Located in Paro, it is about two-hour hike from the mountain base. The monastery is built on a scary cliff. it is believed that Guru padmasambhava flew to this site in the eighth century on a flying tigress. Later,the monastery was built and it still remains as one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country. The monastery is also the most popular site in Bhutan for tourists. In Bhutanese believed one must visit once in their lifetime to this sacred monastery. The hike to the monastery makes a splendid half-day excursion.
Located above the left bank of the Paro River overlooking the Paro valley is the Rinpung Dzong. Every year, a great annual festival, called the tshechu is held at the Dzong and it is the biggest tshechu in the country. For tourists Visiting Bhutan for a short time, it is best to visit Bhutan during the Paro tshechu held at the Rinpung Dzong when they can experience Bhutan at its full glory.
Located just above the Rinpung Dzong, the national museum called the Ta Dzong,Established in 1968, in the renovated ancient Ta-dzong building, above Rinpung Dzong under the command of His Majesty, the King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third hereditary Monarch of Bhutan. There are more than 3000 works of arts and artifacts from as early as 4000 BC to the present day. The museum has documented Bhutan’s transition from the Stone Age into the modern state of today.
The Kichu Lhakhang can be reached from Paro town after a ten minute drive. It is located in the Lango Geog (county). The temple is undoubtedly one of the oldest temples to have been built in Bhutan. It is one of the 108 temples built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century AD. The King is said to have built 108 temples in a day throughout the Himalayan regions.
Dungtse Lhakhang is located just next to the town of Tshongdu in the Jangsa village in Paro. It is a five minute drive from the town across the Pachu and is built at the base of a ridge. The history of this temple can be traced back to the visit of the famous Tibetan Siddhi, Drupthob Thangtong Gyalpo in the 14th century. This great yogi was an experienced traveler who spent most of his life as a nomad and it was during such travels that he spread his teachings to diverse crowds including the likes of shepherds and cow herders.
The Dzong is located in Phongey village in Paro. It is built on the summit of a rocky hill that raises steep on three sides and is accessible only from one side, which is defended by three prominent towers. It is said that each of these towers, near the summit, had a broad outcropping, the edge of which was fortified by a mud wall with holes for the use of bows, arrows and muskets. The towers guarded the approach into Paro valley from Tibet. An old footpath still leads to the ruins of the Dzong.
The Dzongdrakha Lhakhang is located above the two villages of Bondey and Gyepjag which fall under the Luni geog in Paro. It is situated on a cliff known as Dzongdrakha. One can reach the Lhakhang from Bondey in about thirty minutes. The history of the Lhakhang can be traced back to the visit of Guru Padmasambhava to Dzongdrakha in the 8th century AD. He flew to the sacred site from Drak Karpo in Paro just above Shaba and one can still see the foot prints of Guru Padmasambhava at the base of the cliff.
14th century Iron chain bridge near the new-age highway, connecting Paro to Thimphu, and aside the tranquil Pachu River lies the ancient Tachog Lhakhang. Situated at the base of the mountain the only possible way to approach the glorious structure is on foot, over the newly constructed cantilever bridge which spans the gorge and river below.
The airport is located in paro which is an hour drive from the capital city of Thimphu. For about four decades, Druk Air, the country’s national airline used to be the only the carrier but in October 2013, Bhutan got its first private carrier, Bhutan Airlines. You can witness the birds eye views of airport located between the Paro Valley.