Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival 11N 12D

The day begins with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten built in honor of our late king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. We then drive to the view point of Trashichhodzong, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan). And Folk Heritage museum.
Lunch will be served in the town. After lunch we will be visiting the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive and finally visit the Handicrafts Emporium and shopping for souvenirs in the shops of Thimphu.
Evening at leisure.
Diner and overnight stay at hotel, Thimphu.

After our breakfast we will drive to Trongsa, through the Dochla Pass (3150m). It is very popular pass for viewing the eastern Himalayan mountain ranges on the clear days. The view is so great and spectacular. Then the road will descend to 1300m above sea level, Wangduephodrang valley. The vegetation is made up of rhododendron, magnolia bloom in early spring and through the subtropical and broadleaf forest. The drive will take about 6 – 7 hours.
Lunch will be served at the Chendebji Restaurant or Pack lunch.
Dinner and overnight stay at hotel, Trongsa.

After breakfast walk by Trongsa Dzong, built by Shabdrung in 1647 and visit to the epic Ta Dzong (watch tower), dedicated to the epic hero, King Geser of Ling. Then drive to Bumthang, which is about 3 hours, through the Yutong La pass (alt.3, 400m 29 km from Trongsa).Further 13 km ahead, the road enters into a wide, open cultivated valley known as Chumey.
On arrival in Bumthang, check into the lodge. After lunch, visit the Membartsho Lake, where Terton Pemalingpa, the reincarnation of guru Padmasambava, is supposed to have discovered religious treasures in the 12th century. This lake is very sacred and is visited by many Bhutanese during auspicious days to offer butter lamps. Overnight at lodge. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Bumthang. Later, we will also have a stroll around the town of Jakar itself, a sleepy outpost, with a few shops and a post office. Comprised of just 04 valleys, running down from the Himalayas to the north, the district of Bumthang is a place of traditional beliefs and folklore. It is known for its brightly colored woolen fabric, known as yathra, which makes a good souvenir of the country.
The first day of the festival begins this evening at around 8.30 PM:

Black Hat Dance (Shana) and of the Gings (emanations of Guru Rinpoche): Costume: Dancers wear long brocade robes and ornate black hats perform this dance. The dancer’s who represent the Ging wear shorter robes with masks. This dance is performed to purify the ground and to chase away evil influences.

Dance of Offering (Tshogcham): A dancer offers the body of evil spirits to the deities. After the offering is made the audience goes outside the temple where an arch of pine bushes has been erected.

Fire Dance (Mecham): The arch of pine is set on fire. The fire is said to purify the earth of evil spirits. People who pass through the arch have their sins cleansed. A dancer chases away the evil spirits.

This is the second day of the Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival and we will spend the whole day at this remarkable event. We will be able to watch many ritual dances, which are performed beside the monastery. There are a number of different dances, subdivided into three categories: those that are intended to give moral instruction; those that are designed to drive away evil spirits and those that celebrate the Buddhist faith in its many guises. As fascinating as the dances themselves will be the activities of the local people who flock to the festival from far and wide, dressed in their finest clothes. There will also be a number of stalls selling craftwork, jewellery, religious artifacts and thangkas – another retail opportunity.
Details of the 2nd Day Jambay Lhakhang Drub (festival) are as follows:

It follows a ceremony where a small girl representing the daughter of Sindhu Raja blesses the villagers. Dance of Singje Yab Yum (Lord of death and his consort): The Lord of Death and his consort perform this dance to protect the four realms over which he has power.

Dance of Nyulema and Peling Ging Sum (Three kinds of Ging): The Nyulema is an evil spirit represented by a boy in a skeleton mask. The Ging with the sticks catch the Nyulema. The Durdag or the Lords of the Cremation Ground (represented with dancers wearing white skeletal masks) bring forward a box, which represents evil spirits. The Ging with swords liberate the mind of the evil spirit by killing its body of flesh. The Ging with drums dance to celebrate the victory of religion over the evil spirit.

Dance of the Jachung Bochung (Two mythical birds): Dancers wearing masks representing the auspicious birds perform the dance. The play of the Atsara Gapo Pawo Solgyo (Atsara who acts like a Pawo). Though most of the stories and plays were originally with Buddhist sub text they now serve as comedy relief for the crowd. This story is about an Atsara (clown with a red mask) who is mad. The Atsara injures his son, as he did not recognize him. He tries to save his son’s life by impersonating a pawo or medium and tries to perform a religious curative ceremony. Being unsuccessful he has to finally call a doctor and a monk to cure his son.

After breakfast, attend the full day of the 3rd day of Jambay Lhakhang Drub.
The program begins at around 10:30am. Below are the details of the day’s program.

Dance of the four stags (Shacham): The King of the Wind was causing much unhappiness and suffering in the world. Ugyen Rinpoche subdued him and then as a sign of victory rode on the stag, which was the mount of the king of the Wind. Later a disciple of Guru Rinpoche, Namkhay Nyinpo found an effigy of the face of the stag which appeared to be a blessing. Thus the dance came into existence.

Dance of Ging Tsoling: The dance is supposed to take place in the paradise of Guru Rinpoche and is performed by incarnations of the Guru. The dance is said to give blessings to those who witness it as well as remove obstacles to the doctrine of the Buddha. People whistle during the dance to chase away evil spirits and the Ging hit people on the head to chase away impurity from the body.

Dramitse Ngacham (Dance of the drums from Dramitse): The creator of this dance was Kuenga Gyeltshen, a learned lama from the 16th Century who lived in Dramitse. He is reputed to have seen the dance in Guru Rinpoche’s paradise performed by attendants of the guru. The dance proclaims the superiority of religion over evil spirits.

Pacham - Dance of the heros: Pema Lingpa (the Treasure-Revealer who discovered many Buddhist treasures) saw thisdance in Guru Rinpoche’s paradise. On his return to earth he recreated this dance. The most important attendants of the Guru perform the dance. They lead the beings who die into the presence of the Guru.

Phole Mole: The nobleman and the lady. This ‘play’ is about two princes who leave their princesses and go to war. An old couple is to take care of the princesses. As soon as the princes leave the clowns try to frolic with the princesses and also corrupt the old women. When the princes return they are shocked by the behaviour of the princesses and the old women, and have their noses cut off as a punishment. Finally a doctor is called and everyone’s nose is restored and the princesses and princes marry.

Overnight – hotel in Jakar

Visit the Ugyenchholing Palace; a Family Museum, located on a hill top in beautiful and remote Tang Valley. Enjoy a scenic hike through a beautiful meadow dotted with Bhutanese farmhouse and water turned flour grist mills. Here you will experience time that will transport you back into medieval Bhutan. You will view permanent exhibits recreated to capture the ambience of the lifestyle of the Trongsa Penelop (Governor) Tshokey Dorji and his household. Bhutan's history unfolds. This is a most interesting and unique museum and the location of the museum and architecture at this site are most intriguing. We will visit a local farmhouse for tea and conversation while in Tang Valley. Return to Jakar Valley for overnight at River Lodge.

After the breakfast, we will drive to Gangtay, Phobjikha. The drive will take about 4hours.
Lunch will be at Phobjikha hotel. After lunch we will walk around the Phobjikha valley, it is a glacial valley and is the winter home of the black necked cranes. This valley is a designated conservation area and borders Black Mountain National Park.
Dinner and over night stay at hotel, Phobjikha.

Day excursion to the Gangtey Gompa valley at an altitude of 2800 meters. The only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan is located here. This beautiful valley is also home to the rare Black Necked Cranes migrating from the Tibetan plateau to escape the harsh winter. Currently there are 200 to 300 cranes residing in this valley and the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) is taking every measures to ensure the safety of the Cranes.While the cranes reside in the winter valley for 4/5 months the village folks are not allowed to make load noises or fish in the river that runs through the valley. Explore the fascinating glacier valley and return to the Resort.

After the breakfast, we will drive to Punakha. The drive will take about 3hours. At Wangduephodrang we will visitWangduephodrang Dzong, was founded by the Lama Zhamdrung in 1638.
Lunch will be served at Punakha. After lunch we will visit Punakha Dzong, it was the winter capital of Bhutan until 1955 when the capital was permanently shifted to Thimphu. It still served as the winter resident for the monk body. Then we will drive to the viewpoint of Khamsum Yule Namgyel chorten.
Dinner and overnight stay at hotel, Punakha.

After our early breakfast, we will drive to Paro via Dochula pass. At Lobesa we will visit Chhimi Lhakhang, which is located at a hilltop. We have to walk about 25minutes from the road point. This temple is also known as temple of fertility. After visiting this we will continue our journey to Paro. The drive will take about 5hours.
Lunch will be served at Dochula Cafeteria.
Dinner and overnight stay at hotel, Paro.

After early breakfast, hike to the view point of Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) monastery. We have to walk about 1hours & 30minutes up steep from the road end. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. After enjoying the view & photographs, and refreshment at the viewpoint (Taktshang Cafeteria) we will walk back.
Lunch will be served in the town.
After lunch we will visit National Museum of Bhutan and Kyichu Lhakhang.
Evening stroll around the Paro town.
Dinner will be served in the farm house.
Over night stay in the hotel, Paro.

Today we will drive to Paro international Airport to catch the flight to your next destination. Our representative will see you off from the airport.