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Welcome to Lost Paddle Adventure (P)Ltd.
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| Himalayan
Leaders Treks & Expedition >> BHUTAN >>
Place of Interest |
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| Thimpu |
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Lying in a valley
(elevation 2,350 m), Thimpu is unlike any other
capital in the world. The traditional architecture
of its houses and buildings is particularly striking.
The places to visit are the Memorial Chorten,
dedicated to the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk;
Tashichho Dzong, seat of the government of Bhutan
and the summer residence of the central |
monk
body; the Traditional Medicine Hospital where
herbal medicines are prepared; the National Library,
a treasure trove of ancient texts; the National
Institute for Zorig Chosum for thanka painting,
sculpture, wood and slate carving, gold works,
embroidery and traditional boot making; Changangkha
Lakhang which contains ancient scriptures and
thanka paintings; and Simtokha Dzong, Bhutan's
oldest fortress which now houses a school for
Buddhist studies. You can also visit the smithy
on the other side of the Thimpu River to see traditional
gold and silver smiths at work, the Folk Heritage
Museum, which showcases a typical Bhutanese farmhouse,
and the Takin Sanctuary (the takin is the national
animal of Bhutan) above the Motithang area.
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AROUND
BHUTAN |
| Western
Bhutan |
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| PARO
is 65 km (two hours' drive) to the southwest of
Thimpu. The Taktsang Monastery where Guru Rinpoche
meditated to subdue evil spirits; Rinpung Dzong,
venue of the Paro tsechu (festival); Ta Dzong which
houses the National Museum; the ruins of Drukgyel
Dzong, built to commemorate Bhutan's victory over
Tibetan aggressors; Kyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest
and most sacred temples in Bhutan; and Dungtse Lakhang
with its extraordinary collection of religious paintings,
are the places to see in the valley. |
PUNAKHA,
77 km (three hours and 15 minutes' drive) north-east
of Thimpu, served as the capital of Bhutan until
1955 and, even today, it is the winter home of
the central monk body. The Punakha Dzong houses
many sacred artifacts and temples. The road from
Thimpu to Punakha crosses the 3,115-m Dochula
Pass. |
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Wangdi
Phodrang (or Wangdi) is situated 70 km (three
hours' drive) south-east of Thimpu. The Wangdi
Phodrang Dzong played a key role during the unification
of Bhutan. En route from Wangdi to Tongsa is the
Gangtey Gompa, the biggest Nyingmapa monastery
in Bhutan. |
| Central
Bhutan |
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Trongsa
is 129 km (four and a half hours' drive) east
of Wangdi and crosses the 3,300 m Pelela Pass.
The Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of Bhutan's
royal family, houses 23 temples. The watchtower,
Ta Dzong, has a temple dedicated to King Gesar,
the hero of a great epic. |
Bumthang
consists of the valleys of Chumey, Choekhor, Tang
and Ura. It takes two and a half hours to reach
Bumthang, 68 km northeast of Trongsa. Bumthang
is ideal for making excursions to the many monasteries
and shrines — Tharpaling, Choedrak, Tamshing,
Kurjey, Jambey, Kunzangdra among others - as well
as to Mebartso, "the flaming lake". |
| Eastern
Bhutan |
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MONGAR
is 198 km (seven hours' drive) south-east of Bumthang.
The road to Mongar crosses Thumshingla (3,800
m), the highest pass in Bhutan. The Mongar Dzong
is relatively new compared with the other dzongs
of the kingdom. |
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LHUNTSHI
is 76 km (three hours' drive) north of Mongar.
The landscape here is spectacular with stark cliffs
and gorges and dense coniferous forests. This
district is famous for its weavers and the fine
quality of fabrics they produce. |
The
90-km trip from Mongar to Trashigang, the easternmost
district, takes four hours. Some 20 km before
Trashigang is the Dametsi Monastery, the most
important monastery of eastern Bhutan. After Thimpu,
Trashigang is the largest urban center where the
Trashigang Dzong stands over the Gamri river.
Tashi Yangtse, north of Trashigang, has a dzong
and the Nepalese style Chorten Kora. |
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