A Bhutanese wedding is so much more than an exchange of rings and vows. 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, which is performed by the monks before arriving at the temple. During ceremony, the 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 the sense of smell and grains added to the fumigation are to quell the 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 the 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 symbolizes 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 ZhudreyPuensumTshogpa, which is considered to be very auspicious. The ceremony ends with the DharNaynga offering of five colored scarves to the bride and groom for long and prosperous life.

Day 1: Paro – Paro

After you arrive in Paro international airport, you will be received by our representative.

Overnight sThe flight into Paro on Druk Air/Bhutan airlines (only international flight) is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of Bhutan. If the weather is clear you can see magnificent views of the peaks, give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land on arrival at Paro international airport.tay in hotel, Paro.

Day 2: Paro – Paro (Traditional Wedding Ceremony Day)

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

In Bhutanese traditional marriage the bride and groom dress up in expensive hand woven silk costumes called Gho and Kira. The marriage ceremony begins 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 include KyichuLhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king SongtsenGonpo, it is one of the oldest temple in Bhutan. Later we will visit the ruins of DrugyelDzong, which kept at bay invasions from Tibet in the 17th century. There you can spend some time taking photograph of the scenery and also of newly married couple with nature. After lunch we will then ParoRinpungDzong. Under the command of ZhabdrungNgawangNamgyal the dzong was built in 1646 and it was established as administrative and monastic center of the western region and it became known as RinpungDzong (meaning Heap of Jewels). The dzong is listed as the tentative site in Bhutan’s Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion. Later we will visit Ta Dzong, it was established in 1968, in the renovated ancient Ta-dzong building under the command of His Majesty, the king JigmeDorjiWangchuk. It houses some of the finest specimens of Bhutanese art, including masterpieces of bronze statues and painting. Suitable galleries were constructed to house the extensive collections. The works of art are elegantly displayed on scientific lines.

Overnight stay in hotel, Paro.

Day 3: Paro – Thimphu

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

On arrival in Thimphu, we will visit the National Memorial Chorten, dedicated to prosperity and world peace. 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 the Buddha point to see the Buddha Stupa and get a bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley. It is popularly known as the “Buddha Point” where a statue of the Buddha measuring 54 meters tall sits above the Thimphu valley

Also visit the National Institute of ZorigChusum, is the center for Bhutanese Art education. It was set up by the Government of Bhutan with the sole objective of preserving the rich culture and tradition of Bhutan and training students in all the traditional arts forms. The curricula cover a comprehensive course of drawing, painting, wood and slate craving, embroidery, sculptures, weaving and paper making. And the Folk Heritage Museum, which was opened in 2001 from the initiative of founder Her Majesty the queen mother DorjiWangmoWangchuk. The Museum is housed in a 3-storyed 19th century traditional rammed mud and timber house aged more than 150 years. Later in the evening we shall visit TashichhoeDzong the “Fortress of Auspicious Religion” where today like most of the other fortresses in Bhutan serves as the Administrative and Religious Center.

Day 4: Thimphu – Punakha

After breakfast, we drive out of Thimphu and to Punakha. Along the way we will drive by the Dochulapass, where 108 stupas were built as a war monument after the 2003 war in the southern Bhutan against Indian insurgents and on the clear day you will see the Himalayan mountain ranges. Later after lunch we will hike to ChimiLhakhang (temple) also known popularly as the “fertility temple”. This temple is reputed for granting children to couples who come to seek blessings for a child. People coming to this temple are blessed with a wooden phallus with a silver handle and the bow and arrows of the famous 15thcentury Buddhist saint called “DrukpaKuenley” to whom this temple is dedicated. Then we will directly check into the hotel. After resting for some time then we will visit VisitPunakhaDzong located in between two rivers, mo Chu (Female River) from its left and pho Chu (Male River) from its right, it was built in 1637 by ZhabdrungNgawangNamgyel in commanding position at the confluence. The Dzong was called DrukPungthangDecchenPhodrang (the palace of Great Happiness) in olden days and arguably the country’s most attractive Dzong.

Day 5: Punakha – Paro

Today after breakfast we will drive back to Paro, where we will be spending whole day taking pictures. We will be stopping at Botanical Park on the way for some leisure time taking pictures. We will be stopping on various locations for photographs. After lunch at Paro we shall drive towards Chelela pass, one of the highest Motorable passes in Bhutan for more photographs. You can wear the traditional dress for photographs or you can bring in your wedding dress.

Overnight stay at Paro

Day 6: Paro – Paro (Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery)

After early breakfast we will drive towards the base of Tigers nest and we will start our hike. Taktsang is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the Himalayan World. The temple itself is perched on a granite cliff that drops 2,000 feet to the valley floor. The name is derived from a legend that Guru Rinpoche flew across the mountains to this spot on the back of a tigress.

(You may bring our traditional dress or your own wedding dress to take a photograph at the tigers nest.)

Later in the evening we will arrange a Cultural Show. You will be witnessing our traditional folk dances and also mask dances which are usually performed during the famous festival called Tshechu here in Bhutan. We will arrange cultural show for you to take back home not only the memories of natural beauty of the kingdom of Bhutan but also some memories of our unique culture (songs and Dances) and traditions which you may cherish throughout your life.

Day 7: After breakfast, the driver and guide will drive you to the airport for your out bound journey.

Cost Inclusion:

All meals – American plan include English Speaking Guide for the tour All Entrance Fess of all Places of interest Internal Transport within Tour Activity: Cultural/Hiking Accommodations – minimum of 3* hotels or resorts All Government Taxes Professional Photographer

Cost Exclusion:

Travel Insurance Laundry Services Shopping and Telephone services Tipping for service providers Air fare

Tour cancellation & refund policy (please contact)