Jambay Lhakhang Festival

CULTURAL BHUTAN WITH JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUB FESTIVAL

Jambay Lhakhang is located in Bumthang and is situated on the way to the Kurjie Lhakhang. It’s a ten minutes drive to the temple from the Chamkhar town.
Jambay Lhakhang is one of the oldest temples in the kingdom. It was founded by, Songtsen Gampo, a Tibetan King in the 7th century AD. The king was destined to build 108 temples known as Thadhul- Yangdhul (temples on and across the border) in a day to subdue the demoness that was residing in the Himalayas. The temple is one of the two of the 108 built in Bhutan. A second is located in Paro, the Kichu lhakhang also built on the same day.
Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche visited the site several times and deemed it exceptionally sacred. Chakhar Gyab, the king of the Iron Castle of Bumthang renovated the temple in the 8th century AD.

Jambay Lhakhang Festival Itineraries:

Day 1: ARRIVAL PARO & TRANSFER TO THIMPHU

• Receiving by our representative at the airport
• Transfer to Thimphu / check in at hotel
• After lunch visit National Memorial Chorten & Changangkha Monastery
• Later visit Handicrafts Emporium, Crafts Bazaar followed by leisure time in town
• Evening visit Tashichhodzong, the central secretariat building that houses the throne room & office of the King of Bhutan
• Dinner & overnight Hotel

Day 2: WHOLE DAY SIGHTSEEING OF THIMPHU

• Followed by early breakfast, visit the Buddha Point, Sangaygang view point, Zilukha Nunnery Takkin (national animal) Preserve centre, National Library, Zorig Chosum (Painting School), Folk Heritage Museum or Textiles Museum, Bhutanese handmade Paper factory, Art Gallery, Philatelic Bureau of Bhutan Post for view of Bhutanese Stamps.
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Dinner &  overnight Hotel

Day 3: DRIVE TO PUNAKHA

• Drive across Dochula Pass (Alt.3050 Mtrs.)
• If the weather is clear, you can have spectacular view of the snow capped Himalayan mountain range
• Tea/coffee stop at the cafeteria
• Drive further to Mitshina to visit Chhimi Lhakhang, a temple of fertility regarded as a pilgrimage site for barren couple
• Check in at hotel & lunch
• After lunch visit the historic Punakha Dzong and the Khuru town
• Later at leisure in town
• Dinner & O/N Hotel

Day 4: PUNAKHA SIGHTSEEING

• Following breakfast hike to Khamsum Yulley Monastery
• The walk is gentle up-hill and the view of the valley is spectacular from the top of the Monastery
• After lunch visit Bajo town and the ruins of Wangduephodrang Dzong
• Later at leisure on foot around the valley
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Dinner & overnight Hotel

Day 5: DRIVE TO BUMTHANG

•  After early breakfast, transfer to Bumthang
• Enroute visit Dzong & Monarchy Museum in Trongsa
• Lunch on a way side highway restaurant
• Evening check in hotel & a brief visit to town
• Optional – attend fire dance of the festival at night
• Dinner & overnight Hotel

Day 6. ATTEND JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUB FESTIVAL

• Following early breakfast, visit Kurjee Lhakhang & Kenchosum Monastery
• Later visit Jambay Lhakhang and attend the festival
• Late afternoon visit Yatha Weaving Center and the Swiss farm
• Evening at leisure in town
• Dinner & overnight Hotel Yugharling Resort

Day 7: DRIVE  BACK TO PARO

•  After breakfast transfer to Paro
• Lunch on the way in a local restaurant
•  Dinner & overnight at Hotel

Day 8: DAY EXCURSION TO TAKSHANG MONASTERY

• Early breakfast and day excursion to view & visit the spectacular Takshang Monastery;  Takshang’ literally means Tiger’s Nest.  The Monastery is believed to have been built in 1684 on the spot where Guru Rimpoche (founder of Buddhism in Bhutan) flew on the back of a Tigress and meditated to subdue the demons in Paro valley. The trail to the Monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. This incredible Monastery clings vertically to the edge of a granite rock cliff that plunges 900 meters above the valley floor.
• Lunch at Takshang Cafeteria.
• Later visit Rimpong Dzong. It is the venue for the famous Paro Tsechu festival, held annually in the spring.
• Continue to walk down-hill and through the traditional cantilever wooden bridge to Paro town
• Visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the holiest and oldest monasteries in Bhutan built in  659AD by a Tibetan King Songtsen Gyampo.
• Visit a traditional Bhutanese Farm House
• Evening at leisure in Paro town.
• Dinner & overnight Hotel

Day 9: DEPARTURE

• Following early breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.