Bhutan the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ is a country in South Asia and is one of the most traveled destinations by the young and adventure enthusiasts. Nestled in the eastern Himalayan Ranges, Bhutan is known for its vivid culture, dramatic landscapes, mesmerizing beauty, panoramic valleys, trekking spots, forts, monasteries, and much more. Bhutan is one of the most loved adventure tourists spot owing to its ancient relics, historic sites, traditional culture, and friendly locals.
For people who have a thing for adventure or nature’s beauty or are in search of solitude, a trip to Bhutan should certainly be on your bucket list. The country’s intriguing and jaw-dropping beauty imparts an enthralling yet unforgettable experience to all the tourists and thrill-seekers. From sightseeing to trekking, Bhutan has a lot of things to explore. So let’s have a look at some of the best places that you must visit when in Bhutan.
Bhutan Must Visit places
- Rinpung Dzong
Rinpung Dzong is located in the town of Paro. It is a fortress and a Buddhist Monastery referred to as Paro Dzong. Dzongs in Bhutan are elaborately built and comprise of fourteen chapels and shrines. Exactly outside the platform of the main Dzong, there is the Deyangkha Temple. Below the massive structure of the Rinpung Dzong, you’ll find a cantilevered bridge over the Paroo River. If you happen to visit Bhutan between March or April then don’t miss the opportunity to attend the Bhutanese greatest annual festival, Tsechu. You will see the country’s scintillating culture with people dancing with masked faces depicting stories. Rinpung Dzong is certainly amongst the top places to visit in Bhutan.
- Punakha Dzong
Punakha Dzong is the most beautiful and is also the second-largest Dzong in Bhutan which is predominantly famous for its exclusive architecture and design. It is undoubtedly a treat to the eyes to witness the Dzong build near the confluence of Mo Chhu (Mother River) and Pho Chhu (Father River). It is the second oldest Dzong and is also a very famous tourist attraction so you can get here easily via a three-hour drive east of Thimphu. The place has a milder climate than Paro and Thimphu. The best to have a glimpse at this enchanting place is spring. The pretty jacaranda trees bloom conversely with the white walls of the Punakha Dzong
- Phobjikha Valley
The glacial valley in Phobjikha is situated along the western slopes of the Black Mountains adjacent to the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. It is a home for around 5000 people and is located 140 km east of Thimphu. The place is flocked with the majestic black-necked cranes that come for roosting to this valley from Tibet in winters. Apart from black-necked cranes, this place is also home to thirteen other species that are threatened globally. The valley is also known as Gangtey Valley after Nyingma Sect’s Gangtey monastery. The renowned Tsechu festival happens to take place here also, so you can witness the country’s vivid culture even at Phobjikha Valley. The peaceful, serene, and calm surroundings will rejuvenate and re-energize your soul.
The place seems to have numerous hiking trails throughout the Phobjikha Valley that go through villages and shadowy forests. The Gangtey Nature Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails. Followed by this there is yet another trail that is a bit longer and treacherous and takes around half a day to complete i.e Sashi La Nature Trail.
- Motithang Takin Preserve
Bhutan’s Motithang Takin Preserve is in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Takin is basically Bhutan’s national animal. So, the history of this Preserve is as follows, initially the place used to be a small zoo, later it got converted to a preserve at the point when the animals remained in the territory as opposed to going into the woodlands that encompassed the zoo. Eventually, Bhutan announced the takin as its national animal due to the faith in a legend that Lama Drukpa Kunley made the creature. Besides this, the astounding preserve is inside a pine forest that offers a great opportunity for all the adventure enthusiasts to go trekking and discover the unexplored places and spots in Bhutan.
- Tiger’s Nest Monastery
The place which is on the list of most travelers Tiger’s Nest Monastery or Taktsang Palphug Monastery and also happens to be one of the most religious and sacred sites for Tibetan Buddhism and most generally perceived destinations in the more noteworthy Himalaya area, alongside Lhasa’s Potala Palace. You can go to this place only by hiking as there are no roads that lead to the top. It takes around 1.5 -2 hours to reach the top. From the top, you get a bird’s eye view of the entire Paro Valley. The place is very calm and serene, so it is certainly a major highlight of Bhutan.
Apart from the above run down, there are a numerous number of amazing and worth seeing places in Bhutan that are awaiting your presence and are all set to be explored. Bhutan being a vibrant country offers a motley of sceneries and landscapes. Now, we are assuming you are partially ready to explore this spectacular place on Earth proffering picturesque views and experiences all along.
