BHUTAN FESTIVAL 2012
Thimpu Tsechu is held in September and the date varies based on the lunar calendar, this system has only 30 days a month. This year the festival starts on the 20th and commences through the 24th of September. Tsechu’s are held to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Guru Padmasambhava also known as the second Buddha in Bhutan. He was born on the 10th day of the Bhutanese month. The festival will be held at the new courtyard outside the Dzong (fortress).
Day1:
Well come to Paro airport, a Bhutanese idea of an international airport. The company team will receive you at the airport and usher you to the Rinchen-ling lodge, a sister concern of the travel company. Typical Bhutanese meal will be served for sampling. After lunch visit down town Paro and take a stroll along the streets.
Day 2:
The natural history museum, one of the best in the region is next on the agenda. The six storey wonder displays Bhutan from the prehistoric to the contemporary Bhutanese era. On the way back we will visit the semi stupa monastery built by the great Tibetan saint Thangtong Gyalpo also known as the Iron chain Builder which boast the best mural in the area, a flash light would be handy for this visit.
Day 3:
After breakfast drive to Thimphu and cruise along the newly widened highway. Check in to Hotel Pedling. The next on the line is the visit to the Arts and crafts school displaying the thirteen different forms of arts and crafts prevalent in Bhutan, to name some, they are embroidery, masonry, sculpting, lacquering, painting, wood carving etc. using very traditional technique’s to preserve the dying arts. Lunch will be served in the Bhutan kitchen a good place to try out the Salted Bhutanese tea. After lunch we will visit the preserve for the national animal of Bhutan, the takin, a mythical creature created by the Divine madman. We will continue our drive to the Media tower for a bird’s eye view of Thimphu town. While returning to the hotel we will visit one of the oldest monuments in the valley which was built in the 12th century by a saint, the monastery has an eleven headed god of compassion. Once in the hotel we dress up formally to visit the seat of the King of Bhutan and the head of the religion. It’s open to Public only after five in the evening during week days and nine in the morning in the weekends. We can also take a sneak peak of king Khesar’s palace in the river bank. Towards the evening we shall visit some of the souvenir’s stores. Dinner in the Hotel.
Day 4:
Full morning at the festival and the schedule is as follows. Dance 1. Shacham Dance of the four stags wearing knee length skirts and masks of stags. This dance subjugates the evil king of the wind by Guru Rinpoche. Dance 2. Peling Ging Sum. The dance of the three kings of Gings wearing knee length costume and performed with sticks and animal masks in the first round and then wearing wrathful masks. This dance symbolizes the victoroy of good over the evil. The renowned treasure discoverer Pema Lingpa had envisioned this dances being performed by the three kings of Gings, They were all emanations of Guru Rinpoche. Dance 3. The third dance is the dance of the heroes wearing knee length costumes and golden crowns with small bells and drums in their hands. This dance is a depiction of the believers of guru being lead to his celestial Palace. Dance 4. Shawa shachi. Dance of the stag and the hounds. It’s an enactment of the saint Jetsun Milarepa bringing harmony between the stag and the hound through his compassion to all the sentient beings. Dance 5. Dramnen cham The dance of the warriors holding Guitars wearing very elaborate with woolen clothing and long black shirt and traditional felt boots. The dances are interrupted with Bhutanese folk dances and the red clowns vulgar gestures for comic relief. A Bhutanese idea of stand up comedians. After lunch we can visit the following places in random order in the next two days of our stay, the memorial chorten, the textile museum, the paper factory, the Nunnery, Dechen phodrang monastic school, the folk heritage museum etc.
Day 5:
We will leave the Morning for the festival, to witness the Zhana Cham. The dance of the 21 black hats wearing large black hats, felt boots and long color full brocades represents the yogis who have the power to create and take life. Another variation of this dance is with the drums signifying victory over the evil. The next dance is the Kyecham portraying the king of Norzang and his armed companions during the holy war. The dance of the Noble man and Women is called the Phole Mole. The dance from the east Drametse Ngacham has 16 dancers wearing yellow knee length costumes depicting the attendants of Guru Rinpoche in his heavenly abode envisioned by the nun Chorten Zangmo. After lunch we can either decide to continue with the festival or visit the remaining places of interest.
Day 6:
Punakha town is our next destination, it’s about three hours drive from Thimphu. The road passes through one of the most spectacular pass, the Dochula pass at an elevation of 3000m above sea level. Our accommodation will be arranged at YT hotel in Lobesa. We have lunch at the hotel and then drive to another town to visit the wangdue Dzong built in 1638. Wangdue has a very unique strip of huts as shops and is probably one of its kinds. The popular temple of fertility dedicated to the divine mad man is also located in the valley. It takes one hour forty five minutes to the temple and back. Dinner and overnight in the Hotel.
Day 7:
After breakfast we visit the Khamsum yueley Namgay temple perched on a hill lock dedicated to King Khesar. It’s very beautiful walk amids the paddy fields and pine forest. We will have a nice picnic lunch at the temple with the commanding view of the valley below. On the way back we visit the Punakha Dzong the winter capital of Bhutan, Its one of the finest Bhutanese architecture. We head back to the Hotel and try out “Ara” the local drink.
Day 8:
Drive back to Paro and have lunch in Thimphu. In the evening take a stroll in the paro town. Overnight in Paro.
Day 9:
Hike to Tiger’s nest. It’s one of the most popular monastery in Bhutan and a must visit site at 900m above Paro. A week’s acclimatization in the country will make everybody fit for the climb. It’s a very beautiful hike with a lot of switch backs. Lunch at the cafeteria. In the pm we walk back to our car.
Day 10:
Depart for Bangkok “ Tashi Delek
