A Bhutanese wedding is much more than an exchange of vows and rings. It includes a number of religious rites performed by Buddhist monks and lamas. This represents the importance of the bond between two people. This ceremony is also used for renewing marriage vows.

(Please note this wedding blessing ceremony is not legally recognized outside of Bhutan.)

The actual wedding ceremony and blessings for a lifetime of love and happiness takes place at home. This is followed by visits to sacred temples to make more offerings.

The ceremony begins with a Lhabsang purification ritual in the morning performed by the monks before arriving at the temple.

During the ceremony, monks recite mantras and offer fumigation outside the temple to please the local deities.

Bhutanese believe that only if the local deities are pleased we can have their blessing and enjoy good health and wealth. The fumigation is to please their sense of smell and grains added to the fumigation are to quell their hunger.

Inside the temple butter lamps are lit and prostrations done. The butter lamps are an offering of light to deities and the most common means of increasing merit.

Changphoe is the offering to the gods and deities in a form of liquor. After an offering is made to the deities, the liquor (ara) will then be served to the bride and the groom in a traditional wooden phob (cup), which they will share. This symbolises the faith and everlasting bond the husband and the wife will share for the rest of their lives.

This is followed by exchange of rings, ritual ceremony for a long and prosperous married life, followed by the food offering ceremony called Zhudrey Puensum Tshogpa, which is considered to be very auspicious. The ceremony ends with the Dhar Naynga offering of five colored scarves to the   bride and groom for long and prosperous life.

DAY 01:  ARRIVE PARO

The flight to Paro valley gives breathtaking views of the world’s highest peaks. Our representative will be there to receive you and escort you to your hotel in Paro. In the evening you will be presented with welcome cultural show followed by delicious local food.

Overnight  stay in hotel, Paro.

DAY 02: PARO (TRADITIONAL WEDDING CEREMONY DAY)

The most valuable and important thing in life is marriage and family, so we start the day with a wedding at a local home.

In Bhutanese traditional marriage the bride and groom dress up in expensive hand woven silk costumes called Gho and Kira. The marriage ceremony starts with good luck traditional rituals by a monk. The couple then makes commitment, exchange well wishing Khadars (scarf), offer gifts, drink wine and later visit some sacred temples.

Visits will include Kyichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gonpo, ruins of Drugyel Dzong, which kept at bay invasions from Tibet in the 17th century, Paro Rinpung Dzong built in 1646 and Ta Dzong, which now serves as the national museum. The museum highlights various aspects of Bhutanese culture and history dating back to the 7th century.

Overnight stay in hotel, Paro.

DAY 03: PARO – THIMPHU.  65KM/1 HRS APPROX

Drive to Thimphu, stop en-route to view the picturesque Tachog Lhakhang, the hereditary place of worship of Bhutan’s Iron Bridge Builder. Short hike down to Iron Bridge made by iron chains.

On arrival in Thimphu, visit the National Memorial Chorten, dedicated to world peace and prosperity. It was built in 1974 in memory of the Third King of Bhutan. You will find Thimphu residents circumambulating the Stupa throughout the day praying for universal harmony and all sentient beings. Visit Buddha point to see the Buddha Stupa and get a bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley.

Your next visit is to National Library that holds thousands of ancient Buddhist texts and scriptures. It also has a small but growing collection of modern books.

Also visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum where students train in Bhutan’s thirteen traditional arts and crafts and the Folk Heritage Museum, which will provide insight into a traditional Bhutanese farm house and Bhutan’s fast disappearing rural past. Later in the afternoon visit Changangkha Lhakhang, a fortress like temple perched on a ridge above Thimphu city. Toward the northern end valley of Thimphu, is a preserve for Takin, the kingdom’s national animal.

Overnight stay in hotel, Thimphu.

DAY 04: EXCURSION TO PUNAKHA

Morning drive to neighbouring Punakha valley crossing Dochula pass (3,050 m), which offers stunning views of the Himalayan Mountain ranges on a clear day. Explore the 108 Druk Wangyel Stupa and wind down through agricultural fields to valley of Punakha.

En route hike to Chimi Lhakhang through rice fields in the local village of Sopsokha. After the hike drive to visit Punakha Dzong, the winter seat of the Je Khenpo (head monk) and the central monastic body, located between the rivers of the Mo (Female) Chu and Pho (Male) Chu. Evening, drive to back to Thimphu.

Overnight stay in hotel, Thimphu.

DAY 05HIKE TO TIGER’S NEST

After breakfast you will drive to Paro to do the hike to the Taktshang monastery. The hike, which is all the way uphill through pine forests, takes about 2 hours at moderate pace. You can ride up if hiking uphill is too challenging.

The Monastery, which clings to a huge granite cliff 900 meters above the valley floor, is the place where the Indian tantric saint Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century. It is a pilgrimage site for every Bhutanese. Evening, explore Paro town.

Overnight stay in hotel, Thimphu.

DAY 06: DEPARTURE

Early morning, drive to the airport, for your onward journey.



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