Morning drive to beautiful Gangtey valley via Wangdiphodrang Dzong strategically located on a ridge 4,430 ft that overlooks the highway that fork to the east and south of the country. This is an old town with Narrow Street with single storied shops and also the gateway to central and eastern Bhutan. The legend Mahakala, the protective deity of Bhutan appeared to tell Zhabdrung of prediction, saying “at top of rocky spur where two rivers meet, at the place where a flock of raven will fly off in four directions, you will build the Dzong”. The Zhabdrung built the Dzong in 1638 and Punakha/Wangdi valleys are also the winter home for many of the high altitude farmers who migrate with their cattle to the warm climate. The Gangtey valley is one of the most beautiful open valleys in Bhutan and is the winter home to the endangered black necked cranes (Grus Nigricllis) which migrate to this valley around mid-November from Tibet. These cranes have for centuries captured the human imagination with their intelligence, poise, sociality, beauty and freedom which have given rise to several myths, legends, folktales and songs. The birds fly back across the Himalayas to their summer home towards Tibet and China. The Gangtey village is small dominated by the yellow roofed Gangtey monastery.
Late noon return to Punakha. O/n at Punakha / Wangdi