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Ura Yakchoe Festival

Price
From$3,250
Price
From$3,250
November 5, 2024

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3582
12 Nights / 13 Days
Availability : Jan 17’ - Dec 17’
Bangkok, Kathmandu, Kolkata & Delhi
Paro International Airport, Bhutan

Ura Yakchoe Festival

Ura Yakchoe Festival is held in Ura,Bumthang. The Ura Yakchoe Festival is referred to as a sacred dance performance that is held in Ura Lhakhang.

The festival has a historical reference that depicts the story of a Lama and a woman. According to Bhutanese legend an old woman sitting outside her house. She was asked by a lama asking for a drink of water. When she came out of her house with the water she could not see the lama. The lama had vanished leaving behind only a bag. She checked the bag and found the statue inside the bag. The woman peered inside the sack and found a statue of Chana Dorje also known as Vajrapani who was the protector and guide of Buddha. Now it is displayed during The festival annually. Since then, the statue has been owned by the woman’s descendants and it is during the Ura Yakchoe Festival when the statue is carried down the valley to Ura Lhakhang followed by dancing and drinking in a procession.

Ura Lhakhang is situated in the middle of Ura village in Bumthang. It was built in the 1980s. Inside is a huge statue of Guru Rimpoche and beautiful paintings. Guru Nangsay Zilnoen is the main statue. The event is a 5-day program,

Ura Yakchoe Festival Program:

Day 1. Receiving of a sacred treasure (Chagdhor Toen), a manifestation of Vajrapani from Gaden Temple to Ura Lhakhang.
Day 2. Shinji Phomo, Dramitse Ngachham, Throchu, Zhanak and Ajophento.
Day 3. Draleypangtey, Chhungzhi, Peling Gingsum, Tsholing Ging and Pholek Molek.
Day 4. Shazam, Raksha Mangchham, and Shawa Shakhe.
Day 5. Thongdroel, Yedam wang and Pachham.

Once completing the Ura Yakchoe Festival, Tourists can explore the beauty of Ura Valley.

 

 

Tour Details

Price Includes

  • English Speaking local guide
  • Accommodations -3-4 Star category of Bhutan Standard: twin sharing.
  • All meals included(American Plan)
  • Entrance Fees
  • Government taxes i.e US$65 per person per night included.
  • Land transportation, airport transfers for passengers as noted not in Bangkok.
  • Driver

Price Excludes

  • International airfare, Hotels in Bangkok(expenses in Bangkok).
  • Tipping or gratuities to guides and drivers/supporting staff
  • Medical & Personal Insurances.
  • Communications charges.
  • Travel Insurance/Personal Insurance
  • Alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.
  • Hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors.
Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Paro

During the journey to Paro, one will experience from the left hand side of the plane, breath taking view of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Jhomolhari 7314m and Mount Jichu Drake 6989m in Bhutan. On the arrival at Paro International Airport, The representative of Bhutan Himalayan Holidays, your tour guide will receive you and escort you to the hotel. After a brief rest at the hotel and tea/coffee. Drive to the National Museum (Ta-Dzong). This was actually the Watch Tower of Paro Rinpung Dzong. It was converted to the National Museum in 1968. Visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong. This massive fortress is located on a hill top above the Pachu (Paro River) of Paro Valley. You have to walk about 15 minutes by crossing an ancient wooden bridge built in typical Bhutanese architect. The Dzong houses the District Administration Office and the District Monk Body. It was built in 1645 A.D. Lunch at Hotel. After Lunch Visit Kyichu Lhakhang (Lhakhang means Monastery). Kyichu Lhakhang was built in 659 A.D. by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet. It is considered one of the holiest places in Bhutan as it marks the advent of Buddhism in the country. It is one of the 108 such temples built by him for spreading Buddhism in this region. Drive to the Paro village town and explore the town. Altitude of Paro is 2260m.

Overnight: Hotel in Paro.

Day 2Paro - Hike to Tiger's Nest

Drive for 15kms and reach the base of Famous Tiger’s Nest “TAKTSANG” Monastery and hike up which would take Two Hours up and approximately One Hour down. Stop at Taktsang Tea House “Cafeteria” for refreshment of Tea & Coffee. Taktsang is at 2900mts. Hike for another half an hour and you reach the Great and Magnificent Taktsang where you will be greets by the monks who live there and Special Bhutanese Butter Tea will be served with Snacks. Visit the most important monastery were the Guru Rimpoche was flying on a Flamming Tigress from Singye Dzong in Eastern Bhutan to here and meditated for Three Months and flourishment of Buddhism in Paro started from 8th Century. Walk down hill and drive to Drukgyal Dzong and on the way enjoys the view of the Taktsang Monastery, also known as “Tiger’s Nest temple”. Near the Drukgyal Dzong, if the sky is clear we can see the Mt. Jhomolhari on the background.

Overnight: Hotel in Paro.

Day 3Paro - Thimphu

The drive to Thimphu will take roughly Two Hours. Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan since from 1974. Punakha used to the capital city of Bhutan before that.
For the first one hour you will follow the Pa-Chu (Paro River) and reach Chuzom where the Thimphu River meets the Paro River and forms Wang-Chu (Chu means Water, River or Stream). Chuzom is a four direction motor road junction where one road leads to Thimphu, one to Phuentsholing the border town to India, one to Haa valley and one where you drove from Paro. It will take another One hour from here to Capital city, Thimphu. Check in the Hotel and after short rest visit National Memorial Stupa, built in 1874 by Royal Queen Mother and dedicated to the father of Modern Bhutan, the Late His Majesty the Third King of Bhutan. The Memorial Stupa, built in 1974 by Royal Queen Mother and dedicated to the Father of Modern Bhutan, The Third King of Bhutan. This Tibetan & Bhutanese Architecture mixed Stupa has got three different sects of Buddhism such as Gongdu on the Top floor, Drukpa Kagyud on Middle with Second Buddha figure facing the Sun Rise and on the Ground Floor it is the Phurba.

Day 4Thimphu

Visit the Post Office with Money exchange as the bank is next door. Lunch in Town, after lunch drive to BBS Tower to get the magnificent picture and view of Thimphu and you can also see our Queens Palaces. Visit to Thimphu Mini Zoo where you can see our National Animal “TAKIN” which has a head of a goat and body of a cow, believed to be made by great Devine Madman in the 16th Century. Visit national Library, School of Thirteen Arts and Crafts, National institute of Traditional Medicines. Visit to Thimphu Tashi Cho Dzong, the office of the King and the Throne Room and also the Summer Capital of Monastic Body lead by His Holiness the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) who spend six months here during summer and move to Punakha for winter for another six months.

Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu.

Day 5Thimphu - Punakha

After breakfast drive to Winter Capital for the Monastic Body, Punakha at 1300m.
One hour drive reach you to Dochula Pass at 3150mts where you can see and enjoy the Eastern Himalayas in a Panoramic View and best picture time for group of Bhutanese Style of Stupas, as there are 108 Stupas built by Her Majesty for the well being of the Nation and Love Live His Majesty. It descends to Punakha and Wangdue at 1300mts which will take another two hours. Visit Historic and one of the most beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Great Zhabdrung Rimpoche who unified Bhutan in 17th Century.

Overnight: Hotel in Punakha

Day 6Punakha

After breakfast walk to the famous Devine Madman’s Monastery the Chhimi Lhakhang “No Dog Monastery” built in 1499. Today it is very popular because couples who are married for so many years and don’t have children’s but always desired go there and get blessed from the wooden Phallus and in another Nine months the wife gets pregnant. We will visit the monastery and meditate and picnic lunch will be served outside the monastery in a lush green ground. After Lunch drive to Punakha and visit the beautiful and legendary Khamsum Yuley Namgyal Monastery built by Her Majesty the Queen mother of our Crown Prince.

Overnight: Hotel in Punakha

Day 7Punakha - Bumthang

After breakfast drive to Bumthang via Wangdi village town. Have the pack lunch around the Pelela pass (3390 Mts) or you have the option to continue to Chendebji Stupa. Chendebji Stupa is a massive stupa built in Sherpa style. We have only two such stupas in Bhutan and the other one is in Tarshi Yangtse, eastern Bhutan. After lunch, drive onto Bumthang via Trongsa. At Trongsa, stop to visit the Trongsa Dzong which is one of the most magnificent Dzongs in Bhutan with many old and holy temples inside the Dzong, also visit the ancient WatchTower which has a temple dedicated to Ling Geyser (Alexandra the Great) and have your evening tea and continue to the Bumthang for the night.

Overnight: Hotel in Bumthang

Day 8Bumthang – Ura Festival

After breakfast drive to Ura Valley to witness full day Yak Choe Festival. Hot lunch will be served as picnic. Overnight: Hotel in Bumthang

Day 9Bumthang

Visit the historical Jakar Dzong built by Minjur Tenpa, the third Druk Desi (Temporal ruler) in 1646 A.D. It was later repaired and expanded by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay, the fourth Desi of Bhutan in 1683 A.D. It is probably one of the biggest Dzongs in Bhutan with the surrounding walls about 1 km in circumference. Visit several ancient and important monasteries such as, Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Kencho Sum Lhakhang, Tamshing and Pema Samba Lhakhangs. Also visit the Bumthang Swiss farm and the Member Tso” The flaming Lake” which is considered one of the most important pilgrimage spots.

Overnight: Hotel in Bumthang

Day 10Bumthang Tang Valley Excursion

Day excursion to beautiful lush but remote Tang valley. Picnic lunch will be served. Visit the century old Ugyencholing Heritage Museum, which once belongs to the Royal Family of Tang valley.

Overnight hotel in Bumthang

Day 11Bumthang – Gangtey – Phobjikha

After an early breakfast, drive to Gangtey. 174kms from Bumthang. Overnight in Gangtey. Gangtey is a beautiful place situated at an altitude of 3000m. From Gangtey, one can closely view the picturesque black mountain ranges as well as the beautiful Phobjikha valley which is one of the biggest and the most beautiful valleys in the country. During winters, we can also see the famous Black Necked Cranes there.

Overnight: Hotel in Gangtey.

Day 12Gangtey – Thimphu

After breakfast drive to Thimphu (1250kms.) Lunch at Dochula Pass 3150m.

Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu

Day 13Thimphu - Paro

After breakfast drive to Paro. Check in Hotel and excursions to Chelela pass 3980m. Overnight: Hotel in Paro

Day 14Depart Bhutan

Early morning drive to airport for onward destination.

Map

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