The Best Places to Visit in Bhutan
Bhutan is a secluded kingdom tucked away into the mountains between India and China, and it’s a place where tradition is followed closely. Everywhere you go you’ll see classic Bhutanese architecture and the teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism. Bhutan feels very isolated from the outside world, and it even charges most international tourists a fee of 100USD for every night they stay in the country in order to continue sustainable development within the country. The culture is taken seriously in a beautiful way, and people love to visit Bhutan for this experience of seeing a peaceful and gorgeous nation thriving in its own way.
Capital: Thimphu
Currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum
Language: Dzongkha
When to visit: March to November
1) Paro
Paro is a lovely town in the west of Bhutan, mainly known for being the gateway to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery (more on that after). Paro only has a small population and sits in the middle of a wide valley. It will be your first stop in the country most likely, as it contains the only international airport. You can find some beautiful spots in this ‘gateway town,’ for sure.
Things to do:
Assuming you’ll be staying in the main town part of the valley, you need to walk and visit Rinpung Dzong, the most incredible fortress inside the city. You can get a great view of it from many places in the valley, and inside you can find prayer halls and monk quarters. It’s also worth heading to the Ta Dzong and visiting the National Museum of Bhutan which museum displays Bhutanese art and other stuff related to the culture. Other than that, just spend time walking through Paro Town Center, checking out more temples like Dumgtseg Lhakhang and Jangsarbu Lhakhang if the architecture interests you, and exploring the valley in general before you head to the options outside the city.
How to get there:
Paro Airport (PBH) has international flights from a small selection of places around the Asian continent.
Otherwise you can get a driver to take you between cities and towns (foreigner driving isn’t permitted).
2) Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang)
Bhutan’s most popular destination is the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, also known as Paro Taktsang. The monastery is perched dramatically on a sheer cliffside roughly 900 meters above the Paro Valley floor, and is accessible via an uphill hike. It of course has the traditional white-washed Bhutanese architecture look, and was built in 1692. The journey (and destination) is amazing.
Things to do:
The Tiger’s Nest Monastery Trail starts from the car park where you’ll be dropped off, and usually takes between 2-3 hours to reach the monastery. It has a viewpoint halfway, and the hike can be generally quite demanding overall. You’ll get incredible views of the Tiger’s Nest Monastery though, and the whole journey is an awesome spiritual experience.
How to get there:
You need a taxi, private driver or guide to take you to the trailhead from Paro.
3) Punakha
Punakha is a little valley town which is located in the west of the country pretty close to Thimphu. It’s mainly known for the incredible architectural masterpieces which sit along the river, and it was the capital of Bhutan until the mid-20th century making it a historic and important place. It’s framed by all the nature and Himalayan foothills and if you have some more time in Bhutan, add Punakha.
Things to do:
The main draw is the striking Punakha Dzong, which is one of Bhutan’s most famous Dzongs. It’s massive, and has the traditional style which looks amazing from across one of the rivers. Looking from the western side of the Mo Chhu River is one of the best views, especially if you look towards the traditional style Punakha Dzong Bridge. That isn’t the only iconic bridge in the town though, as Punakha Suspension Bridge is a pretty famous spot for everyone. It’s a super long metal bridge which crosses the water and is decorated with prayer flags. Make sure you see these two main sights, before you go explore the local markets, the valley, and the rest of the village.
How to get there:
Take a shared taxi or tourist vehicle from Paro or Thimphu.
4) Thimphu
Last on the last is Bhutan’s chill capital city of Thimphu, which around 115,000 people call home. Just like most settlements in the country, it also sits inside a valley and has that small town feel (despite it being the political heart of Bhutan). It become the capital in the 1960’s, and is now a calm place to explore and see how local life is.
Things to do:
Thimphu has some really cool buildings spread across the city area, starting with Tashichho Dzong. It’s the main fortress and monastery of Thimphu, housing government offices and monks and it looks quite large from the outside. Another awesome piece is the Buddha Dordenma Statue, which is actually on the opposite end of the city as the Dzong. It’s colored in gold, and overlooks Thimphu from a hilltop. Furthmore, we have the National Memorial Chorten and also the National Library, plus you can also explore the Centenary Farmers’ Market on weekends.
How to get there:
Take a shared taxi or tourist vehicle from Paro or Punakha.
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