5 wonderful places to be visited in Bhutan

Thimphu

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It’s the capital of Bhutan. If you have been living in modern metro cities where modernization had completely taken over natural beauty, Thimphu is the best place to be visited in Bhutan. It will provide you with various sights of holistic combination of modernization and environmental conservation. Thimphu doesn’t have high traffics. If you’re for a pilgrimage, there are quite a number of monasteries and temples just within walking distances. Beauty of Thimphu Memorial Chorten, Majestic Tashichodzong and 169ft tall Buddha will surely treat you. There are Changangkha Lhakhang, Dechenphodrang Lhakhang, Tandin Nye, Tango Monastery, Chari Monastery, Talakha Goenpa and Dechenphug L hakhang are worth visiting for. If you’re quite bored by mundane city life and want to be away for few days, you can travel Phajoding Monastery. It is just one day walk from Thimphu and once you’re there, don’t be worried about place to stay. Monastery there receives guests with happiness. You can enjoy beauty of Thimphu from there if weather remains favourable. It will be beautiful. If you plan your visit at the time of Thimphu Tshechu and Thimphu Domchhe, it will be more wonderful for you. 

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Paro 

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Paro is often called as a rice bowl of Bhutan. You know the reasons. Paro also has a good combination of both modernization forces and natural beauty. No sight can beat the autumn season beauty of Paro valley when whole valley will be beautifully painted with ripen paddy. The moment Drukair descends at Paro Airport, you’ll feel its beauty just by looking out of window sill. We are told that there are also various farm houses where you can see, feel and live rural livings of Bhutan. You can visit Paro Taktsang, Paro Dzong, Paro National Museum, Kichu Lhakhang, Tsangchoekhor, Drugyel Dzong, Dungtse Lhakhang, Hungrel Dzong and Dongkala. There is also a festival – Paro Tshechu. Many people who visit Bhutan always see its schedule before coming Bhutan. It will also take only one and half hour for you to reach Thimphu from there. 

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Bumthang 

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If Paro is a rice bowl of Bhutan, Bumthang is called as Switzerland of Bhutan. Bumthang is also never short of places where you can enjoy the essences of Bhutan. There are quite a number of resorts that not only provide you with modern first class services but also services that are complete Bhutanese. Now there is domestic flight services from Paro. You can walk around to see rural living styles of Bhutan. Bumthang will always remain as the most sought after place for pilgrimage. It is a land blessed by Guru Padmasambawa and other highly revered Tibetan saints and sages. Tertoen Pema Lingpa, from who our Bhutan’s Wangchuk Dynasty descended, was born there. You can visit Kurje Lhakhang, Jakar Dzong, Jampa Lhakhang,Kunzangdra Lhakhang and Mebartsho (burning lake).

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Trongsa 

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Trongsa is one of the central districts of Bhutan that has the longest Dzong in the history of Bhutan. It also holds many histories of Bhutan. When Bhutan was ruled by Dual System of Governance, key position holders like Desi (secular leader) of Bhutan were either former Trongsa Penlop or Trongsa Dronyer. Once Monarchy system was introduced in Bhutan, crown prince is customarily suppose to be enthroned as Trongsa Penlop before becoming a King of Bhutan. You can also visit Trongsa Ta Dzong that stores different ancient weapons used by Bhutanese soldiers and some won by them from British Soldiers at the time of Duar war in mid nineteenth century. 

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Punakha 

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Punakha was Capital of Bhutan before shifting it Thimphu 1961. During Dual System of government, Punakha Dzongpoen (head of the district) was one of the popular leaders next to Desi. Other two Dzongpoens of Thimphu and Wangdue were at equal rank with him. Punakha Dzong was built at a confluence of two rivers; Pho chu (Male river) and Mo chu (Femal River). The Dzong was once destroyed by flood but was later renovated. The present dzong is a renovated version. Punakha not only holds many historical artifacts and data of Bhutan but is also the winter residence of Central Monastic Body of Bhutan. You can visit Nyenzigang Lhakhang, Talo Goenpa and Dala Goenpa. If your visit coincides with the schedule of Talo Tshechu, it will be more wonderful. The four queens of HM Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the fourth king of Bhutan are originally from Talo.

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