Thimpu
Thimphu is the capital town of Bhutan. Located at 8000 ft, Thimphu is graced with untouched natural beauty. Thimphu lands in a beautiful valley sprawling out of Wang Chuu river. Thimphu, being the capital of Bhutan is the home to the revered Bhutanese Royal Family, the Royal government and Judiciary of Bhutan. An interesting fact about Thimpu is that it is the world's only capital without traffic lights. A set was installed, but the residents complained that it was too impersonal, and so to this day the traffic police directs the ever increasing traffic.
Thimpu has a lot of sights to offer:
Memorial Chorten: It dominates the skyline of Thimphu. This Chorten is dedicated to the Third Druk Gyalpo (King), Jigme Dorji Wangchuck after his sudden death while traveling abroad. The year 2008 marked a century of monarchy in Bhutan.
Jambay Lhakang Drub Monastery: Host to one of the most spectacular festivals in October each year when on one evening of the festival, the monastery is lit up with a fire dance to bless infertile women with children. Nowhere else in Bhutan will you see as many temples and monasteries in such a confined area.
Takin preserve: Takin is the national animal of Bhutan and looks like a cross between a cow and a goat. Legend has it that the animal was created by the great Buddhist yogi, Drupa Kunley, and it can be found only in Bhutan and nearby areas.
Thimphu view point: One can enjoy a bird's eye view of the Thimphu valley from this spot.
Simtokha Dzong: Simtokha was the first dzong to be built in unified Bhutan, in 1629. Currently, it houses the country's main Dzongkha language learning institute. It was built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal - the monk who is recognized as a reincarnation of Pema Karpoand, enthroned as the lineage-holder of Drukpa Kargyu. Political persecution led him to flee to Bhutan, where he became its first ruler.
SAARC building: The large traditional Bhutanese-style building across the river from Trashi Chhoe Dzong was built in the early 1990s to provide a venue for meeting of SAARC members.
Art and Craft school: National Institute for Zorig Chusum is commonly known as 'the painting school'. It operates under the auspices of the National Technical Training Institute and teaches courses that provide instruction in many of Bhutan's traditional arts to students from throughout the country whose aptitude is more artistic than academic. One can also take a peek at the classes being held. The kind of skill and discipline at display is astounding.
Punakha
The old capital can be reached after crossing Dochu La(10,700 ft). Punakha lies at an elevation of 1200 mts at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha-Wangdue valley. Its one of the least elevated valleys in western Bhutan. It was the capital and the seat of Bhutan government until 1955. Punakha is well known in Bhutan for rice farming, both red and white rice are grown here. There is a lot in store for arrivals in the Punakha Valley.
The famed 108 Lhakhangs or the Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chhortens: These were offered as a tribute to His Majesty, the King of Bhutan. Before Thimphu was made the permanent capital, Punakha (4,300 ft) was the winter capital due to its more temperate climate. The Je Khempo (leader of Bhutan's religious order) and his council of monks still come to spend the winter months here.
Punakha Dzong: Also known as Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong, meaning, "The palace of great happiness and bliss". It is the administrative center of Punakha district, the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan, and one of its most famed structures. Demoche is the annual festival held at the Dzong, which is largely attended by people from all villages and far off places of the district
Wangdi Dzong: Perched on top of a hill in the town of Wangude Phodrang lies the Wangdi dzong. This dzong was built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who was searching for the best location for a dzong to prevent incursions from the south. At the chosen spot the Shabdrung encountered a boy named Wangdi, playing beside the river and hence named the dzong "Wangdi's Palace".
Paro Valley
The charming small town of Paro lies in the center of the valley on the banks of the Pho Chhu. It operates the only airport in Bhutan, however, the number of flights are limited. The main street of the town is adorned with some beautiful authentic Bhutanese architecture. Like everywhere else there is a lot to see here and lets not forget the most famed spot of Bhutan which lies here, The Tiger Nest Monastery.
Paro Museum: Located in a former watch tower - Ta Dzong (which itself is a museum piece) above the Paro Dzong. During the inter-valley wars in the 17th century, the watch tower erected to defend Rinpung Dzong. The museum displays artifacts from Bhutan's history as well as examples of indigenous flora and fauna.
Paro Dzong : Rinpung Dzong, also known as Paro Dzong, the massive fortress/monastery which is also the administrative center of the dzonkhag. It provides elegant views of the Paro valley and is located on a knoll across Paro Chu river. All types of religious and social activities in the valley are controlled by Rinpung Dzong.
Archery Ground: Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and folks of all ages indulge in this sport. Gatherings over the archery ground are very common as tournaments and competitions are held there.
Kyichu Monastery : Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest monasteries in the country built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that this temple was built to counter the giant demoness which lay across the whole area of Tibet and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. There's a belief that the two orange trees here in Kyichu Lakhang bear fruit throughout the year.
Paro Taktsang is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan, also popularly known as Tiger's nest. Legend has it that Guru Rimponche flew here on the back of a tigress. The temple hangs on a cliff at 10,200 ft, some 2,300 ft above the bottom of Paro valley. Padmasambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the tutelary deity of the country. Today, Paro Taktsang is the best known of the thirteen taktsang or "tiger lair" caves in which he meditated.
An alternative legend has it that the wife of an emperor willingly became a disciple of the Guru in Tibet. She then transformed herself into a tigress and carried the Guru on her back all the way from Tibet to the present location of Taktsang in Bhutan. In one of the caves here, the Guru meditated and emerged in the eight incarnated forms and the place became holy.
Dzong Architecture:
Dzongs serve as the religious, military, administrative, and social centers of their district. They are often the site of an annual tsechu or religious festival. Dzong architecture is a distinctive type of fortress architecture found in the former and present Buddhist kingdoms of the Himalayas, most notably Bhutan. The architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monks' accommodation.
