Bhutan this Buddhist Kingdom is often revered as the "Land of the Dragon" regarded as one of the last Shangri-La in the Himalayan region because of its remoteness, beautiful alpine valleys, its spectacular mountain terrain, varied flora and fauna and its unique ancient Buddhist monasteries. It is one of the reactively unspoilt pockets of Asia which allow only limited number of discerning travelers to enter the country with a special visa permits.

Places of interest in Bhutan

Paro is for most visitors the first place to catch a glimpse of Bhutan as it has the country’s only airstrip and because of its proximity to the airport, hotels and tourist facilities are found close to it. The valley of Paro contains a wealth of attractions. Here is located the Rinpung Dzong, an elegant and perfectly symmetrical structure. Built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administration head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. Behind Rinpung Dzong is the castle shaped Ta Dzong, which houses the National Museum.

Thimphu is a bustling town set on the banks of its own rivers and set in the hills of its own valley. It is home to the revered Bhutanese Royal Family and to several foreign mission and development projects. The main secretariat building, the Tashicho Dzong, houses the throne room of the king of Bhutan. The Thanka School in the heart of Thimphu is well worth visiting. The National Library housing some of the oldest records of Bhutanese history and religion is located nearby. Visitors can wander along the main street and into shops, all of which are decorated in the traditional style. Five miles from Thimphu stands Simtokha Dzong. Built in 1627, it is the oldest Dzong and houses the School for Buddhist studies, language and dance.

Taktsang Guru Rimpoche after his journey from Tibet on a tigress ’back is said to have meditated at the Taktsang, a monastery overlooking Paro valley. A hallowed shrine, Bhutanese pilgrims travel from all over the land to pray at its temple. After a three hour’s hike from the road one can get a spectular view of the Tiger’s Nest. Eighteen kilometers from Paro Town is the burnt ruins of Drukgyel Dzong(Victorious Fortress), a monastery from which the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century.

Punakha lies about two hours drive from Dorchula low down in its valley. Home to the Central monk body and the Je Khenpo during the milder winter months, Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955. Punakha Dzong houses sacred temples including the Marchen where the embalmed body of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal lies in state.