Places to See in Bhutan
Paro
This picturesque place is located 2,250 m above sea level. Water from 'five sisters' converge to form the Paro Chu River, which flow beside Paro Valley. The only airport in Bhutan is situated in this small town.
You can visit many places here such as Kyichu Lhakhang, Drukgyel Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, Ta Dzong, Chelela pass, Ugyen Pelri Palace, Taktshang Lhakhang, Haa Valley, Dungtse Lhakhang, and Kila Goemba. Taktshang Goemba, Drukyel Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, and Rinpung Dzong are some of the most important buildings that showcase the traditional architecture of Paro.
The best time to visit Paro is during spring and autumn. If you want to get an affordable stay, you can opt for summer and winter travel packages. You can take bus, taxi, or flight to reach here. Public transport as well as taxis can be availed to go around the city.
Taktsang Monastery
It is popularly called The Tiger's Nest and is located in the upper valley of Paro. This temple was first built by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye in the year 1692, and has now become an iconic structure of Bhutan. Interestingly the seven temples are built around a cave, where Padmasambhava is believed to have meditated after coming from Tibet during the 8th century. Paro Taktsang is the most popular among the 13 tigers lair caves in which Guru Padmasambhava had meditated. The Tsechu festival is celebrated in Paro during March-April every year. This festival is held in the honor of Padmasambhava.
Phuentsholing
This town is situated near the border of Bhutan. Here, you will find the housing projects of Bhutan for Bhutanese refugees too. Anyone who wants to visit Bhutan from India by road has to come through Phuentsholing. It is located in Chukha District of Bhutan. Due to increasing cross-border trade between India and Bhutan, the local economy has improved significantly. In fact, rise of commerce here has led the Bank of Bhutan to choose Phuentsholing as their preferred place for its headquarters. Due to bustling commerce, this place is more urban than any other place of Bhutan. It should be pointed out that unlike its neighbour this place is more orderly and relatively quieter.
Thimphu
It is the capital city of Bhutan and is situated 7,600 feet above sea level. It looks marvelous to see the Thimphu Chhu River that flows beside this city. Thimphu has already embraced modernity in all senses but has also tried every bit of it to preserve its architecture, art, and culture. Many festivals are celebrated throughout the year and some of the most popular ones are Nine Evils Day, Blessed Rainy Day, Guru Padmasambhava's birthday, Thimphu Domchey, Yar Nyidlok, Buddha Parinirvana, and others. As souvenirs, you can collect silk clothes, papier-mache masks, woven wool products, decorative motifs, rings, ornaments, and prayer wheels from local shops and Handicrafts Emporium. As a tourist you can enjoy visiting Memorial Chorten, Simtokha Dzong, Stupa, Dechen Phodrang Monastery, Cheri Goempa, Changangkha Lhakhang, and Tashicho Dzong. You can also explore your adventurous self by experiencing river rafting, wildlife excursions, hiking, and trekking here. Fall and spring are the best time to visit Thimphu.
Trashi Chhoe Dzong
It is one of the most beautiful dzongs present in Bhutan, located on the west bank of Wang Chhu. This is the place where the colorful Tsechu festival is organized every year. In the year 2008, Trashi Chhoe Dzong was the place where the fifth king was formally crowned. Chhogyel Sherab Wangchuck, the thirteenth Druk Desi, enlarged Trashi Chhoe Dzong for accommodating monks and civil officials.
The original dzong was located above this, which was destroyed in the year 1771 by fire. After making Thimphu the capital of Bhutan, the king enlarged the dzong and also renovated it. Currently, it houses the king's offices, the ministry of home affair?s, finance ministry, throne room, and the secretariat.
Bumthang
The first thing you will like about this place is its individuality. This place is a highly religious one and comprises 4 smaller valleys such as Chumey, Choekhor, Ura, and Tang. Bumthang is the traditional home of Pema Linga, one of the greatest Buddhist teachers. This place is also known as Jakar Valley, which is situated between the altitudes 2,600 m (8,530 ft) and 4,500 m (14,765 ft).
If this place is in your itinerary, don't forget to visit some of the most popular places such as Jambay Lhakhang, Kurje Lhakhang, Jakar Dzong, Tamshing Lhakhang, Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery, Chankhar Lhakhang, and Konchogsum Lhakhang.
Excursions can also be done from this place and some of the places of significance include Ura Valley, Ngang Lhakhang, Tangbi Goemba, Kunzangdrak Goemba, Membartsho, Tang Valley, Pelseling Goempa, Ugyenchholing Palace, and Tang Rimochen Lhakhang
Punakha
Till 1955, this place was the capital of Bhutan. Currently it is the administrative center of one of the twenty districts of the country, Punakha dzongkhag. Traveling by road to the current capital, Thimphu, will take 3 hours. This place is warmer than the capital city. In fact, during summer, you will literally feel the heat. Its altitude is far less than the other prominent cities. Punakha is just 1,200 m above sea level. The main produce of this place is rice, grown along Mo Chu and Pho Chu, the two prominent rivers here.
One of the most beautiful dzongs, Pungthang Dewachen Phodrang, is situated here. It was built in the year 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The first king, Ugyen Wangchuck, was coronated at Punakha Dzong in the year 1907.
Haa Valley
It is counted among the most beautiful places in Bhutan, which is spread over 1,706 sq. km area. In the year 2002, this picturesque valley was opened for foreign tourists. There are many places for the tourists to visit. You can visit the temples, Lhakhang Nagpo and Lhakhang Karpo, situated at the foothill of the mountain Meri Puensum. From 8th to 10th of every eighth month of Bhutanese calendar Haa Tshechu festival is organized at Lhakhang Karpo, also known as the White Temple. You can also visit Haa Wangchuklo Dzong, which was built in the year 1915. Some of the places that require you to walk some distance is Haa Goempa, Jamtoe Goempa, Drana Trashidingkhag, Juneydrag, Takchu Goempa, Shelkardrag, Yangto Goempa, and Katsho Goempa. If you want to enjoy wide variety of legends, rituals, and folk culture, Haa Valley is the place where you should be. Nature lovers will simply love this place because of the scenic beauty.
Taktsang Temple
It is also known by the names Taktsang Palphug Monastery, or Paro Taktsang, or The Tiger's Nest. It is one of the most sacred and famous Buddhist sites in the entire Himalayan range. In the year 1692 a temple complex was built around the sacred cave where Guru Padmasambhava meditated for more than 3 years. It is due to this great teacher that Buddhism spread all over Bhutan. His place is renowned for thirteen tigers lair or 'taktsang' caves. Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye built a temple for Padmasambhava, Guru mTshan-brgyad Lhakhang, which later became Bhutan's cultural icon. In the Paro valley, Tsechu festival is celebrated every year during March or April.
Last Updated on : 01/10/2013
