders as the Tiger’s Nest, is one of the most sacred places in the entire Himalayan region. Besides Guru Padmasambhava (popularly known as Guru Rinpoche in Bhutan) who is believed to have flown to this place riding a tigress, many enlightened masters meditated here and blessed the place.It is bit of a hike demanding some stamina, but a fulfilling one. Lunch is served at Taktshang Cafeteria which is face-to-face to taktshang.

Today, we drop you at the airport on time to catch your flight back home. We bid you farewell in the traditional Bhutanese way by offering you a white silk scarf.