Brief Introducion on Gomphu Kora Festival

Gomphu Kora is situated 23 kilometres from Trashigang Dzong, the headquarters of Bhutan’s most populous district.

According to the myth, in the 8th century AD, an evil spirit named Myongkhapa escaped from Samye in Tibet when Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of the Nyingma strand of Buddhism, was spreading the Dharma in the Himalayas. Myongkhapa followed the course of the Kholongchhu stream and hidden inside a rock where Gomphu Kora stands today. The Guru followed the evil, mediated for three days inside the rock cave and finally subdued the evil.

The Guru is attributed to have said that devotees will flock to Gomphu Kora for aeons to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

The central attraction of Gomphu Kora is the circumambulation.

Gomphu Kora Festival Schedule: April 4-6 2017

Day 01: Arrive Paro

Arrive Paro by Drukair or Tashi Airlines. Your placid flight will touch down at Paro Airport.After completing your immigration formalities, you will be warmly welcomed by the representative of Advent Bhutan Tours who will be your Bhutan tour guide throughout your entire travel in Bhutan.  Then you will be driven to your hotel in Paro. After a brief rest, start your mesmeric experience of Bhutan by first visiting the National Museum, housed in the Ta Dzong (watchtower). Ta Dzong- National Museum of Bhutan is a cultural museum in the town of Paro established in 1968. Built on top of the hill above Rinpung Dzong, it was originally used to defend Rinpung Dzong and the Paro valley during times of war.

Here, an intriguing collection of finest samples of Bhutanese art, including masterpieces of bronze statues, paintings, suitable galleries are elegantly displayed on scientific lines, which collectively will lead to the wonderful introduction to the rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom.

Walk down to Paro Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress which houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag, a fine example of Bhutanese historic architecture.  It was built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. From the Dzong, march further down to Nyamai Zampa, a traditional cantilever bridge which lies below the sheer walls of  Rinpung Dzong. Stroll through Rimpung Bridge ( The oldest bridge in Bhutan)

Make a visit to a farmhouse which gives an insight of authentic lifestyle of a Bhutanese farming family.In the evening, you can stroll around Paro town.

Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Paro.

Day 02: Paro Excursion to Taktsang (3hours 30 minutes Walk)

Drive to Satsam Chorten and then hike to the Taktshang, the Tiger’s Nest. Normally it takes about three and half hours to complete the hike but might take longer depending on your fitness.  Paro Taktsang, also known as the Tiger’s Nest, is an important  Buddhist sacred site which clings to the rock face, 900 metres above the valley floor.To the rear of the Taktsang lies Senge Samdup cave where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Today, Paro Taktsang is popularly known for the thirteen Taktsang or “tiger lair” caves in which he meditated..it is believed that Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) flew to Taktshang from Tibet on the back of a tigress from Khenpajong. This place was consecrated to tame the Tiger demon.

Refreshment will be served at View Point Cafeteria en route.After visiting the monastery, descend back to viewpoint cafeteria for lunch and then further descend downhill to the base. Then drive back to the hotel.

Then drive to your hotel. On the way back visit Kichu temple. It is one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. To overcome a giant demon who prevented the spread of Buddhism, laid on the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas, King Songtsen Gampo build 108 temples placed on all the points of her body.

In the evening, you can relax after your tiresome journey/ you may soak in a traditional hot stone bath.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Paro.

Day 03: Paro –Thimphu & Thimphu Sightseeing(2Hours-55Km)

After breakfast , Voyage to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, is an hourly drive journey.  The road runs down through the Paro valley, characterised by the narrow-gauged with high, rocky cliffs on the left. You can stop on the way to visit the magnificent Tamchhog Lhakhang, the hereditary place of worship for Bhutan’s iron bridge builder. Then passage through  Chuzom, is the entrance to the Thimphu valley,  the Confluence of Paro and Thimphu rivers. The road passes along  the Simtokha Dzong, (Dzong means ‘castle-monastery’) – It is the oldest Dzong built in 1629 by Zhabdrug Ngawang Namgyal (who unified Bhutan). The Dzong functions as a monastic and as well as administrative center. Today, it is one of the pre-eminent Dzongkha language (National Language) learning institutes.

Check into hotel.

After a brief rest, visit the following places:

The Bhutan Postal Museum (recently launched) -The Bhutan Postal Museum was launched on 7 November 2015 at the General Post Office building. The postal museum portrays the story of the evolution of communication, transportation and postal services in Bhutan’s history.

The National Textile Museum – Art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in colours and designs.  The National Textile Museum is located near the National Library of Bhutan. It was established in 2001 and operated by the National Commission for Cultural Affairs. Ever since its establishment, the museum has gained national and international recognition and has generated a important collection of antique textile artifacts.

The Traditional Bhutanese paper making factory– Jungshi Paper Factory was established in November 1990 as an undertaking of the Royal Government of Bhutan. This small factory produces traditional Bhutanese paper handmade from the bark of the Daphne bush. The unit now boasts as a major and sole dealer in handmade paper and its products.

The National Library– The National Library of Bhutan (NLB), which houses an enormous collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts, was established in 1967 under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Phuntso Choden for the purpose of “preservation and promotion of the rich cultural and religious heritage” of Bhutan.

After lunch visit the following:

The Institute of traditional medicine– The Institute of traditional medicine sprawled on a hilltop with the Traditional Arts Center and National Library just below, was established in 1978. This institute collect medicinal plants from far-flung areas of the Bhutanese Himalaya, such as Lingzhi, Laya and Lunana, conducts research on Bhutan’s medicinal plants to identify the ingredients to help develop new health product and then dispense pills, tablets, ointments and medicinal teas to regional health-care units around the country.

The School of Thangka Painting-The traditional arts is known as zorigchusum (zo = the ability to make; rig = science or craft; chusum = thirteen). These traditional crafts depict hundreds of years of knowledge and ability that has been passed down through generations.The students undergo a six-year course to consummate learning the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.

The Takin Preserve, which houses the national animal, Takin (The national animal of Bhutan). The reason for declaring Takin as the national animal is attributed to a legend of the animal’s creation (goat’s head and cattle’s body) in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley. Drive further to Sangaygang to get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful Thimphu valley.

The Tashichho Dzong – It is a Buddhist monastery and fortress of the glorious religion on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu, built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. It was rebuilt into the present structure by the late King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the year 1962-1969. It houses the secretariat building, the throne room and the office of the king, and the central monk body.

Then, stroll down the Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, aligned neatly below Norzin Lam, opposite to Nehru Wangchuk Cultural Centre, to witness Bhutanese fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, and other eye-catching items made from local materials.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

Day 04 Thimphu-Punakha-Wangdue (3Hours -76Km)

In the morning, travel to Punakha via the Dochula pass. The Dochula Pass (3,088m/10,130ft) is a mountain pass, with the breathtaking view of 108 memorial stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens”  built under the initiative of Royal Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk( the eldest Queen Mother), built in honour of the fourth Druk Gyalpo (head of the state of Bhutan), Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

Journey to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan and presently the winter residence of the central monk body. It is also known as Pungtang Dewa chhenbi Phodrang (meaning “the palace of great happiness or bliss). It is the second oldest and largest dzong built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (Unifier of Bhutan) to serve as the religious and administrative seat of the region. Visit the Punakha Dzong, majestically sprawl between the Pho Chu (Male River) and the Mo chu (Female River).

After lunch, drive to Metshina Village and take 15 minutes walk through the rice fields to the Devine Madman’s Monastery-Chhimi Lhakhang, famously known for its fertility shrine, where it is believed, one can receive special fertility blessings.

Afterwards, a drive to Wangdue (25 Minutes journey from Punakha). Visit Wangdue Dzong. It was founded by the Zhabdrung in 1638. In the 17th century, Wangdue played a critical role in unifying Shar Chog Khorlo Tsebgay (the western, central and southern regions of the country). It is one of the largest dzongkhags (districts) in the country covering 4,308 sq km and ranges from 800-5800 m in altitude. In 24 June 2012, the dzong caught fire and was burnt down.The renovation is still ongoing and is expected to continue until 2021.

In the evening you may visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendup Lhakhang Nunnery and enjoy the beautiful view of Punakha and Wangdue valleys.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Punakha/Wangdue.

Day 05: Punakha-Trongsa(5 hours-129 km)

Drive to Trongsa. The exotic journey will take you through freshly dense green forests of oak trees and rhododendrons, passing through the village of Nobding and Pele la pass (11,000ft). During the course of your journey, you will be accompanied by the beautiful sceneries of rural Bhutan, giving you a wonderful opportunity for photographing.

On arrival at Trongsa and after the refreshment visit the National Museum which is housed in the Ta Dzong (watch tower). A museum will give you an insight into the aspects of Bhutanese rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom. You can watch the Documentary of Bhutanese history and evolution of monarchy. And also visit the Trongsa Dzong, the most spectacularly sited dzong in Bhutan, with a sheer drop to the south that often just disappear into cloud and mist. It was built by the Zhabdrung in 1644. The dzong is an architectural masterpiece. Trongsa in the Bhutanese Context means “the new village” which comprises temples and retreat of monks. It was founded by the Drukpa lama, Ngagi Wangchuk (Ancestor of Zhabdrung Namgyal), who came from Ralung in 1541, made a small meditation room in 1543.

In the evening visit Trongsa downtown.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Trongsa.

Day 06: Trongsa-Bumthang(3Hours-68Km)

After breakfast, drive to Bumthang(Jakar). Bumthang valley is composed of four mountain valleys namely, Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor. It is one of the most tourists visited place and a spectacular valley in Bhutan. It is popularly known as Switzerland of Bhutan- the heartland of Bhutan.

Bumthang, which means  “beautiful field” – thang means meadow or levelled place, and bum is an acronym of either bumpa (a vessel for holy water, characterised by its shape and nature of the valley), or purely bum (“girl,” indicating the valley of beautiful girls)

It is the most historic dzongkhag where this holy place is encompassed with several numbers of ancient temples and sacred sites.

Visit Yatha Weaving Center, a cooperative of the National Women Association of Bhutan. Women in central Bhutan are well known for their weaving talents, where the women of the region sell their beautifully produced textiles and Yatha. To explore more on this culture of weaving, you can visit Dorjibi Weaving Centre, which is based about 12 km north of Chamkhar town.

Weaving centre in Bumthang came into existence by the initiatives taken by a group of 33 enterprising women from three local villages. Due to the scarce agricultural fields, and limited income opportunities, this ambitious women, considerately came together and gave a start to weaving group with the financial support from Wangchuck Centennial Park (WCP), which helped generate income and gain self-sufficiency.

Check into hotel.

After lunch, Bumthang sightseeing includes the following:

The Jambay Lhakhang, is said to be one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsan Gampo in the 7th century, in his effort to propagate Buddhism. It is told that 180 temples were built in a single day, to pin down evil spirits to earth forever.

The Kujey Lhakhang (Kujey means, “Body imprint”), the sacred place is the final resting place of the cadaver of the first three kings of Bhutan. The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built in the vicinity of the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated and left his body imprint. A large tree behind one of the temple buildings is believed to be a terma (hidden treasure) that was left there by Guru Rinpochoe.

The Tamshing Lhakhang, a blessed land circled with numerous temples and monasteries. Tamshing Monastery in Bumthang is well known for its splendid and majestic beauty.It is one of the most historically, spiritually and culturally significant monasteries in Bhutan founded by Pema Lingpa (1450 – 1521), a great saint and spiritual master in both the Bhutanese and Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist traditions.

The wall painting of the temple is viewed as one of the oldest in Bhutan. The temple houses the iron net made by Pema Lingpa when he was 8 years old, and also a great centre of Bhutanese sacred masked dance introduced by Pema Lingpa himself which has remained as a Vital part of the monastic dance. The fortress is now used as an administrative center of the valley and summer residence of Trongsa monks.

In the evening stroll around the beautiful landscape of the Bumthang Jakar valley.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Bumthang.

Day 07: Bumthang – Mongar (7hours -198Km)

This eastward journey from Bumthang to Mongar takes about seven hours drive covering 175 km. The journey will take you via road through Ura Village in Bumthang and slowly climbing aloft to the most spectacular highest motor road of Thrumshing La Pass (3,780 meters). The peaceful travel through the placid high mountain passes and rural villages accompanied by eye-catching cascading waterfalls along the way. Slowly descend through Sengor village, Namling ridge, Yonkola, Thridangbi villages till you reach the warm place Lingmithang.  After an hourly drive, you will reach to Kurichu bridge (2,130 ft). Climb again through the green coniferous forest to Mongar town.The journey from Bumthang to Mongar will make you notice the difference between Western and Eastern Region of Bhutan.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Mongar

Day 08:  Mongar- Trashigang (3Hours -91Km)

The road from Mongar to Trashigang takes about 3hours (91 Km).  The journey will lead you the deep eastern region of Bhutan. To reach this thrilling destination, you have to cross through beautifully green covered forests passing over the Kori La at 8,000 ft. After driving about 29Km, you will come across Ngatshang village (Ngatshang meaning, early residence). Descending rapidly leading to Yadi village and then to  Drametsi. “Drametsi temple” from which gave rise to the “Drametse Nga Chham (the dance of the drums)”. After forty-five minutes drive lies Trashigang. Trashigang is the largest and the most populated district in Bhutan. Trashigang Dzong was strategically built in 1659, on the hilltop overlooking Drangme Chhu to defend against the Tibetan invaders in 17 century. Today it houses the office of the district administrative officer and district monk body.

After lunch, visit Khaling. A very peaceful place, where weaving centre under the initiative of women association of Bhutan, Government of Bhutan is based. One can see the process of extracting unique textiles and materials involved in weaving. Drive back to Trashigang.

Overnight in Trashigang.

Day 09: Gomphu Kora festival

After breakfast, drive for about 23 km to Gomphu Kora to witness the festival with packed picnic lunch.

Gomphu means “Meditation Cave” and Kora means “Circumambulation”. The name “Gomphu Kora” was derived from a cave formed out of a rock-face next to a temple that has been built as a tribute to this sacred site.

According to the myth, in the 8th century AD, an evil spirit named Myongkhapa escaped from Samye in Tibet when Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of the Nyingma strand of Buddhism, was spreading the Dharma in the Himalayas. Myongkhapa followed the course of the Kholongchhu stream and hidden inside a rock where Gomphu Kora stands today. The Guru followed the evil, mediated for three days inside the rock cave and finally subdued the evil.

The Guru is attributed to have said that devotees will flock to Gomphu Kora for aeons to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Enjoy the festival and free interaction with local people. People from all walks of life come together to witness the festival, dressed in their finest clothes.

After the festival return to Tashigang.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Trashigang.

 Day 10: Expedition to Trashiyangtse(Trashigang-Trashiyangtse-2Hours- 52Km )

After breakfast,drive to Tashiyangtse. This place popularly know for the wooden bowls and containers, which are said to be the best quality found in Bhutan.  Then we will visit the Arts School and the Chorten Kora. On the way to Tashiyangtse you will stop at the Gom Kora temple, located in eastern Bhutan, the monastery is approximately 52km away from Trashigang Town and is undeniably one of the most revered monasteries in Bhutan.The other name of the temple is Gomphu Kora, which denotes a sacred meditation site of Guru Rinpoche- mediation cave (Gomphu) and Circumambulation (Kora).  The Guru meditated in this temple and left a body impression on a rock, similar to that in Kurjey Lhakhang in Bumthang. Then visit the abandoned iron chain link bridge- the last remaining bridge of those built by a Tibetan bridge builder by the name of Thangthong Gyalpo in the 15th century, behind the village of Duksum.

Drive onto Tashiyangtse Dzong, established in 1992. It is one of the twenty dzongkhags (districts) in Bhutan. Drive back to Trashigang

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Trashigang.

Day 11: Trashigang-Samdrupjongkhar(7Hours-180Km)

After breakfast drive to Samdrupjongkhar, which takes about 7 hours. stop for the lunch en route. On the way visit Khaling, A very peaceful place, where weaving centre under the initiative of women association of Bhutan, Government of Bhutan is based. One can see the process of extracting unique textiles and materials involved in weaving.

Overnight at Samdrupjongkhar.

Day 12: Depart from Samdrupjongkhar

In the morning, your Advent Bhutan travel guide will see you off at Samdrupjongkhar from where you will travel to Guwahati Airport for your onward journey.

End of Tour Program

Bhutan Trip Cost for the  11 Nights 12 Days  Nomad festival Tour Itinerary

***Thank you & Tashi Delek***