Paro
This beautiful valley which is known for its rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends is the home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, the country’s only airport and the National Museum. Paro is also one of the most fertile valleys in the country, producing a bulk of the famous red rice from its terraced fields.
There are number of places to visit in Paro. The Drukgyal Dzong with a beautiful village nestling at its foot was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan invaders led by the Mongolian warlord, Gushri Khan. The Dzong was destroyed by fire in 1951, but its glory remains to this day. On a clear day, you can see the spectacular view of the Mt. Chomolhar, one of the tallest mountains in Bhutan.
Rinpung Dzong, meaning the ‘fortress of the heap of jewels’ is the administrative and religious centre of Paro district. The Dzong was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646. It is the venue of the annual Paro Tsechu, held once a year in spring.
Ta Dzong: Placed on a ridge immediately above the Rinpung Dzong is the Ta Dzong, built in 1951 as the watch tower. Unlike other Dzongs, which are mostly rectangular in shape, Ta Dzong is round. Since, 1967, the Dzong was reestablished as the National Museum and holds marvelous collection of art, relics, religious thangka paintings and Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps.
Dumtse Lhakhang
To the west of the road, to the north of the main Paro town centre is Dumtse Lhakhang, a Chorten like temple that is closed to the tourists. This unusual building was supposed to have built in 1433 by the iron bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo of Tibet. The Monastery has 3 floors representing hell, earth and heaven and the paintings inside are said to be the best in Bhutan.Kyichu Lhakhang
A short distance south of the road leading to Drukgyal is Kyichu Lhakhang. This monastery is one of the oldest in Bhutan and revered as one of the sacred monasteries in Bhutan. This monastery is said to have been built in 659 by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet.The original building burned once and was rebuilt with a large statue of Sakyamuni as the central figure. A large statue of Chenrizig with 11 heads and 1000 hands were added at that time. A new temple was constructed in 1968 by the Queen mother Ashi Kesang. In the new temple is a 5m high Guru Rinpoche and another of Tara. There is also a statue of the iron bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo, and another of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a revered Nyingma Buddhist master who passed away in 1992.
Taktsang Monastery
Taktsang is the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the floor of the Paro valley. The name means ‘tiger’s nest’; it was named because Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress. He then meditated in a cave here for three months.The site has long been recognized as a holy place and was visited by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and is now visited by pilgrim from all over Bhutan. Milarepa is said to have meditated here and Thangtong Gyalpo revealed a treasure text at Taktsang. The main Lhakhang was built in 1684 around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave by the Penlop of Paro, Desi Tenzin Rabye.
There are several other buildings in the complex. The Temple of Phorbu contains a phurba, the three-bladed ritual dagger used to stab demons. Above the main complex is Ugyen Tshemo Lhakhang and higher still is another goemba named Zangto Pelri after Guru Rinpoche’s heavenly abode.
