ATTRACTIONS IN BHUTAN

PARO

Paro valley is one of the most populated areas of the whole country. The valley of Paro contains a wealth of attractions and requires a few days to be properly explored. Casting a shadow across the town of Paro is the elegant and perfectly symmetrical Rinpung Dzong. Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan. Eighteen kms from Paro town on the south side of the valley are the burnt ruins of Drugyel Dzong (victorious fortress). It was from this monastery that the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century.

THIMPHU

Thimphu lies in a beautiful, wooded valley, sprawling up a hillside on the bank of the Thimphu Chhu river, and it is the only world capital without traffic lights. Despite recent development, Thimphu retains its charming, medieval feel thanks to its brightly painted, elaborately decorated facades.

Thimphu is a cornucopia of Bhutanese culture. Dominating the horizon is the imposing Trashi Chhoe Dzong(Fortress of the Glorious Religion) which was completely renovated in the 1960s to become the symbol of the capital. It now houses the offices of the king and the central monk body.

PUNAKHA

The road winds up from Simtokha Dzong into pine forest and through small villages for 20Kms and then opens miraculously onto the northern ridge of the mountain.The view over the Himalayan panoply at Dorchula Pass at 10,500 Feet is one of the most sepactacular in all Bhutan. Punakha lies about two hours drive from Dorchula down low in its valley.Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan untill 1955.Punakha Dzong was strategically built at the junction of the two rivers in the 17th Century by the first Shabdrung to serve as the religious and admininistrative centre.Punakha Dzong houses sacred temples including the Marchen where the embalmed body of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal lies in the state.

BUMTHANG

It sounds like a blues bar in America's deep south, but Bumthang is the spiritual heartland of Bhutan and home to its most ancient and precious Buddhist sites. Bumthang encompasses four major valleys; the main one, Choskhor, is home to the most important dzongs, temples and palaces. Jakar, at the foot of the Choskhor valley, is likely to be your base. Jakar Dzong, founded in 1549, is the largest in Bhutan. Further along Choskhor valley, the temple of Jampa Lhakhang was built in 659 and hosts one of the kingdom's most spectacular festivals, the Jampa Lhakhang Drup, in October.

GANGTEY / PHOBJIKHA

Towards the east of Wangdiphodrang there is an old monastery of Gangtey Gompa dating back to the 17th Century.A few Kms past the Gompa on the valley floor is the village of Phobjikha.This is the home of Black necked cranes that migrate from the arid plains in the north to pass winter in milder and loving climates.

WANGDIPHODRANG

The last town on the central highway before Bhutan, Wangdiphodrang is like an enlarged village a few well provided shops. Located towards the south of Punakha,the higher reaches of the Wangdiphodrang valley provides rich pastureland for cattle. This district is also famous for its fine bamboo work and its stone carving.