Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is a Travelers Paradise. Nestled in the Himalayas, this country is almost hidden. It’s a country of mountains and valleys. The journey to this beautiful place starts with the incredible views of snow peaked Himalayas as the plane touches Bhutan. This country so full of beauty and tranquility where the people are happy, there is zero pollution, landscape is stunning that, it is so easy to forget the pressures of city life and disconnect yourself from the clutches of modernization and reconnect with your inner self. Here is a list of the things to do in Bhutan that make this place so special.
Places to Visit in Bhutan
Thimphu
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and hence it is the commercial and government center. Thimphu is also modernized as compared to other parts of Bhutan with banks, ATMs, restaurants and cafes lining the streets. The only traffic signal in Bhutan is in Thimphu. In-spite of all this, the culture and traditions are reflected in the people living here. Their main festival is the Tshechu, which is a four-day festival where masked dancers perform.
Paro
The historical city of Paro lies in the western part of Bhutan. Paro lies in the confluence of Paro Chhu and Wang Chhu rivers. The beautiful green landscape of Paro is dotted with traditionally built houses. It is scattered with heritage monuments and many religious sites. The main street is lined with shops and restaurants built in the traditional architectural style. This is the city that is best covered by foot. There are many attractions in Paro like The Tiger’s Nest and the Paro Dzong or the Rinpung Dzong.
Punakha
Punakha is the most beautiful city in Bhutan. It lies at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan till 1955. This is where the King’s Coronation ceremony takes place and where the present king got married. The first National Assembly was also held here. Punakha houses the most iconic Dzong in Bhutan called the Punakha Dzongkhag. Punakha is warm and sunny compared to other parts of Bhutan. The valley is fertile and you can see vast rice fields making a beautiful landscape. Do not forget to try out River Rafting here.
Bumthang
Bumthang means “Beautiful Fields”. Bumthang lies in central Bhutan. This is the most historical district in Bhutan. It has many ancient religious sites and temples. It comprises of four major valleys Chokhor, Tang, Ura and Chhume. Chokhor Valley has all the major Dzongs and temples and it is the largest one so it’s also called Bumthang Valley. The scenic glaciers and amazing landscape ensures many visitors.
Also Read: Complete Guide to Bhutan Family Holidays
Major Attractions in Bhutan
Tigers Nest Temple
This is the landmark of Bhutan. Paro Taktsang or Tiger’s Nest is a sacred Monastery perched 900 meters above the ground on a cliff in the upper Paro Valley. This place is so stunning that no trip to Bhutan will ever be complete without a visit here. Built in 1692, it still functions as a monastery and a Himalayan Buddhist temple. According to the legend, in the 7th century, Guru Rinpoche, rode to this cave from Tibet atop a tigress and meditated here for 3 years, 3 months and 3 days to defeat the demon that was living within the cave.
Trekking to the Tiger’s Nest is one of the most sought after attractions in Bhutan. It is an average level trek. The trek is about 4.5 kms long and takes about 5 – 7 hours to complete. There is a cafeteria midway if you want to catch a few breaths. The awesome view of the temple from the top is definitely worth the effort.
Dordenma Buddha
Atop a hill in Thimphu sits this 169 feet gigantic Buddha statue. In fact it is the first thing that catches your eye when you reach Thimphu. What’s more surprising is that is houses more than 125000 small Buddha statues inside. Dordenma Buddha statue was constructed to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Bhutan’s fourth King. Its made up of bronze with gold plating.
Dochula Pass
This place is engulfed in misty Himalayas about 20 kms from Timphu. The Dochula Pass, located at an elevation of 3100 meters is surrounded by snow covered Himalayan peaks. Apart from the location what makes this place stunning is the 108 memorials or stupas built in the memory of the Bhutanese soldiers. This place is usually covered on the way to Punakha. Since it is located at high altitude, this place is usually foggy and chilly.
Kyichu Lhakhang
Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the important Buddha temples in Bhutan. according to the legend, there was a demon who was hindering the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayan region. So temples were built on specific points of the demons body to slain it. This temple was constructed in the 7th century and is believed to be one of the oldest and most sacred temples in Bhutan. There are two orange trees in the courtyard of this temple which are always laden with fruits all year round. Another striking feature about this temple is the number of prayer wheels in the yard.
Motithang Takin Preserve
Takin (Budorcas taxicolor), is an exotic animal that is found only in Bhutan. It is their National animal. The origin of Takin is linked to many 15th century year old legendary stories about a Lama also called the divine mad man. The Motithang Preserve is where you can see these gorgeous animal feeding and resting in their natural habitat.
Rinpung Dzong
Paro Dzong or the Rinpung Dzong means a “Fortress on a heap of jewels”. This Dzong or Fort is the best example of Bhutanese architecture. This massive fortress rises high above the city and is easily visible from anywhere in Paro. It was built in 1644, on the orders of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It was initially the meeting hall for the National assembly but it’s now used by the religious and as well as by the local government bodies. The main chambers of this fort are closed for tourists but still its a great place to experience the beautiful architecture and stunning views of Paro from here.
Chimi Lhakhang
Chimi Lhakhang is the fertility temple of Bhutan. Lama Kunley or the Mad Saint had a different way of spreading Buddhism. He used songs and humor which was considered bizarre. Something even more bizarre was that he used a wooden phallus to bless people. He got this phallus from Tibet and it is still preserved inside the temple. Phallus, then became a symbol of fertility and people today keep it inside their homes or adorn their houses walls with paintings of it. People come to this temple to pray for fertility and are still blessed with a wooden or ivory phallus.
Places to Stay in Bhutan
Bhutan has a huge variety of staying options available that suit all budgets. Right from the super luxurious Amankora Lodges in Punakha or Le Meridien Paro Riverfront in Paro to Taj Tashi in Thimphu.
Check out the prices of Hotels and resorts in Bhutan here.
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Also Read: 10 Reasons to make Bhutan your next Holiday Destination
Hope you find this blog post on Bhutan of use to you. Do let me know if you have already visited Bhutan or if I am missing something, please contact us or comment below and I will update this blog post soon. Your comments and/or feedback are most welcome.
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