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If you are flying into Bhutan , your first vision 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. It was built in 1646 and now houses government offices and religious institutions, as do all the dzongs (forts) currently. You'll cross a traditional wooden bridge on the way to the dzong. On the hill above the dzong is the National Museum , which used to be a watchtower (ta dzong) for the dzong. It contains a collection of art, costumes, relics, religious paintings, handicrafts, and national stamps. Not far from the town center is Kyichu Monastery, which is the oldest monastery in the country, built in the 7th century.
Another nearby attraction is Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan 's most famous monastery. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong in Lhuntse to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley . The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion. You will want to visit the Drugyel Dzong (Bhutan Victory Fort), which was built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan 's victory over Tibetan invaders during the 1600s. On a clear day you can see Mount Jumolhari , Bhutan 's second-highest mountain at 7,329 meters, from the village below the dzong. There is also an assortment of shops and handicraft stores to peruse in Paro town. |
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| Festivals (Tshechus) are held in Bhutan through out the year at different locations. These festivals are celebrations of faith, legends, myths and history of Bhutan in ancient rituals of colourful dance and music. The most popular for tourists are those held in Thimphu, Paro and Bumthang. They mark the busiest time of the year for tourism and reservation are difficult to come by festival time is one of the only periods during a year when tourists are permitted inside the courtyard of the Dzongs. |
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| Paro valley is one of the most populated areas of the whole country. From a Buddhist’s point of view, Paro was the first stop for Guru Rimpoche on his crusade from Tibet to Bhutan over one thousand years ago. |
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General Information
