Two Valleys Tour lets you to discover the rich cultural heritage of Bhutan. During the trip you will visit to ancient dzongs (forts), monasteries, museums, cultural centers, along with the excursions of picturesque villages of bhutan. Paro is the only international airport in Bhutan. Your journey starts at Paro, after landing here. This travel package offers you to experinence Bhutanese village life at Wangduephodrang. Opportunity to observe the traditional art of healing to cure diseases at the Indigenous Hospital and learning more about the rich Bhutanese art and culture by visiting the Art & Craft School, National Library, Royal Goldsmith Workshop and Handicraft centers are really lifetime experiences.
Arrive in Paro. Visit the National Museum,located on a ridge, overlooking the Rinpung Dzong. Unlike the rectangular shape of the Dzongs, Ta Dzong is conical, more like that of a European castle, since 1967 the Dzong was re-established as the National Museum and holds a fascinating collection of art, relics thangkha paintings and Bhutans’s Exquisite stamps. Visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong, also known as the “ fortress of the heap of jewels.” It was built during the time of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 after the small Hungrel fortress built by Lam Drung Drung was offered to Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Further visit the Drugyel Dzong, this Dzong, with a delightful village nestling at its foot, was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate his victory over the Tibetans invasions. The Dzong caught fire in 1951 and now it only remains as ruin
Visit the Memorial chorten,built in 1974 by Her Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is popularly regarded as the Father of Modern Bhutan. The paintings and statues inside the monument provide deep ingight into Buddhist philosophy. The chorten is one of the most visited religious structures in Thimphu. Visit the Changangkha Lhakhang,built in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lam Phojo Drugom Zhigpo, who came from Ralung, Tibet. It is an old fortress like temple perched on a ridge above the Thimphu and it has a beautiful view of Thimphu from the Courtyard. The main chapel houses a unique statue of the seated Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. Visit the National Textile Museum,it has opened its exhibition on six major themes: wrap pattern weaves,weft pattern weaves, role of textiles in religion, achievements in textile arts, textile from indigenous fibre and the royal collection. The crowns of Bhutan’s kings, namzas( dresses)’ the first of the Raven crown and other accessories used by members of the Royal family can be found in the museum. The goal of the museum is to slowly become a center for textiles studies that will carry documentation, research and studies on textiles. Visit the Bhutanese paper making unit, the traditional gold and silver smith unit
Visit the Folk Heritage Museum,which is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through exhibits, demonstration, education programmes, and the documentation of rural life.you can see the following in this museum. Prayer wheel, Mustard Oil making process, Hotel stone bath and the process of Ara( distilled spirit made from fermented grains). Visit the Institute of Arts and Crafts,to preserve our valuable heritage and promote arts in Bhutan, the Royal government initiated this institute in 1971. Students are taught painting, calligraphy, embroidery, wood carving, sculpture. The thirteen arts & crafts comprises of : Paintings, carpentary, carving, sculpture, casting, black smithing, bamboo work, gold & silversmithing, weaving, embroidery, masonry, leather work, and paper-making. Visit the Institute of Traditional medicine, In Bhutan equal emphasis is given to both allopathic and traditional medicines. The rich herbal medicines abundant in kingdom are prepared here. The institute also imparts training courses to practioners/students on traditional medicine and also carries out research and quality control functions. And visit the National Library, which was established in 1967 with the primary objective of collecting and preserving mainly ancient Bhutanese written and printed resources. It accommodates a sizeable and a steadily growing stock of books, Scriptures and written documents as well as a huge amount of wood printing blocks for religious books. Drive to Sangyegang view point, from this point we can view the whole Thimphu city. Visit the Takin sanctuary and the Zilukha nunnery Monastery. Drive to Semtokha and visit the Semtokha dzong,now houses the the school for Buddhist studies.( ‘Sinmo’ meaning demoness and ‘do’meaning stone. Visit the Tashichodzong,initially erected in 1702 by Sherab Wangchuk, the 13th Desi and later in 1955 after moving the capital to Thimphu from Punakha, this Dzong was redesigned and sections were rebuilt. It houses the main secretariat building and the central monk body.
Drive Thimphu- Paro. Hike Taktsang Monastery.This monastery is built on a cliff, it is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and mediated at this monastery and hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognized as most sacred and visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and now visited by all Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime. The Monastery built in 1692 caught fire on 19th April 1998, it was renovated later.From the road point the hike up to Taktsang, on a well maintained path, is quite uphill and it takes 4-5 hours at an average walking speed for to & fro journey.
Day free until departure transfer to the airport for onward journey.