Top 8 Places to Visit in Paro - Paro Attractions Recommendation
30 August 2023 Last updated at 18:15
Paro, located in western Bhutan, is always the preface of a Bhutan tour because the only international airport is here. Many travelers take an international flight to Paro first and then start their Bhutan discovery. Undoubtedly, it becomes one of the busiest towns in the peaceful Shangri-La land of Bhutan.
Apart from its advantageous geographic position, it is also one top tourist destination with many places to visit, including Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), Bhutan's symbol perched on the side of a sheer cliff. Besides, there are cultural treasures and natural landscape worthy of your visiting as well, like Rinpung Dzong, National Museum, Kyichu Lhakhang, Chele La Pass, etc. It is strongly recommended to spend at least 2 days exploring Paro's highlights. Check our list of best places to visit in Paro and get some inspirations before you start your Paro sightseeing journey.
Paro Top 8 Attractions
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Taktsang Monastery - Cliffside Monastery with Buddhist Significance
Type: Religious Site, Landmark, Monastery
Recommended Length of Visit: 1 Day
Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger's Nest, is the premier sight of Paro Valley, the holiest Buddhist monastery of whole Bhutan as well as one of the Top 10 Magical Monasteries of the World. It is world-famous for its miraculous location on the cliff about 900 meters above the floor o Paro Valley. Among Bhutan attractions, it also stands out for its Buddhist significance - it was built to pay homage to Guru Rinpoche who brought Buddhism into Bhutan. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche once flaw to the cliff on a tiger and then mediated in the caves for years. So Taktsang Monastery gets its name of Tiger's Nest.
How to Get There: Drive about 25 minutes to reach Taktsang Parking Lot and then trek about 2~3 hours to Taktsang. The trekking is a bit challenging but you will be reward with close view of the monastery and natural splendor of the whole valley.
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Rinpung Dzong - Bhutan's Finest Dzong Architecture
Type: Monastic Architecture, Administrative Site
Recommended Length of Visit: 1 ~ 2 hours
Dzong is a typical architecture usually built on a hill top of mountain. In Bhutan, dzong always acts as religious, military, administrative and social centers of the district. Rinpung Dzong, also called Paro Dzong, is considered as the finest example of Bhutan's dzong architecture. Rinpung Dzong is situated on the edge of a hillside overlooking beautiful Paro Valley and Paro-Chu River. Its unique architecture with colorful structures delivers travelers an excellent view from outside. The dzong is still cherished with treasure artworks, like murals, Buddha statues and carvings which can date back to centuries ago.
The Paro Tshechu Festival (10th to the 14th of the second month in Bhutanese calendar) is held in Rinpung Dzong every year. If you visit Rinpung Dzong during this festival, you will feast your eyes on the wonderful ritual dances and unfurling of a huge thangkha.
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National Museum - Galleries with Informative Collections
Type: Museum, Watchtower
Recommended Length of Visit: 1 ~ 2 hours
Perched above Rinpung Dzong is its round watchtower, built to protect the undefended dzong. Now the watchtower becomes National Museum of Bhutan and displays hundreds of old artifacts and artworks. The collections displayed in five galleries are deeply memorable, including various thangkas, traditional costumes, weaponry, statues, murals, carvings, and handcrafted implements for daily use, all giving you a deep insight into Bhutan's rich culture. On the fifth gallery, you will get amazed by the model of Taktsang Monastery.
Trip Planning Idea: National Museum is always traveled with Rinpung Dzong. Since most of the flights arrive in Bhutan in the morning, you can spend half a day discovering Rinpung Dzong and National Museum.
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Kyichu Lhakhang - Bhutan's Oldest Monastery
Type: Religious Site
Recommended Length of Visit: 1 ~ 2 hours
Believed as Bhutan's oldest monastery, is was firstly built in 7th Century by Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo who has built 12 temples to suppress the demoness that laid Tibet preventing the propagation of Buddhism. Kyichu Lhakhang was built on the left foot while famous Jokhang Temple (in Tibet) was built on her heart. The courtyard of the monastery is beautiful, full of flowers. The interior is serene, with weathered flooring where generations of faithful have performed their prostrations. In Guru Lhakhang of this monastery is a 5 meters high statue of Guru Rinpoche. There is also a statue of Sakyamuni. Numerouos pilgrims have worn into the groove in front of the statue.
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Chele La Pass - View Point for Snow Peaks
Type: Scenic Drive
Recommended Length of Visit: 20 minutes
Chele La Pass, located between Paro Valley and Haa Valley, is the highest motorable point in Bhutan. It sits almost 4,000 meters above the sea level. It is quite attractive as a view point where you can admire breathtaking vista of snow-capped peaks in distant. You can also spot many birds, like Magpie, Kalij pheasant, Nut cracker and many others. The rows of twinkling prayer flags in front of the snow mountains look impressive as well.
Visiting Chele La Pass, in early summer (June ~ July), there are various orchids and rhododendrons along the road between Paro and Chele La Pass to amaze you. Traveling in winter, picturesque snowscape can be appreciated.
If you want more adventurous experience, it is a good idea to extend your Chele La Pass to Haa Valley, a steep north-south valley with a narrow floor.
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Drukgyel Dzong - Historical Monument in Paro
Type: Historic Site
Recommended Length of Visit: 30 ~ 60 minutes
Drukgyal Dzong is a fortress and Buddhist monastery located in the upper part of Paro Valley. It was originally built by Tenzin Drukdra in 1649 at the behest of Ngawang Namgyal, Zhabdrung Rinpoche to commemorate the victory over invaders in1644, that's how it gets its name of Drukgyal which is literally translated as “Victorious Druk“. While visiting this dzong, you can also admire gree valley covered with Pine and Cyprus trees as well as the stunning snow clad mountains in the back ground.
Major portion of Drukgyel Dzong was destroyed by fire in early 1950s and reconstruction work is under progress at present. The reconstruction is something to witness itself because it is made by lots of handwork with ancient techniques.
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Dzongdrakha Temple - "Less-known Taktsang"
Type: Religious Site
Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes
Dzongdrakha Temple, where Guru Rinpoche once did battle with local demons, is a little visited but visually splendid temple. Just like Taktsang, it is also hanging on the cliff. It will introduce you to the wonderful architecture and symbology of Bhutanese Buddhism. Being very colorful and immensely detailed and offering a delighted insight into local cultures away from the hustle of more popular destinations, the temple displays a feeling of something so spiritually commanding.
Trip Planning Ideas: Located 8km (about 20 minutes' drive) from Paro International Airport, it is usually traveled as the first attraction during some tourists' Bhutan tour. Some travelers also arrange it in a tour to Haa Valley or Chele La Pass from Paro.
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Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge - First & Longest Suspension Bridge in Bhutan
Type: Points of Interest & Landmarks, Bridges
Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes
Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing the Paro Chhu River to Tachogang Lhakhang - a small monastery with little café. It is said to be Bhutan's first and longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. Years of ethereal prayer flags decorated in the bride make bridge-crossing a spiritual journey. Surrounded by canyons, this bridge shows peaceful pastoral scenery. The shimmering river meandering through the mountains add pleasant music to break the serenity. It is a thrilling but interesting walk across the rickety bridge.
Trip Planning Ideas: Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge is just located beside the road between Paro and Thimphu. You can take a short stop to enjoy this lovely bridge during your Paro Thimphu journey.
How to Plan Your Bhutan Tour
A Bhutan trip usually starts from Paro where the Bhutan’s only international airport is located in, then travel eastward to Thimphu and Punakha, which is the most classic itinerary in Bhutan, taking 5~6 days to finish. Never miss the icon of Bhutan - Tiger’s Nest (the symbol of Bhutan) in Paro. If your time is quite limited, you can skip Punakha. If you want an in-depth Bhutan tour, we suggest you extend your trip to Phobjikha, Gangtey, Trongsa and Bumthang in central Bhutan, which costs you about 9~10 days. You can also spend more time in Bhutan to explore more features of Bhutan, such as trekking, birding, Tshechu festival, etc. It is strongly recommended to travel Bhutan with Nepal. Check Nepal Bhutan tours to find a suitable tour or contact us to customize your own unique experience.
☞ 5 Days Bhutan Classic Tour (Paro & Thimphu & Punakha)
☞ 9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour
☞ 12 Days Nepal Bhutan Leisure Vacation Tour Package
Travel with Us
Traveling with Himalayas Discovery, you are assured to use our high-quality travel services, including vehicles, professional tour guide and experienced driver, well-organized itinerary, assistance of visa and permits application and other travel related services. We will settle all arrangements in advance to make sure you always enjoy a worry-free journey.
Our dear guests visiting Bhutan
Paro Travel Guide
Bhutan Travel Guide
Recommended Bhutan Tour Packages
Following are some recommended Bhutan tour packages that you may be interested in. All of our Bhutan can be customized to meet your personal requirements. You can also contact us to customize a trip if you want.
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9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour
Paro / Thimphu / Punakha / Phobjikha / Trongsa / Bumthang / Wangue Phodrang / Paro
