Place To Visit

 

If you are flying into the kingdom of Bhutan, your first hallucination of the country will be Paro valley, as you descend between the mountains to the country's only airport, which in itself is an experience when you see how close the mountains are and how sharp the descent is!
One of the main attractions in Paro is the Paro Dzong. The Paro Dzong was built in 1646, this Dzong now is the office of the district Administration and district monastic body One can see the Bhutanese traditional wooden bridge in ancient style on the way to the Dzong. The National Museum (Ta Dzong) just above the Dzong, which used to be a watchtower for the Dzong. This National Museum is collective of all kinds of costumes, relics, religious paintings, handicrafts, national stamps and animals in Bhutan.
Drugyal Dzong (Victorious Fortress), which was built in 1646 where Bhutan has victory over Tibetan invasion during the 1600s. On a clear day one can get a spectacular view of Mt Jhomolhari, the second-highest mountain at 7,329 meters.
Kyichu Monastery, (Lhakhang means temple) is the oldest monastery in the country, built in the 659 AD, by the King Songtsen Gompo of Tibet as one of the 108 such monasteries he built in various places to spread Buddhism. It is located between Paro Town and Drugyal Dzong. It is one of the holiest place in the country, as it marks the advent of Buddhism in the country.
Taktsang Monastery. (Taktsang means “Tiger’s Nest "). This is most famous monastery in the country. The Monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff drop of nearly 4000 ft. and overlooks the Paro valley and the river. It is said that in the second half of the 8th century, Guru Padma Sambhava known as the second Buddha in Bhutan meditated on this spot where the Monastery is situated having alighted there on the back of a flying tigress and now this sacred shrine for Bhutanese pilgrims.

 

  Thimphu

 

 

Thimphu is the capital city, therefore the most populated district in the country, with about 60,000 people. Many of the sights in the town, visit monasteries, and handicrafts, can be reached on foot, you can spend several days in Thimphu easily visiting all sights. This is a good way to understand the culture, traditions and see the lifestyle of the Bhutanese Societies. As you meander through the streets, you will come across with the different style of traffic lights in the town.
Tashichho Dzong, the main secretariat building. This massive structure houses part of the government Ministries, the office of the King and the Throne Room. It also houses the Central Monastic Body and the living quarters of the Chief Abbot and the senior monks.


Textile Museum you will see a beautiful display of the garments worn by the Bhutanese from the 1600s up to the present.


Folk Heritage Museum lets you explore a traditional Bhutanese home and teaches you about the daily life of the rural folk.


The National Library holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and contains arguably the best collection of religious and historical literature in the Himalayas.


Wood Craft and Painting school where traditional arts and crafts are still kept alive through the instructions of painting and curving.


Simtokha Dzong on a lofty ridge. Built in 1627, the Simtokha Dzong is the oldest fortress and also houses the School of Buddhist Studies.
The weekend market is a must, for it is there that you'll see the variety of food of the country, including basket upon basket of fiery chilies, fresh cheese, and mangoes etc. You may also see some less-familiar products, such as ferns. In addition, many stalls contain Bhutanese handicrafts and household items. It's fun to meander the aisles, taking in the lively atmosphere of the market.


There are many attractions in and around Thimphu Valley, including, monasteries, a mini zoo, archery fields, restaurants, handicraft shops, a traditional paper factory, a radio tower (which will give you a spectacular view of Thimphu valley), the National Institute of Traditional Medicine and the Memorial Chorten built in memory of the third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1974.
  Punakha
Drive to Punakha the former capital of Bhutan through Dochula Pass (3150m). On the way stop for a photo stop at Dochula Pass which is 26km away from Thimphu valley, and for Tea and snacks and to enjoy the most spectacular view of eastern Himalayan snow capped Mountains and also the great view of Gasa Dzong at a distance (If weather is clear) and also you can see 108 small chorten which make more beautiful around Dochula Pass. You will be amalgamating into the dense forest of pines.

Chime Lhakhang, located on a hillock among the rice field and is a pilgrimage for childless couple.

The journey continues through varying scenes of greenery all the way to Punakha. Visit Punakha town. The Punakha Dzong lies between two great rivers with the wonderful view of Punakha Dzong. The names of the rivers are Phochu (Male River) and Mochu (Female River). This Dzong serves as the winter residence for the Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body and also the office of the district Administration. This Dzong was built in 1637.
  Wangdue Phodrang
Sitting on the top of a hill the formidable Dzong is the town's most visible features. In the 17th century Wangdue played a critical role in unifying western, central and southern Bhutan. The town itself is little more than an enlarged village with well-provided shops and hotels.

Wangdue to Trongsa roads is one of the prettiest in Bhutan passing streams, forests and villages before ascending the Pelela Pass on the Black Mountain ranges into the Trongsa valley. South of the highway is the Gangtey Gompa an old monastery dating from the 17th century. About an hour drive one can get wonderful view of Phubjikha valley is the homes of the endangered Black Necked Cranes who migrate to Bhutan from Central Asia in winter.
  Trongsa
Trongsa Dzong is one of the largest Dzong in the country. The town is located in the center of Bhutan. The town has most charming among of all Bhutanese towns. The town's vista is traditional in appearance as the wooden slatted houses line up together on the side of the hill.

The Royal Family has strong links with Trongsa. Both the first and the second king ruled the kingdom from Trongsa's ancient Dzong. The Crown Prince of Bhutan normally holds the position of Trongsa Penlop prior to ascending the throne.
  Bumthang
Bumthang is the largest valley in the Kingdom, and it is separated by Yutongla Pass. Composed of four beautiful valleys, the deeply spiritual region of Bumthang is shrouded in religious fable. Sometime people considered to be like a Switzerland. Jakar (white bird) Dzong is situated on the top of the hill and it gives the spectacular view of Chamkhar valley. Tales of Guru Padma Sambhava dominate these holy shrines. The valley is home to the sacred Jambay, Kurjey, Tamshing, Kenchosum and other monasteries. Bumthang is also the traditional home to the great Buddhist teacher Pema Lingpa to whom, the present monarchy traces it ancestral lineage. The town of Jakar is the largest between Thimphu in the west and Trashigang in the east. Jakar is famous for its honey, cheese, apples and apricots. Bumthang is also famous for yathra which is a unique material woven from sheep wool, intricately designed and colored to form wonderful patterns. Bumthang Tsechu (festival) is the most popular Tsechu in the country apart from Paro and Thimphu Tsechu.;
  Mongar and Lhuntse
Mongar is a small eastern town located towards the side of the mountain, and Kurichu (river) has enormous capacity to generate the electricity. Mongar has a modern Dzong compared to other part of the kingdom. Lhuentse is 77 kilometers from Mongar and is one of the most isolated districts in the Kingdom. The landscape is spectacular with desolate cliffs and gorge and dense coniferous forests. The region is notably famous for its weavers and special textiles and fabrics, generally considered to be the best in the country. The Kurtoe region of Lhuentse is also the ancestral home of the Royal dynasty.
  Trashigang and Yangtse
The little town of Trashigang is on the top of mountain. The town remains the center of religious and secular activity in the east and is a growing commercial center. The 17th century Dzong is built on the top of a cliff on the edge of town. Trashigang is also used as the market place of the nomadic people of Merak and Sakteng who are known for their unusually sharp features and for their costumes which are brightly colored and different from customary Bhutanese clothing. Trashi Yangtse offers exciting trekking opportunities and is one of the two locations where the endangered Black Necked Cranes can be spotted in winter. Trashi Yangtse is also famous for the Chorten Kora, which is one of the only two chortens built in the typical Nepalese style as prophesied by Guru Rinpoche. Trashi Yangtse is also famous to the traditional Bhutanese woodcrafts.
  The South East and South West
Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar road was completed in the early 1960s and allows the eastern half of the country to access the benefit from the trade in the south as well as providing a border crossing to India. It is possible to exit Bhutan Samdrup Jongkhar to Phuentsholing via the Indian territories. The drive passes from Trashigang through Kanglung, a small town where Bhutan's only college, Sherubtse the highest level of education in Bhutan is located. Further south along the road is Khaling where one can visit a weaving center and a blind. The road descends fairly abruptly downhill through the thick sub tropical forest before arriving at Samdrup Jongkhar. This town is small and bustling and acts as a commercial town for eastern regions and entry and exit point in the southeast to India. Phuentsholing is the commercial border town for southwest and can be used as an exit point from Bhutan.