Artistic Retreat

During the flight into Bhutan, one will experience breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Mount Chomolhari and Jitchu Drake in Bhutan. On arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be met by your Cypress Himalaya Tours representative and Lama G. After completion of arrival formalities, including the processing of your visa (please bring your copy) we will drive to Thimphu. After lunch explore Thimphu city.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

Today, we will drive to Kuensel Phodrang and see the second-largest seated Buddha; locals call it “Buddha Point”. In town, we will visit the Motithang Takin Preserve to meet Bhutan’s National animal, the Takin (Budorcas Taxcolor Whit). Then, we will take a trip to The Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as Traditional Arts School of Bhutan) where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts & craft of Bhutan. We’ll visit the Traditional Medicine Institute where the ancient healing arts are still practiced. You can purchase one of the world’s most beautiful postage stamps, collector’s items and postcards at face value from General Post office which is right next to Bhutan National Bank. Observe traditional paper making from Daphnia and Edgeworthia shrub to the finished product and purchase some beautiful writing sets from the factory.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

Today, we will we will drive to the North of Thimphu valley which will take us to the end of the road to the entrance to Jigme Dorji National Park, one of Bhutan’s revered wildlife sanctuaries and from there we will hike approximately an hour up to the Cheri Goemba (Meditation Centre), the monastery where the first monastic body was established in the Kingdom. We will visit Pangri Zampa Temple, which is now the seat of the monastic college of astrology. We can get an astrology reading at the college. Visit Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in the memory of our third king, a multi-storied stupa that will introduce you to the vitality of Tantric Buddhism. In the evening we will have a leisure time in the city.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

On the way to Punakha is the Dochu la pass (10006ft) from where a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain ranges can be seen, especially on clear winter days. The beauty of this place will capture your heart by the sight of The Druk Wangyel Chorten, a 108 stupas built for the well being of all sentient beings by the eldest queen mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. Punakha has a temperate climate and its rich fertile valley is fed by the Phochu (Male River) and Mochu (Female River) rivers. We’ll visit the Punakha Dzong built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (the unifier of Bhutan) in 1637. It stands majestically at the junction of the two rivers, Phochu (Male River) and Mochu (Female River).

Overnight Punakha (4624ft)

This day we will hike to Chimmi Lhakhang, most popularly known as the temple of fertility. The temple was built in the 15th century as a dedication to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, known as the divine mad man and considered one of Bhutan’s favorite saints. The hike to this temple will take us through a village surrounded by beautiful rice fields and it will take us only 50 minutes (round trip). We’ll visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, consecrated on 14th October 2010. The nunnery comprises a double storied temple, a chorten resembling Nepal’s Boudhanath Stupa and a nunnery complex. Evening explore Punakha town.

Overnight Punakha (4624ft)

Upon arrival, check into your hotel, have lunch with our Master Artist and after lunch the artist will talk about the arts and crafts of Bhutan. Evening there will be a guest lecturer.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

The heart of the retreat is spent sketching and painting your own Thangka of your choice.

“The art of Thangka Painting is passed down from generation to generation and it’s dates back over two centuries in Bhutan. The Bhutanese consider its practice an act of reverence and devotion, as the painters themselves accumulate merit and influence their karma.”

We will drive from Thimphu to Paro and spend the day visiting the Tibetan style stupa, Dumtse lhakhang which was built in the mid fourteen century. We’ll visit the Rimpung Dzong to see the painting of the great saint Milarepa, considered as the master of meditation by the Bhutanese and believed to have attained enlightenment in a lifetime. Dzongs are large monasteries and district administrative centers, which were once strategic forts. We will also visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan dating back to 7th century.

Overnight – Paro (7478ft)

After an early breakfast, we will hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktshang Goemba). The trip is an uphill walk of about three hours and an hour and half hike to the café where there is also clear vantage view where you can enjoy the stunning view of the monastery. The legend of Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest/Lair) evolves form Tantric mythology when, in 747 AD, Guru Rimpochhe (Padma Sambhava) chose a cave on this sheer rock face to meditate and, assuming his wrathful form, Guru Dorji Droloe, he subdued the local deity, converting into spiritual protector of Taktshang. Some people living in the valley saw the tigress lying by the cave and thought to be tiger’s lair. Thus, the name tak (tiger) tshang (lair) came into existence and became one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Buddhist world. For Bhutanese; we have to visit this monastery once in a life time. In the evening, we will enjoy a farewell banquet in the hotel with our master artist, and enjoy the finished work of the artistic retreat with the display of thangkas we’ve made in an art walk.

Overnight-Paro (7478ft)