Bhutan!!
What comes across your mind? With the very mention of this country, my mind travels between the beautiful and green mountains. The quite and colourful monasteries, the magical landscapes, the locals etc
So this Sharing is Caring is from my favourite today : www.skyscanner.co.in. It lists the 10 best places to visit in Bhutan
What comes across your mind? With the very mention of this country, my mind travels between the beautiful and green mountains. The quite and colourful monasteries, the magical landscapes, the locals etc
So this Sharing is Caring is from my favourite today : www.skyscanner.co.in. It lists the 10 best places to visit in Bhutan
Top 10 places to visit in Bhutan
1. Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Trek up to the iconic Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest. This is the site at which Guru Rimpoche is believed to have meditated in the 8th century. The original structure was built in the 17th century, which burnt down; and what we visit today was built in 1998. The trek is beautiful – it takes between two to four hours of first walking uphill and then downhill. It’s not an easy trek, but the fluttering of prayer flags and rattling prayer wheels along the way draw your attention away from the boulder-strewn path. Once you’re up there, check out beautiful Paro valley a thousand metres below you – by far one of the best sights anywhere.
Read more: Bhutan is also ranked a top 10 destination in Skyscanner's Travel Trends for 2015, Five reasons to visit Bhutan
Tiger's Nest Monastery clings dramatically to the cliff side
2. Kurjey Lhakhang Monastery
A milestone location in the history of The Kingdom, a visit to the Kurjey Lhakhang Monastery is essential for those who want to gain perspective of the evolution of Buddhism in Bhutan. Guru Rimpoche is said to have meditated here and blessed the place. Plus, Bhutan’s first three kings are buried here too.
Read more: Spiti Valley: Top things to do
3. Punakha Festival
Demoche is an annual festival held every February/March at the Punakha Dzong. Locals and tourists alike flock here by the hordes – to catch the re-enactment of the Tibetan invasion of Bhutan in the 17th century, where the Tibetans were defeated. To be a part of this unusual festival, fly to Bhutan by the 23rd of February, 2015.
Masked dancer in full form at Punakha festival. Photo credit: anandoart
4. Thimphu
A captivating city, Thimphu was elevated to capital city status in 1961. Other than its traditional Buddhist sights and flavour, Thimphu offers museums, landmarks and the unparalleled Weekend Market experiences. Explore the city on foot if you’re there on a Sunday, when every Sunday of the month is pedestrian day. Prepare to be mesmerised by locals in national dress thronging the streets, walking side by side with young hipsters in fashionable clothes.
Thimphu is the only capital city without traffic lights. Photo credit: Hung Chung Chih
5. Trashi Chhoe Dzong and its gardens
A dzong is a monastery and an administrative centre built like a fortress, and so it functions as all three. Amongst the many dzongs in Bhutan, this one stands out for the peace that its meticulously manicured gardens provide in the middle of bustling Thimpu. Built originally in the 18th century, it was restructured in 1962 to accommodate both the national government and the central monastic body. Remember to dress decently when visiting a dzong.
Escape it all at the serene gardens of Trashi Chhoe Dzong
6. Deer Park
A small centre for meditation and spiritual pursuit, the Deer Park is a welcome break from the city. On offer are regular Buddhist discussions for adults and kids, as well as short weekend retreats.
Perfect for soul searching and meeting some adorable locals
7. The Druk Wangyal Chortens and Temple at Dochula Pass
A short drive from Thimphu and a climb of 3,100 metres takes you to one of the most beautiful places in The Kingdom. Just standing at Dochula Pass with its countless prayer flags sending messages into the winds is an experience of a lifetime. The view of the majestic Himalayas is one that is going to stay with you for a long time. While here, visit the war memorial, (if you believe that such a peaceful and happy country could have actually fought a war!), the Druk Wangyal Chortens or stupas and the Druk Wangyal Temple.
Some of the 108 Druk Wangyal stupas
8. Haa Valley
If you’re the trekking type, embark on the famous ‘The Haa Planters’ Trail’ walk. The route follows an ancient path taken by rice planters from Haa Valley to Paro during the rice planting season. A relatively simple trek without high altitudes, this is more of an experience of the country as a whole – cultural interaction, beautiful scenery at every turn, and dramatic views. Best time to visit is Spring, mid-March to June, when Bhutan’s famous rhododendron forests explode into colour.
Get on to a flight to Bhutan's only international airport at Paro today!
A mountain village in Haa Valley
9. Phobjikha Valley
Home to a beautiful wildlife reserve, Phobjikha Valley is a glacial valley on the slopes of the Black Mountains. Famous for the huge flocks of globally threatened black-necked cranes that migrate here in the winter months, Phobjikha Valley is an animal watcher’s dream with 13 other globally threatened species to be found here as well.
The Black-necked Crane is also known as the Tibetan Crane
10. The National Museum of Bhutan
A scenic museum if there ever was one! Find the National Museum of Bhutan on top of a hill above Paro Dzong. It was an old watch tower, renovated in 1968, and converted into a museum. Strangely shaped like a conch shell, it houses an impressive collection of thankas and festival masks. There is also a natural history gallery plus religious statues and early stone carvings.
The Paro Rinpung Dzong with Ta Dzong, or watchtower renovated to museum, in the background
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