Bhutan

Into The Heart

of Dragon

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 B H U TA N
Journey to the heart of the ancient kingdom
o f t h e T h u n d e r D r a g o n s , g uided by Khandro
T h r i n l a y C h o d o n , a g e n u i n e lineage holder of
this ancient tradition.

Yo u a r e i n v i t e d t o b e a p ersonal guest of
K h a n d r o T h r i n l a y C h o d o n a s s he travels through
t h i s l a n d w i t h w h i c h s h e h a s a deep connection.
T h i s i n t i m a t e j o u r n e y o f t h e h eart will take you
f r o m t h e m a s k e d l a m a d a n cers of Bhutan’s
f a m o u s f e s t i v a l s t o t h e i n n e rmost temples of
i t s m o n a s t e r i e s a n d D z o n g s . You will see its
g i g a n t i c m o u n t a i n s , l u s c i o us rhododendron
f o r e s t s , l o c a l c r a f t e d a r c h i t e c t ure and meet local
p e o p l e f r o m h i g h R i n p o c h e s t o simple farmers.
E a t i n g l o c a l f o o d a n d m i n g l i ng with the true
h e a r t o f t h e s p i r i t u a l d e p t h o f this great country
i s t h e i n t i m a t e f o c u s o f t h i s p i l grimage.

K h a n d r o - l a i s i n a u n i q u e p o sition to show you

t h i s l a n d . S h e i s t h e c o n s o r t of the late His
H o l i n e s s N g a w a n g J i g m e , t h e ninth Shabdrung
o f B h u t a n – a n i n d i s p e n s i ble figure in the
h i s t o r y o f B h u t a n . I n a d d i t i o n she is the great
g r a n d d a u g h t e r o f t h e r e n o w ned yogi Togden
S h a k y a S h r i – a n i n t e g r a l m a s ter of the esoteric
m e d i t a t i o n l i n e a g e o f t h e T h u n der Dragons. With
h e r d e e p s p i r i t u a l k n o w l e d g e , her connections
t o t h e L a n d o f T h u n d e r D r a g o ns as well as her
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e We s t e r n world, Khandro
R i n p o c h e i s t h e p e r f e c t h o s t f o r this very special
j o u r n e y.

J o i n u s o n t h i s u n f o r g e t t a b l e j ourney

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ITINERARY
15 days from 20th Oct to 3rd Nov 2010
Day 1 (Oct 20)
Traditional greeti n g i n t h e c o o l , f r e s h m o u n t a i n a i r
then drive to th e l i v e l y c a p i t a l o f T h i m p h u ( 7 , 8 2 5 f t )
where you will s e t t l e i n t o y o u r c o s y h o t e l r o o m s .
Day 2 /3 (Oct 21/22)
Thimphu sightseei n g – y o u w i l l v i s i t t h e N a t i o n a l M e m o r i a l
stupa, and your f i r s t “ d z o n g ” o f t h e t o u r . “ D z o n g s ” a r e
magnificent region a l f o r t r e s s e s b u i l t t o h o u s e th e r e l i g i o u s
and administrative f u n c t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y ‘ s r ul e . T h e y a r e
still actively used a n d a r e a h i g h l i g h t o f a r c h i t e c t u r e a n d
art. Also visit han d i c r a f t s h o p s a n d t h e f a m o u s m o n a s t e r y
and nunnery overl o o k i n g t h e c i t y . S e e t h e n a t i o n a l a n i m a l
“takin” – wild loo k i n g c r e a t u r e , t h a t d e f i e s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n ,
Bhutan07.indd 3
w a s m i r a c u l o u s l y c r e a t e d b y y o g i D r u k p a Kunley “The Divine
M a d m a n ” b y c o m b i n i n g d i f f e r e n t a n i m a l s ! There will also be
c u l t u r a l s h o w o f s o n g a n d d a n c e o f f e r e d to Khandro-la and
her guests!
D a y 4 ( O c t 2 3 ) Thimphu to Punakha
D r i v e 7 0 k m v i a D u c h u l a P a s s w h e r e y o u can see majestic
m o u n t a i n s o n a c l e a r d a y . P u n a k h a i s t h e most fertile valley
o f B h u t a n a n d s i t s o n t h e c o n f l u e n c e o f two rivers (male
a n d f e m a l e ) . L u s h a n d f l o w i n g t h i s v a l l e y hosts good food, a
b e a u t i f u l a n d m a j e s t i c d z o n g a n d a n e x t e nded village area,
c a l l e d W a n g d u e p h o d r a n g - a d i s t r i c t f a mous for bamboo
work, stone carvings and slate.
D a y 5 (Oct 24) Punakha to Gantey to Tongsa
T o d a y w e t r a v e l u p t h e w i n d i n g m o u n t a i n road through oak
a n d r h o d o d e n d r o n f o r e s t s , a n d d o w n i n t o a glacial valley the
h o m e o f t h e b l a c k n e c k c r a n e s t h a t m i g r a te from Tibet. The
a f t e r n o o n w e d r i v e a c r o s s t h e P e l e - l a p a s s at 10,830 ft and
s t o p a t t h e C h e n d e b j i S t u p a . B u i l t i n N e p ali style it sits in a
r e m o t e p a s t u r e t o f e n d o f f a n e v i l s p i r i t . K handro-la will lead
u s i n a m e d i t a t i o n t h a t w i l l s t r e n g t h e n o ur inner and outer
j o u r n e y . T h e r o a d c o n t i n u e s t o T r o n g s a w here you first see
t h e h u g e d z o n g , s p e c t a c u l a r l y s t r e t c h e d along a ridge high
a b o v e a r a v i n e . W e l c o m e h o m e t o Y a n g k h il Resort.
D a y 6 ( O c t 2 5 ) Tongsa to Bhumthang
N o w w e a r e i n t h e h e a r t o f c e n t r a l B h u t a n a nd will explore the
m a s s i v e T o n g s a d z o n g a n d i t s w a t c h t o w er in the morning.
L a t e r w e w i n d u p t o t h e h i g h Y u t o n g - l a p ass (11155ft) then
w i n d a g a i n d o w n t h r o u g h d e n s e c o n i f e r o us forests into the
w i d e a n d o p e n c u l t i v a t e d v a l l e y k n o w n a s Chumey. This is
o u r e n t r a n c e t o B u m t h a n g , t h e f u r t h e s t e a st we travel on this
trip. Here we settle at the Mountain Lodge.
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 D a y 9 (Oct 28) Bumthang to Punakha
T h i s d a y w e r e t u r n t h r o u g h t h e m o u n t a i n s a nd via the Chorten
where we lunch to Punakha.

D a y 1 0 (Oct 29) Punakha to Paro

D r u k p a K u n l e y , t h e “ D i v i n e M a d m a n ” , w as an outrageous
yogi revered by the Bhutanese. W e hike from Lobsea
v i l l a g e t h r o u g h a b e a u t i f u l v a l l e y t o v i s i t Chimey temple to
r e c e i v e b l e s s i n g s f r o m h i s p r e c i o u s o b j ects. The phallus
i s o n e s u c h s y m b o l , w h i c h y o u o f t e n s e e in Bhutan! It will
t a k e o n l y a f e w s t o r i e s a b o u t h i m t o u n derstand why the
B h u t a n e s e r e v e r e h i m , t a k i n g b l e s s i n g s of his power and
f e r t i l i t y ! I n t h e a f t e r n o o n w e d r i v e t o P a r o with its beautiful
l o c a l a r c h i t e c t u r e , r e d r i c e f i e l d s , s h o p p i n g and temples.

D a y 1 1 (Oct 30) Paro Sightseeing

P a r o v a l l e y a n d i t s p i c t u r e s q u e t o w n i s crowned by Mt.
Day 7/8 (Oct 26/27) Bumthang C h o m o l h a r i a t i t s n o r t h e r n e n d . I t s g l a c i al waters flow into
t h e c l e a r P a r o R i v e r t h r o u g h d e e p g o r g e s . Drukgyel Dzong,
This central relig i o u s h e a r t l a n d , w h i c h c o m p r i s e s f o u r
w a s b u i l t b y t h e f i r s t S h a b d r u n g i n 1 6 4 6 , to commemorate
valleys, is home t o s o m e o f t h e o l d e s t t e m p l es i n B h u t a n
h i s v i c t o r y o v e r T i b e t a n s . T a d z o n g i s actually a round
and stories of Gur u R i n p o c h e ( 8 t h c e n t u r y ) a r e l e g e n d a r y .
w a t c h t o w e r , w h i c h n o w h o u s e s t h e N a t i o n al Museum and its
In these monaster i e s w e w i l l w i t n e s s t h e f a m o u s f e s t i v a l
c o l l e c t i o n o f a r t , r e l i c s , s p i r i t u a l t h a n g k a paintings, coins,
dances. Lamas per f o r m m a s k e d d a n c e s f o r s p i r i t u a l p u r p o s e s
s t a m p s a n d h a n d i c r a f t s . T h e R i n p u n g d z ong, also built by
that will be explain e d a n d y o u n g m o n k s b e c o m e c l o w n s w h o
t h e f i r s t S h a b d r u n g , l i e s o n a h i l l a n d i ts entrance is via
entertain all. Jam b e y L h a k h a n g ( t e m p l e ) w a s o n e o f 1 0 8
a w o o d e n b r i d g e a n d a s t o n e p a t h t h a t r uns alongside the
monasteries built t o s u b d u e e v i l s p i r i t s i n t h e H i m a l a y a s ,
i m p o s i n g o u t e r w a l l s . P a r o i s a g l o r i o u s place to relax and
Kuje Lhakhang (tem p l e ) h a s t h e b o d y p r i n t o f G ur u R i n p o c h e
enjoy the culmination of our Bhutan visit.
and is surrounded b y a b e a u t i f u l c h o r t e n w a l l . T a m s h i n g
was founded by tr e a s u r e r e v e a l e r , P e m a L i n g p a a n d h a s
D a y 1 2 (Oct 31) Taktsang Monastery in Paro
beautiful paintings . J a k a r D z o n g , b u i l t i n 1 5 4 9 i s u s e d t o d a y
as an administratio n c e n t r e a n d h o u s e s m o n k s . “ T i g e r s N e s t ” i s a v e r y s a c r e d p l a c e o f pilgrimage. It is
p e r c h e d o n t h e e d g e o f a c l i f f 9 0 0 f e e t a b o ve the Paro valley.
G u r u R i n p o c h e f l e w h e r e o n t h e b a c k o f a t igress. The power
o f h i s m e d i t a t i o n c a n s t i l l b e f e l t a t t h i s p o werful holy site

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 Day 13 (Nov 1) Excursion to Haa valley
T h i s d a y b e g i n s w i t h d r i v e t o C h e l e - l a pass (12,600feet)
f a m o u s f o r i t s m o u n t a i n v i e w s . T h e n w e drive down into
t h e v e r y s p e c i a l H a a v a l l e y , w h i c h i s f r i n ged by three hills,
e a c h r e p r e s e n t i n g a d i f f e r e n t d e i t y . W e p i cnic, see the black
a n d w h i t e t e m p l e s , m e d i t a t e , r e f l e c t a n d enjoy! The Black
L h a k h a n g i s s a i d t o b e n o d i f f e r e n t t h a n that of the Lhasa
Jowo in Tibet.

D a y 1 4 ( N o v 2 ) P a r o s i g h t s e e i n g , s h o p p i n g and farewells

D a y 1 5 ( N o v 3 ) E a r l y m o r n i n g b r e a k f a s t and transfer to
a i r p o r t f o r h o m e w a r d b o u n d f l i g h t s t o D e l hi or Bangkok, via
Calcutta.

ABOUT THIS ITINERARY

T h i s i s a p i l g r i m a g e a n d i s a b o u t a n i n n er journey of the
h e a r t – s o p l e a s e g i v e h o l i d a y t o y o u r judgemental and
c r i t i c a l m i n d a n d c o m e e n j o y w i t h a n o p e n heart!

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t o u r i t i n e r a r y a s s e t o ut below, Khandro
R i n p o c h e w i l l o f f e r m e d i t a t i o n , o u r g r o u p will raise prayer
f l a g s o n h i g h p a s s e s , m a k e o f f e r i n g s f o r ceremonies and
b l e s s i n g s a t v a r i o u s h o l y s i t e s , a n d w e w i l l have opportunities
t o m e e t a n d s h a r e w i t h s p i r i t u a l l e a d e rs and the local
c o m m u n i t y i n t h e i r o w n c u l t u r e . W e t r a v el with respect to
t h e l a n d a n d t h e p e o p l e a n d p r o c e e d s f r o m this tour will be
u t i l i s e d f o r c o m m u n i t y p r o j e c t s i n m e m o ry of the late His
H o l i n e s s , N g a w a n g J i g m e , t h e n i n t h S h a bdrung. (Khandro-
la’s husband).

Truly a Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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 C O S T:
15 days 20th Oct - 3rd Nov 2010
AUD $4700
Price includes twin share hotel accommodation,
all transport and food. Also includes donations
to monasteries visited and a donation to
“Khachodling” which engages in community
projects in memory of Khandro-la’s husband,
the late Ngawang Jigme, the ninth Shabdrung
of Bhutan.
Cost is ex Paro.
All international flights to and from Paro are an
i n d i v i d u a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y.
Deposit of $2000 due by 1st August 2010
For Registration and more information:
Main Contact : Jane Miknius
Email : jane@khachodling.org
Australia Contact : Robyn North Zaman
Cell: 0416 165 922 Home: 02- 98100026
Journey to the heart of the ancient kingdom
o f t h e T h u n d e r D r a g o n s , g u i d e d b y Khandro
T h r i n l a y C h o d o n , a g e n u i n e l i n e a g e holder of
this ancient tradition.
Bhutan07.indd 6
K H A N D R O T H R I N L AY C H O D O N
is a lay female Buddhist
practitioner and teacher who was
born in the Indian Himalayas to
a f a m i l y o f g r e a t Ti b e t a n y o g i s .
H e r g r e a t g r a n d f a t h e r To g d e n
Shakya Shri is renowned all
over the Himalayas, including
Bhutan.Khandro Rinpoche has
since childhood been fully
trained in her lineage and she
later married His Holiness the ninth Shabdrung of Bhutan,
living with him in exile and serving all his activites with full
dedication, till his early demise in 2003.
Khandro Rinpoche holds a Masters Degree in East-West
Psychology from the United States. She is devoted to
bringing the wisdom of her ancient tradition alive in our
modern world. She focuses on spirituality in daily life.
After the passing of her late husband Khandro-la’s life’s
work and vision “Khachodling” engages in spiritual and
humanitarian projects in the remote Indian Himalayas.
“Khachodling” translates as a place where the heart
essence of wisdom, known as the feminine principle in
Buddhism, is nourished and respected.
Khandro-la is the embodiment of warmth and humanness
and her teachings skilfully inspire us to deepen our
awareness and courageously expand into the path of
wisdom, joy and compassion.
For more information on Khandro Thrinlay Chodon and her
Khachodling organisation please visit her website :
w w w. k h a c h o d l i n g . o r g
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