Hey Mates, Get your Bikes
ready, and Leaves Sanctioned, as Trek
Mates India Organizes a Ride
to the land of Happiness – Bhutan from 8th to 19th April 2016.
Bhutan - The land of Happiness,
where the wealth is measured by your happiness quotient. Yes Bhutan is the only
country in the world which measured GDH (gross domestic happiness). Surprised
don’t be… Gross National Happiness is a term coined by His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye
Wangchuck in the 1970s. The concept implies that sustainable development should
take a holistic approach towards notions of progress and give equal importance
to non-economic aspects of wellbeing.
Bhutan is built on its
core culture, heritage & values. Bhutan offers many cultural & natural
offerings which are quite unique. Food in Bhutan is a complete surprise. The
diversity of the landscape at Bhutan varies from Samdrup, Bumthang, Phobjika,
Thimpu, Paro & Haa. You would get to witness the diverse culture of Budhism
& its roots. The Culturally rich & humble bhutaneese people will
mesmarise you with their charm.Words would be less to explain more about Bhutan
& will be apt to say – “Come & experience the land of Happiness”
The itinerary for the event will be as follows:
Day 1, 8th April:
Guwahati to Samdrup (75 Kms, 3 hrs ride)
Report at Guwahati Airport
by 10.30 am.
Depart from Guwahati to
Samdrup by 12.30
Reach Samdrup by 5 pm.
Monastery visit, Dinner
and Retire.
Samdrup Jongkhar is the gateway of the country’s east
and shares borders with Assam. It is by far the largest urban center in eastern
Bhutan. Jongkhar town holds the distinct honor of being the oldest town in
Bhutan. This border town is a bustling little settlement packed to the brim
with shopkeepers and hawkers from across the border. Dzong at Jongkhar is known
for its heritage value.
Day 2, 9th April:
Samdrup to Mongar (290 kms, 11hrs ride)
Start Early morningand
reach Mongar via Trashigang.
Evening free for shopping
(specially traditional clothing)
Trashigang is set on a scenic hillside & was once
a bustling trade center for merchants looking to barter their goods in Tibet.
It is the junction of the East-West highway, with road connections to Samdrup
& then into the Indian state of Assam. Trashigang is also the
principle market place for the semi-nomadic people of Merak and Sakteng, whose
unique way of dress stands out from the regular Bhutanese Gho & Kira.
The road approaching Mongar is one of the most
spectacular journeys, It passes over sheer cliffs and through beautiful fir
forests and green pastures. Passing this way will have the opportunity to see
countless varieties of rhododendrons, on clear days you can even catch a glimpse
of Gangkhar Puensum (7541 meters), the world’s highest unclimbed mountain. The
region is known for its weavers and textiles and fabrics produced here are
considered some of the best in the country.
Day 3, 10th April:
Mongar to Bumthang (190kms, 6hrs)
Start early and Ride to
Bumthang
Enroute halts at
photographic locations
Bumthang is known as the Switzerland of Bhutan, todays
Destination as well as the journey is full of photographic locations. Don’t
forget to keep you camera handy, and batteries charged.
Day 4, 11th April:
Leisure day to enjoy the Bumthang valley & Local
sight seeing
Bumthang Valley consists
of 4 main valleys Ura, Chumey, Tang & Choekhor. Choekhor. The valleys are
broad and gentle carved by the ancient glaciers. The wide and scenic valleys
draws a large number of tourists each year. The name Bumthang has two probable
origins; the first is that it is named after a Bumpa, a vessel for holy water
which the valley resembles in shape. The second origin implies that it is the
Valley of Beautiful Girls as Bum translates to ‘Girl’ and Thang means ‘flat
piece of land’.These fertile valleys are covered in fields of buckwheat, rice
and potatoes. Apple orchards and dairy farms are also common sights here. This
serene region is one of the most peaceful places in the kingdom
Day 5, 12th April:
Bumthang to Punakha (220 kms, 7 hrs ride)
Ride from Bumthang to
Punakha Valley.
Enjoy the scenic beauty
and take a leisure photography tour.
Punakha Dzongkhag has been inextricably linked with
momentous occasions in Bhutanese history. It served as the capital of the
country from 1637 to 1907 and the first national assembly was hosted here in
1953. It is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of the
most majestic structures in the country. Two major rivers in Bhutan the Pho
Chhu and Mo Chhu converge in this valley. Punakha Dzong is built at the
confluence of these two rivers and is an especially beautiful sight on sunny
days with sunlight reflecting off the water onto its white-washed walls. In
addition to its structural beauty, Punakha Dzong is notable for containing the
preserved remains of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifer of Bhutan as well as
a sacred relic known as the Ranjung Karsapani. This relic is a self-created
image of Avalokiteswara that miraculously emerged from the vertebrae of Tsangpa
Gyarey the founder of the Drukpa School when he was cremated.
Day 6, 13th April:
Punakha to Thimphu (135 kms, 7 hrs ride)
Start riding towards
Thimphu.
Enroute visit chimi
lhakhang Monastery, the only monastery which celebrates reproduction and life
Reach Thimphu late evening
and retire
Chime Lhakhang or Monastery is a
Buddhist monastery Located near Lobesa, it stands
on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang
Choegyel, after the site was blessed by the "Divine
Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529)
who built a chorten on the site.
In founding the site He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus
symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house
tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the
original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden
phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit
the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget
children.The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with
a 10 inch
(25 cm )
wooden phallus (erect
penis). Traditionally symbols
of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and
malicious gossip.
Day 7, 14th April:
Leisure Day at Thimphu (40 kms)
A day at leisure in
Thimphu, covering local site seeings like –
Buddha point
Monastery
Zoo
Thimphu Local Market
Thimphu is the most modern city in Bhutan with an
abundance of restaurants, internet cafes, nightclubs and shopping centers,
however it still retains its’ cultural identity and values amidst the signs of
modernization. Thimphu is one of the few towns in Bhutan that have been
equipped with ATM banking facilities and is a good place to stock up on some
currency. One of the most curious features of Thimphu is that it is the only
capital city in the world that does not use traffic lights. Instead a few major
intersections have policemen standing in elaborately decorated booths (small
pavilions), directing traffic with exaggerated hand motions. The juxtaposition
of ancient tradition and modernity make Thimphu the ideal location to break
away from the itinerary and just immerse in the lifestyle of contemporary
Bhutanese
Day 8, 15th April:
Thimphu to Haa Valley (130 kms, 4hrs Ride)
Start early for a
beautiful ride to Haa Valley
Enjoy the Serene nature of
the valley
Take a walk across the
small town. Enjoy the breeze, lots of photography.
Adjoining the districts of Paro, Chhukha and Samtse,
Haa valley is one of the most picturesque places in the Kingdom, spread over an
area of 1706 sq. km.
Day 9, 16th April:
Haa Valley to Paro
Start at leisure to head
for a beautiful drive to Paro through the valleys.
Walk around the beautiful
town & visit the Dzong & do shopping
Paro is a place where let
your pocket loose. This is where you shop.
Day 10, 17th April:
Paro – Tiger’s Nest – Paro
Wake up early for a the
best visual treat of Paro – The TIGER’S NEST.
This will be a 3 to 4
Hours of Hiking uphill based on your fitness. This is a must if you are
visiting Bhutan
We will be back in Paro
town by noon for a late lunch.
You are free for the rest
of the day to explore Paro & shop & shop & shop
Tigers Nest - perched on the side of a cliff 900m
above the Paro valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the
back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery and hence it is called
"Tiger's Nest". This site has been recognized as a most sacred place
and visited by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and now visited by all
Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime. On 19 April, 1998, a fire severely
damaged the main structure of building but now this Bhutanese jewel has been restored
to its original splendor.
Day 11, 18th April:
Paro to Phuetsholing (161kms, 5 hrs ride)
Start early to reach
Phuetsholing, The border town to india.
Here is where you will be
shocked to see the cultural differences in india & Bhutan
The discipline, the
cleanliness & focus on hygiene
Enjoy the last day at the
Happy Bhutan & relax
Day 12, 19th April:
Depart to airport
Start at 4 Am in the
morning to reach Airport by 9am.
Depart for your respective
locations.
Tour Ends with Happy
memories.
The cost for the
event will be INR 35000/- Per Participant
Inclusions
Ø All Veg meals,
Ø Double Sharing Accommodations
Ø Non AC Back up Vehicle
Ø All Permits
Exclusions :
Ø Bike Transportation /renting charges
Ø Fuel and Maintenance charges
Ø Any airfare or Train tickets
Ø Any Expenses of Personal nature such as Travel and
medical insurance, Laundry Telephone/Fax, Calls, Additional Porter or transportations,
additional tips, monument / museum / park entries. Camera & Video Camera Fees.
Ø Any additional Expenses caused by reason beyond our
control such as Natural Calamities (Land Slides, Floods etc.), any accidents,
medical evacuations, riots, strikes, evacuation costs, Etc.
Ø Any other tax or service charge, Accommodation charge
that could be enforced.
Ø Any service not specifically mentioned in the Includes
sections.
Please Note:
Ø All programs
are subject to change without prior notice.
Ø Extra porter
can be provided at extra costs, if stated in advance
Payment details:
One needs to pay full
amount as advance at the time of booking.
Account Details
ICICI Current Account
No: 148805000123
Name: Trek Mates Outbound Services Pvt. Ltd.
Ifsccode: ICIC0001488
Branch: Kalwa, Thane
Please Note:
It is very important that you line the inside of your bags with a big polythene sheet. Doing so will ensure, that in the event of rain, even though your bag may get wet, your clothes will still remain dry!
It is very important that you line the inside of your bags with a big polythene sheet. Doing so will ensure, that in the event of rain, even though your bag may get wet, your clothes will still remain dry!
Ø Registrations
are done only on phone calls and will be confirmed only after the receipt of
advance.
Ø Registrations
will be on first come first served basis.
For more details and Registration, Please feel free to contact us on:
For more details and Registration, Please feel free to contact us on:
Trek Mates India office:
8422 888 006 / 007 / 008
OR
Email id: trekmates@gmail.com
Please check the
details of Registration Process, Payment
Terms & Refund policy
Last but not the least, Any adventure activity is a disciplined fun so please check our "Rules and Regulation" page.
Medical Disclaimer: It is most essential to be fit and fine before heading for trekking. While planning your trekking trip, it is preferable to have a medical fitness check up done. If suffering from any kind of allergy or ailment, do carry proper prescribed medicines to prevent serious health problem including heatstroke, sever headache, cough, dehydration and hypothermia. Participants suffering from chronic conditions like asthma, bronchitis, blood pressure, migraine, diabetes etc should seek their physicians advice before coming.
To get quick updates about the Live action and Unlimited Dhammal, Join us on
Facebook Mumbai
Facebook Pune
Twitter
TMI Website
TMI Diaries
For any Trekking gear or travelling accessories,
Join our Facebook page "Straub"
OR
visit us at Trek Mates India's own office cum Sales Store @
STRAUB
106, A wing, 1st Floor,
Rajdarshan Building,
Dada Patil Wadi,
Near Thane Station,
Thane (w) 400602.
Regards,
Trek Mates India.
Last but not the least, Any adventure activity is a disciplined fun so please check our "Rules and Regulation" page.
Medical Disclaimer: It is most essential to be fit and fine before heading for trekking. While planning your trekking trip, it is preferable to have a medical fitness check up done. If suffering from any kind of allergy or ailment, do carry proper prescribed medicines to prevent serious health problem including heatstroke, sever headache, cough, dehydration and hypothermia. Participants suffering from chronic conditions like asthma, bronchitis, blood pressure, migraine, diabetes etc should seek their physicians advice before coming.
To get quick updates about the Live action and Unlimited Dhammal, Join us on
Facebook Mumbai
Facebook Pune
TMI Website
TMI Diaries
For any Trekking gear or travelling accessories,
Join our Facebook page "Straub"
OR
visit us at Trek Mates India's own office cum Sales Store @
STRAUB
106, A wing, 1st Floor,
Rajdarshan Building,
Dada Patil Wadi,
Near Thane Station,
Thane (w) 400602.
Regards,
Trek Mates India.