ChaiNashta
Active Member
“Druk Yu” is the name given to this small land of happiness that translates to “Land Of The Thunder Dragon”. Bhutan is still considered as the last point of the landmass or the foothills of the Great Himalaya, often referred as the last of “Shangri-La's” in the Himalayan region owing to its utter remoteness, strikingly beautiful mountainous terrain, varied flora and fauna adaptable to only harsh cold climate. No wonder, it creates that enthusiasm and curiosity among people all round the world. Here is a comprehensive list of the most sought points of interest and other related information about accommodation and travel.
How To Get There?
In fact, the names of the places fill one with curiosity. The best way to get into Bhutan is to fly through their national carrier managed and operated by the Royal Government of Bhutan, Druk Airways. It is also known as Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines. It operates in twelve stations in five different countries with its home base being the Paro International Airport. It operates in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand and Singapore. The IATA code is KB, ICAO code is DRK and the call sign at any airport is Royal Bhutan. So, in case you happen to reach any of these five places from your country, you can easily catch a Drukair and take a break until you reach Paro. Your journey is just about to begin. The way to get back is essentially the same, but you also have the options to get into India through Sikkim or Darjeeling, which are two hill stations and very popular tourist attractions in India. The best part is that Royal Government of Bhutan provides a lot of packages for tourists varying with the length of stay. It covers accommodation, food and all other basic amenities. The experience is really awesome.
Paro Taktsang
The first chapter begins in Paro, after you land in Bhutan. You need to complete all your immigration and custom formalities and then accompanied to the hotel. All these facilities are exclusively for previously booked tourism packages. In case you want to make your own arrangements, a few notable places of residence at cheap and affordable prices are in a hand's distance. Uma by COMO comprises of merely 20 rooms and offers luxury right at the heart of Butan. The 38 acre estate offers splendid view of the sky touching Himalayas and is located nearby the Paro Airport, in Paro Town. It starts at a tag of $796 and offers the most exquisite experience like free Wi-Fi, free spa, breakfast, lunch and dinner, bar and lounge facility, indoor games and free tours in the local markets.. Then, there are other options for low and affordable stay. Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa is also a nice place close by and gets a lot of visitors owing to its hospitality. The costs per night start at $182. There is a Tashi Namgay Resort that offers a decent stay at $113. If you are a drifter then you can also get a stay for just $72 at Hotel Taktshang View.
Now, once you have booked a stay, it's time to book a local tourism provider or buy a package from the government website that helps you with all the assistance starting from the first day till your departure. There are a lot of places beginning with a visit to the ancient monastery called Taktsang Monastary. It is also known as The Tiger's Nest. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche came riding on the back of a tigress and meditated here and later became the preacher and the father of the Bhutanese strain of Buddhism. The next place is the Ta Dzong, which is the national museum of Bhutan and contains the ancient artifacts, weapons, cultural remnants and exquisite postage stamps used in the kingdom. Then, the best thing is to take a trekking along the trails of Rinpung Dzong, which is at a brilliant height and overlooks the entire Paro Valley. It is believed to be the point of religious and secular of the whole valley since ages. There are several traditional farm houses in this area and they are a suitable hub for visits during the evenings as you get to know and meet the local people, play with the kids, taste a cusine or two and see their local market and feel the lifestyle of a common person.
Punakha Paro
The next place of interest in Bhutan is surely this remotely located mountainous terrain at the distance of 190 kms that would roughly take about 4 hours by a car or a bus. There are the ancient fortress of Drukgyel Dzong, which served as the crucial and strategic point of hold to repel the invaders from Nepal and Tibet during the 17th century. Kyichu Lakhang is one of the oldest and most sacred temples located in Bhutan that holds the secret to the introduction of the sacred religious beliefs of Buddhism. There is a famous trail along this area that takes you to the Dochula Pass situated at an elevation of 3080 meters and gives you an incredible view of entire Bhutan. It is really an amazing experience to be able to get just one look and capture in with your camera. The dusky scene drenched in the mist of the trespassing clouds offer an enchanting experience of a lifetime. Punakha used to be the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and still remains the winter capital of Je Kenpo.
Punakha Dzong is a scared and memorable architectural location that was built in the early 17th century by the kings of Bhutan at the confluence of Po Chuu and Mo Chuu rivers. It has been destructed by several floods and earthquakes, but still is the most sought site by history lovers. There are a few luxurious hotels including a branch of Uma by COMO and offers the same luxurious appeal at all locations. There are other places like Le Meridien Thimpu that starts at $251 per night, accompanied by Hotel Pedling beginning its rooms at just $72. You also have some beautiful reports with spa facilities and hot water massage and baths at $72, however, they are unattended. Gakyil Thimpu offers an enjoyable stay with fooding and hygienic complex in $67. The Paro Airport is just 50Kms from this place and in case you wanted to begin your journey from Punakha, you can always book a cab or taxi at the Paro Airport to drive you to Punakha in about 1 and 1/2 hours. The evening delight at Punakha is also breathtaking and merely walks down a trail with the cloudy mist surrounding you in a gradual manner seems fantastic.
Wangduephodrang
This is the next most sought locations in Bhutan and remains a mandatory visiting location by all tourism companies. It holds some of the precious sites and scenes that you cannot miss. This is the final frontier of Bhutan before the Himalayan terraces and is the western limit of the kingdom and drives you directly towards the central Bhutan. Wangduw is just a small Bhutanese town and its most formidable structure or location is Wangdue Dzong. A site endowed with serenity and peace of mind and it really explains the desire of monks and hermits to stay here forever. It has its roots in the 17th century, when most parts of the kingdom were scattered and controlled by small landlords. Wangdue, being the industrial or the business center of the entire kingdom was responsible for the unification of the western, central and the southern districts. This also has the trail to nearby but fairly popular site called Thimpu. This attracts a lot of trekking expeditions and excursions starting from Paro to Thimpu and covering all that falls in between. This is also the most busiest locations of Bhutan considering that it encompasses points of interest fro all ages and taste of people.
It is a small charming city where foreigners are heartily welcomed and greeted by the local people. This town is small but has numerous small and big museums which become the main source of attraction for visitors with specific historical interests. They can identify points of archaeological theories and discoveries. The local lifestyle is also one of the most promising attractions that tend to mesmerize people into staying a bit longer. Even though you do not have all that advanced and modern country culture, it still has the ability to provide a habitat for a peaceful stay, even for a lifetime. Nature lovers are sure to find a lot of things to spend their time and keep busy. You have a lot of self-established and self-proclaimed guides who can take you to small tours to nearby trekking sites in the mountains as these people and the native residents and they know the terrain much better than anyone else. Thimpu usually is the end point or the destination for a lot of excursions teams as it serves as the resting place with adequate facilities of transport to other places in the kingdom. There are numerous shops that sell local handicrafts and has always been a point of interest for many filmmakers.
Thimpu
In the morning you can start a visit to a local site called Trashichhoedzong, which although is a tongue twister, essentially is a mind twister as well. It is a beautiful location on the banks of Wang Chuu. This also serves as the National Assembly and summer residence of a monastic community. This serves as an amazing architectural site built during the reign of the third king, HM Jigme Dorji Wangchuck making Dzong a wonderful piece of building. Thimpu is Bhutan's permanent capital since then. Thangkha is an art school located in the heart of Bhutan, in Thimpu. The Bhutan National Library is also close to this academic institution, which undoubtedly holds the most ancient cultural and religious literature of the Himalayan monks and sadhus and is unanimously believed to be in the most pristine quality. Apart from the historical literature, there is the Textile & Folk Heritage Museum that opened in 2001 and offers a fascinating history of material culture and traditions followed since centuries. The Memorial Chhorten is another holy landmark in this capital that was erected in 1974 by the mother of the Third King in the loving memory of her son.
Phuentsholing
This is another mountainous terrain about a distance of 179 kms from Thimpu. One could get the local cab or taxi services to drive you to this site in about 6 hours and it really takes a bit longer than usual because of the terrain, of course, but also because of the climate. There are beautiful fortresses built in 1627 AD that has been converted into a School of Buddhist Studies and it attracts a lot of foreign students as well. This also serves as the center of cultural and traditional studies that enlighten students about their literature and early Buddhism. The current road that takes you from Thimpu to Dantek, the strategic location of Phuentsholing was built by the Indian Border Organization in 1962. This gesture has provided Bhutan with a lot of support for their tourism industry and also has made it easier for commuters between the countries. There is another sacred monastery called Kharbandi Goemba, which is believed to be built around 1967 AD. This is one of the largest monasteries in Bhutan and has signs of modern architecture.
There are very huge statues of some of the most famous Buddhist preachers, that is, Shabdrug Nbawang, Sakyamuni, Namgyal and Guru Rinpoche. These were one of the earliest preachers who introduced Buddhism to the folks of Bhutan and formed the foundation of religious enlightenment. Thus, a lot of places in Bhutan provides a wonderful opportunity for stressed and busy citizens to have a peace of mind. There are immense modes of transport and accommodation at strategic locations and you can always find small inns and hotels in small towns. These towns usually welcome visitors and are the cheapest and most affordable when on a solo tour.
How To Get There?
In fact, the names of the places fill one with curiosity. The best way to get into Bhutan is to fly through their national carrier managed and operated by the Royal Government of Bhutan, Druk Airways. It is also known as Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines. It operates in twelve stations in five different countries with its home base being the Paro International Airport. It operates in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand and Singapore. The IATA code is KB, ICAO code is DRK and the call sign at any airport is Royal Bhutan. So, in case you happen to reach any of these five places from your country, you can easily catch a Drukair and take a break until you reach Paro. Your journey is just about to begin. The way to get back is essentially the same, but you also have the options to get into India through Sikkim or Darjeeling, which are two hill stations and very popular tourist attractions in India. The best part is that Royal Government of Bhutan provides a lot of packages for tourists varying with the length of stay. It covers accommodation, food and all other basic amenities. The experience is really awesome.
Paro Taktsang
The first chapter begins in Paro, after you land in Bhutan. You need to complete all your immigration and custom formalities and then accompanied to the hotel. All these facilities are exclusively for previously booked tourism packages. In case you want to make your own arrangements, a few notable places of residence at cheap and affordable prices are in a hand's distance. Uma by COMO comprises of merely 20 rooms and offers luxury right at the heart of Butan. The 38 acre estate offers splendid view of the sky touching Himalayas and is located nearby the Paro Airport, in Paro Town. It starts at a tag of $796 and offers the most exquisite experience like free Wi-Fi, free spa, breakfast, lunch and dinner, bar and lounge facility, indoor games and free tours in the local markets.. Then, there are other options for low and affordable stay. Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa is also a nice place close by and gets a lot of visitors owing to its hospitality. The costs per night start at $182. There is a Tashi Namgay Resort that offers a decent stay at $113. If you are a drifter then you can also get a stay for just $72 at Hotel Taktshang View.
Now, once you have booked a stay, it's time to book a local tourism provider or buy a package from the government website that helps you with all the assistance starting from the first day till your departure. There are a lot of places beginning with a visit to the ancient monastery called Taktsang Monastary. It is also known as The Tiger's Nest. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche came riding on the back of a tigress and meditated here and later became the preacher and the father of the Bhutanese strain of Buddhism. The next place is the Ta Dzong, which is the national museum of Bhutan and contains the ancient artifacts, weapons, cultural remnants and exquisite postage stamps used in the kingdom. Then, the best thing is to take a trekking along the trails of Rinpung Dzong, which is at a brilliant height and overlooks the entire Paro Valley. It is believed to be the point of religious and secular of the whole valley since ages. There are several traditional farm houses in this area and they are a suitable hub for visits during the evenings as you get to know and meet the local people, play with the kids, taste a cusine or two and see their local market and feel the lifestyle of a common person.
Punakha Paro
The next place of interest in Bhutan is surely this remotely located mountainous terrain at the distance of 190 kms that would roughly take about 4 hours by a car or a bus. There are the ancient fortress of Drukgyel Dzong, which served as the crucial and strategic point of hold to repel the invaders from Nepal and Tibet during the 17th century. Kyichu Lakhang is one of the oldest and most sacred temples located in Bhutan that holds the secret to the introduction of the sacred religious beliefs of Buddhism. There is a famous trail along this area that takes you to the Dochula Pass situated at an elevation of 3080 meters and gives you an incredible view of entire Bhutan. It is really an amazing experience to be able to get just one look and capture in with your camera. The dusky scene drenched in the mist of the trespassing clouds offer an enchanting experience of a lifetime. Punakha used to be the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and still remains the winter capital of Je Kenpo.
Punakha Dzong is a scared and memorable architectural location that was built in the early 17th century by the kings of Bhutan at the confluence of Po Chuu and Mo Chuu rivers. It has been destructed by several floods and earthquakes, but still is the most sought site by history lovers. There are a few luxurious hotels including a branch of Uma by COMO and offers the same luxurious appeal at all locations. There are other places like Le Meridien Thimpu that starts at $251 per night, accompanied by Hotel Pedling beginning its rooms at just $72. You also have some beautiful reports with spa facilities and hot water massage and baths at $72, however, they are unattended. Gakyil Thimpu offers an enjoyable stay with fooding and hygienic complex in $67. The Paro Airport is just 50Kms from this place and in case you wanted to begin your journey from Punakha, you can always book a cab or taxi at the Paro Airport to drive you to Punakha in about 1 and 1/2 hours. The evening delight at Punakha is also breathtaking and merely walks down a trail with the cloudy mist surrounding you in a gradual manner seems fantastic.
Wangduephodrang
This is the next most sought locations in Bhutan and remains a mandatory visiting location by all tourism companies. It holds some of the precious sites and scenes that you cannot miss. This is the final frontier of Bhutan before the Himalayan terraces and is the western limit of the kingdom and drives you directly towards the central Bhutan. Wangduw is just a small Bhutanese town and its most formidable structure or location is Wangdue Dzong. A site endowed with serenity and peace of mind and it really explains the desire of monks and hermits to stay here forever. It has its roots in the 17th century, when most parts of the kingdom were scattered and controlled by small landlords. Wangdue, being the industrial or the business center of the entire kingdom was responsible for the unification of the western, central and the southern districts. This also has the trail to nearby but fairly popular site called Thimpu. This attracts a lot of trekking expeditions and excursions starting from Paro to Thimpu and covering all that falls in between. This is also the most busiest locations of Bhutan considering that it encompasses points of interest fro all ages and taste of people.
It is a small charming city where foreigners are heartily welcomed and greeted by the local people. This town is small but has numerous small and big museums which become the main source of attraction for visitors with specific historical interests. They can identify points of archaeological theories and discoveries. The local lifestyle is also one of the most promising attractions that tend to mesmerize people into staying a bit longer. Even though you do not have all that advanced and modern country culture, it still has the ability to provide a habitat for a peaceful stay, even for a lifetime. Nature lovers are sure to find a lot of things to spend their time and keep busy. You have a lot of self-established and self-proclaimed guides who can take you to small tours to nearby trekking sites in the mountains as these people and the native residents and they know the terrain much better than anyone else. Thimpu usually is the end point or the destination for a lot of excursions teams as it serves as the resting place with adequate facilities of transport to other places in the kingdom. There are numerous shops that sell local handicrafts and has always been a point of interest for many filmmakers.
Thimpu
In the morning you can start a visit to a local site called Trashichhoedzong, which although is a tongue twister, essentially is a mind twister as well. It is a beautiful location on the banks of Wang Chuu. This also serves as the National Assembly and summer residence of a monastic community. This serves as an amazing architectural site built during the reign of the third king, HM Jigme Dorji Wangchuck making Dzong a wonderful piece of building. Thimpu is Bhutan's permanent capital since then. Thangkha is an art school located in the heart of Bhutan, in Thimpu. The Bhutan National Library is also close to this academic institution, which undoubtedly holds the most ancient cultural and religious literature of the Himalayan monks and sadhus and is unanimously believed to be in the most pristine quality. Apart from the historical literature, there is the Textile & Folk Heritage Museum that opened in 2001 and offers a fascinating history of material culture and traditions followed since centuries. The Memorial Chhorten is another holy landmark in this capital that was erected in 1974 by the mother of the Third King in the loving memory of her son.
Phuentsholing
This is another mountainous terrain about a distance of 179 kms from Thimpu. One could get the local cab or taxi services to drive you to this site in about 6 hours and it really takes a bit longer than usual because of the terrain, of course, but also because of the climate. There are beautiful fortresses built in 1627 AD that has been converted into a School of Buddhist Studies and it attracts a lot of foreign students as well. This also serves as the center of cultural and traditional studies that enlighten students about their literature and early Buddhism. The current road that takes you from Thimpu to Dantek, the strategic location of Phuentsholing was built by the Indian Border Organization in 1962. This gesture has provided Bhutan with a lot of support for their tourism industry and also has made it easier for commuters between the countries. There is another sacred monastery called Kharbandi Goemba, which is believed to be built around 1967 AD. This is one of the largest monasteries in Bhutan and has signs of modern architecture.
There are very huge statues of some of the most famous Buddhist preachers, that is, Shabdrug Nbawang, Sakyamuni, Namgyal and Guru Rinpoche. These were one of the earliest preachers who introduced Buddhism to the folks of Bhutan and formed the foundation of religious enlightenment. Thus, a lot of places in Bhutan provides a wonderful opportunity for stressed and busy citizens to have a peace of mind. There are immense modes of transport and accommodation at strategic locations and you can always find small inns and hotels in small towns. These towns usually welcome visitors and are the cheapest and most affordable when on a solo tour.
