Paro Valley – The Rice Bowl of Bhutan
Paro is a small town in western Bhutan. Built in 1985, the town centre is a stretch of about 250 meters, with rows of shops line the main road built in traditional architecture. it lies at an elevation of (2280m) in the centre of the valley on the banks of the Paro Chhu (river). The Rinpung Dzong is the main Centre of religious and civil administration. It is also a home to many of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries. Bhutan’s only Airport is situated in Paro valley. Paro valley has many isolated small villages and is known for red rice.
Rinpung Dzong
Meaning “fortress of the heap of jewels”. The Dzong now serves as the administrative and judicial seat of Paro district and residence for around 200 monks of Paro and was built at the same time of Drukgyel Dzong. The famous Paro Tshechu (festival) is held here in spring.
Ta Dzong
It overlooks the Rimpung Dzong and was built in 1951 as as a watch tower. This dzong is Round, more like parts of a European castle. The Dzong was established as the National Museum of Bhutan since 1967 and holds fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangka, etc.
Taktshang Monastery
The Paro Taktshang is one of the country’s most famous tourist attractions. The trail to the monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, and an occasional grove of prayer flags. It is said that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantrum mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, came in the form of form of Dorjee Droloe riding a flying tigress to subdue the evil and demon that were obstructing the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayas.
Kyichhu Lhakhang
This temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temple in Bhutan. The Tibetan King, Songtsen Gompo, to consecrate the entire region of Himalaya, in the 7th century miraculously built 108 temples. Kyichu
Drukgyel Dzong
The dzong was destroyed by fire in 1951 and is now preserved as a heritage site. The Dzong remained in ruins for almost 65 years. In the year 2016, His Majesty ordered the reconstruction of the Dzong to commemorate birth of His Royal Highness (HRH) The Gyalsey, and to commemorate the arrival of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in Bhutan in 1616 AD. The construction is almost complete as I write this in the late 2021.
The Dzong is situated in Drukgyal, overlooking the beautiful village with Mountain Jumolhari in the background. The dzong was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan Invaders led by the Mongolian warlord, Gushri Khan.
Ugyenpelri Palace
Built by the then Paro Penlop, Tshering Penjor, and this palace is in a scheduled wooded compound on the west side of the Paro Rinpung Dzong. The palace is designed after the Guru Rinpoche’s Celestial paradise, known as Zangtopelri.
Dungtse Lhakhang
This is a little three storied chorten-shaped temple. Built in 1421 by Thangtong Gyelpo on the top of head an ogress. The temple restored in 1841 by the 25th Head Abbot of Bhutan, Sherab Gyeltshen. This temple is unique in Bhutan and shows the progressive stages of tantric Buddhism.
Chhoeten Lhakhang
This is a large Bhutanese style chorten located in the south of the Paro town square.
Drukchhoeding Lhakhang
This is the town temple built in 1525 by Ngawang Chhogyel, one of the prince abbots of Tibet. This temple is also known as the Tshongdue Naktshang.
Bhutanese Farm/ Village houses
Bhutanese farmhouses are colorful, decorative and traditionally built without any nails. Majority of the houses are with three story, first floor is utilized for sheltering cattle, second floor for the family to live in and the top for storing and drying of foods and fodder for animal.
Chelela pass
It is the highest point between the Haa valley and Paro valley at an altitude of 3810 m. This place gives a very good view of the Himalayan Mountains, including the mountain Jumolhari. The place also gives good view down towards the Haa valley. A lots of prayer flags flutter in the place.
Tamchog Lhakhang
The lhakhang is situated between Thimphu and Paro and it was built in the 13th century by Thangthong Gyalpo. He is also known as the Iron bridge builder. Situated on a hill top, we have to cross an ancient style bridge to reach the temple. It is owned by the descendants of Thangthong Gyalpo.