Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and the largest town in Bhutan. It lies at an altitude of 2400 meters. All Government headquarters and centers for trade are located here. The following are the places of tourist attraction in Thimphu

Meaning “fortress of the glorious religion” was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. It is one of the largest dzongs in Bhutan. The Dzong houses the throne room and office of His Majesty and is the seat of government and religious affairs in the kingdom. The northern portion of the dzong has the summer residence of the central monastic body and His Holiness the Je Khenpo (chief abbot). It is open to visitors only during the Thimphu Tsechu (held in autumn) and during winter when the monk body moves to Punakha.

This monument was built in 1974 in memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. It was originally the idea of Bhutan’s third king, H.M. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck to erect a monument for world peace and prosperity but this could not be done due to his untimely death. So after his death, it was built in his memory and to serve as a monument for world peace.

Built-in 1627, it is the oldest Dzong in the country. The most noteworthy artistic feature of this dzong is the series of over 300 finely worked slate carvings behind the prayer wheels in the courtyard which are centuries old. The paintings inside this Dzong are believed to be some of the oldest and the most beautiful in the country.

The National Library was established in the late 1960s and it houses an extensive collection of Buddhist literature mostly in block-printed format and some works are several hundred years old. There is also a small collection of books in English on the ground floor mainly on Buddhism, Bhutan, the Himalayan region, and neighboring countries.

Commonly known as the Painting School is an institute established primarily to preserve and promote Bhutan’s unique artistic tradition which played a vital role in molding its distinct heritage. The Institute offers a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan and on a visit, one can see students learning the various skills taught at the school.

The Institute was established in 1967 as a center for indigenous medicines and practice. In olden times, people primarily relied on indigenous medicines to cure their illness. The Institute also serves as a training school for traditional medicine practitioners. The complex is closed to visitors due to considerations of hygiene, but one can still walk around and view it from the outside.

This temple is one of the oldest in Thimphu and was built in the 12th century by Nyima the son of PhajoDrugom, the founder of the Drukpa School of Buddhism in Bhutan. The temple is highly revered by the Bhutanese especially because newborn babies are normally brought here to seek blessings from the deity.

This is the site of Thimphu’s original Tashicho Dzong until 1772 and was named “Do Ngon Dzong” meaning the fortress of the BlueStone. Today, it houses the monastic school where novices are taught before they go for higher Buddhist studies. The monastery contains paintings of the 12th century that are being restored for preservation.

This monastery is located further uphill towards the west of Dechenphodrang. It was founded in 1750 by 8th Desi Tenzin Rabgye and houses some ancient stupas made of sandalwood. One can take the nature trail walk from the BBS tower at the hill overlooking Thimphu valley to this monastery.

These museums, both of which opened in 2001, provide fascinating insights into Bhutanese material culture and way of life and are a ‘must see’ when in Thimphu.

Buddha Dordenma: The quaint town of Thimphu is home to a 51 meters tall gold-plated statue of Buddha Dordenma, which is entirely made up of steel. The night sees this statue beautifully illuminated and makes it an even better sight to behold. The statue houses around 125,000 spectacular smaller Buddha statues made of bronze and plated in gold, each of which looks like the Dordenmaitself.Built amidst the ruins of  KuenselPhodrang, it marks your entry in Thimphu. The golden gilded statue is a marvel to behold, especially at nights, when it shines against the dark sky. The base of the statue, which is 3 stories tall, is a meditation hall. It is one of the largest Buddha Stupas in the world.

Flaunting the rich Bhutanese culture to the world, Simply Bhutan Museum displays impressive traditions and gives a glimpse of the country’s history. A one-of-its-kind “living” museum, visitors get to enjoy the Bhutanese songs, folk dances, and finger-licious cuisine. One can actually live the country’s culture by trying on traditional clothes and archery.

 Proudly housing the national assembly, SAARC Building in Thimphu was built in the 1990s to hold SAARC conferences and meetings. It is located near TrashiChho Dzong across Wang Chhu. An architecture marvel, the building is colorful and vibrant. Since it is an important government site, entry is not allowed due to security reasons. But the building is a good view from outside.

Offering endless opportunities to peek into the culture of the country and to interact with locals, the Weekend Market of Thimphu is the city’s star on Saturdays and Sundays. Located at the north of Changlimithang Stadium, on the west bank of the Wang Chhu, the market is bustling with traders and customers, it looks colorful and vivid and it is an ideal place to buy souvenirs. Everything, from vegetables to accessories to postal stamps, is sold here at unbelievably low prices.

Punakha is located at an alleviation of 1250m and played a very important role in history. It had been the capital for over 300 years. The places to visit in Punakha are

Dochula Pass is a breath-taking mountain pass, in commemoration of Bhutanese soldiers who passed away in military operations for the country. Along the Dochula Pass, there are 108 memorial chortens (also known as stupas) called the ‘Druk Wangyal Chortens’ for each soldier’s life lost in the war. The hills are also decorated with colorful religious flags in five colors to represent the natural elements: blue for the sky, red for fire, green for water, white for clouds, and yellow for earth. To the local Buddhist people, these flags are symbols of veneration, and the inscriptions of prayers on each flag signal peace and prosperity for Bhutan.

 Dochula Pass is a breath-taking mountain pass, in commemoration of Bhutanese soldiers who passed away in military operations for the country. Along the Dochula Pass, there are 108 memorial chortens (also known as stupas) called the ‘Druk Wangyal Chortens’ for each soldier’s life lost in the war. The hills are also decorated with colorful religious flags in five colors to represent the natural elements: blue for the sky, red for fire, green for water, white for clouds, and yellow for earth. To the local Buddhist people, these flags are symbols of veneration, and the inscriptions of prayers on each flag signal peace and prosperity for Bhutan.

Located an hour outside Punakha village, Chimi Lhakhang, (also known as Chime Lhakhang) is a Buddhist monastery best known for its worship of the phallus. It stands on a round hillock said to resemble breasts and is decorated with phallic symbols all along its walls. It was built in honor of Drukpa Kunley, the “Divine Madman” who preaches Buddhism through humor and sexual tones.

The second-longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, Punakha Suspension Bridge is perched over the Mo Chhu and Po Chhu (river) and is about 160-180 meters in length. It is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the world that connects Punakha Dzongkhag to the rest of the valley. Believed to be built by ThangtongGyalpo, the bridge has undergone several years of renovation. It has an integral part in the architectural history of Bhutan as it was built to connect the villages of Samdingkha and Wangkha by the kings of Wangchuk. The bridge is beautifully draped with prayer flags and makes a perfect spot for bird watching and photography. Although it is built sturdily, it shakes when winds blow strongly, and that is when the thrill is at its zenith.

Located after a hike of 45 minutes from a small hill having a beautiful prayer wheel, KhansumYulley Namgyal Chorten is a spectacular site to visit because of the beautiful view of the surroundings that it offers. It has a very rich history as to why it was built and it is a pleasure to hear it from one of the local guides. It is adorned with beautiful paintings of Sakyamuni, which makes this chorten a must watch.

Located south of Punakha is Wangduephodrang and lies at an altitude of 1350m. The higher reaches of the Wangduephodrang valley provide rich pasture land for cattle and this valley is famous for its fine bamboo work, stone carvings, and slates. Places of interests in Wangdue are

 It is the highlight of the last town of western Bhutan. It was built in 1638 and is perched on a spur above the confluence of the Punakha Chu and Dang Chu rivers. It played an important role in our history because the location of this Dzong commends an impressive view over both north-south and east-west highway. The Dzongpon (governor of the region) was the third most powerful in Bhutanese history after the Tongs and Paro Penlop.

Another highlight of Wangdue is the beautiful Phobjikha Valley or “the valley of black necked cranes”. This valley is the winter home of black-necked cranes that migrate from Tibet. This valley is one of the most beautiful and scenic ones in Bhutan. On the slope overlooking the valley is the Gangtey monastery built in 17th century and is one of the oldest and biggest monasteries of the Nyingma (red hat sect) school of Buddhism.

It lies in Western Bhutan at an elevation of 2280 m. As the only airport is located here, it is the gateway into this mystical kingdom. The main tourist attractions in Paro are

or “the fortress of the heap of jewels” was built in 1646 by ShabdrungNgawang Namgyal to defend the Paro valley from Tibetan invasion and presently it serves as central monastic and administrative seat of the district of Paro. It is one of Bhutan’s most impressive and finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. It is different for other Dzongs in Bhutan as it is in a square and the “utse” (central tower) is surrounded by the outer structure. The dzong houses one of the most sacred “Thongdrol” (meaning religious banner) about 20 sq. metres and is displayed only once a year during the Paro Tshechu (annual festival). The third king of Bhutan was crowned in this dzong.

 or “the bridge with no fish” is the bridge that connects Paro town to the dzong. It is one of the finest specimens in Bhutan and locals believe that if one sees a fish in the river, it is an ill omen. The earlier bridge which could be folded during war was washed away by flood in 1969.

Strategically located on a hill above the dzong and built in 1649 is the Ta Dzong. “Ta”means to see/watch and “dzong” means fortress. This monument served as a watch tower to the Paro Dzong. There is said to be an underground tunnel that leads to the water supply below. The structure was converted to the National Musuem in 1968. Ta Dzong holds a fascinating collection of art, relics, religious thangkha paintings, exquisite postage stamps, coins and handicrafts and a small natural history collection.

This temple was built by a famous Tibetan saint popularly known as Changzampa or the iron bridge builder in 1421. It is the only temple of this kind in Bhutan. It is in the form of a stupa and it contains some of the rarest and unique frescoes paintings in the region. The paintings are unique also because they depict the progressive stages of tantric Buddhist philosophy as well as the most important deities and figures of Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism.

“fortress of the victorious Drukpas” was built in 1649 to celebrate Bhutanese victory over the Tibetan invasions. What stands a mere tourist spot today was once western Bhutan’s most strategic fort from which many Tibetan invasions were repulsed. Under the leadership of Zhabdrung, Bhutanese fought 12 battles with the Tibetans in different places with one being in this particular place. It was destroyed by fire in 1951, and the towering outer walls and central tower still remains an imposing sight. On a clear day, there is a splendid view of Mt. Chomolhari from the approach road to this place.

Consists of twin temples and the older one is one of the 108 temples built by King SongtsenGampo of Tibet in 659 AD. This temple is deeply venerated for its antiquity and the role it plays in Bhutan History. The construction of this temple and Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang marked Bhutan for the first time on Buddhist map. The temple contains one of the most sacred statues of the country – the jowo which is the image of Buddha at 8years and is similar to the one which is present in the Jokhang temple in the Potola Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

It is a nunnery about an hour’s walk from Chele-la, down a path through pine forest. The gompa is nestled in a craggy patch of rock on the mountainside below Chele-la pass. Buddhist nuns spend their days in religious studies, prayer and meditation.

It is a nunnery about an hour’s walk from Chele-la, down a path through pine forest. The gompa is nestled in a craggy patch of rock on the mountainside below Chele-la pass. Buddhist nuns spend their days in religious studies, prayer and meditation.

Paro Airport Bird’s Eye Viewpoint offers an exquisite view of the entire city. With the Paro International airport being in the top ten stunning airports in the world, you can imagine what’s in store for you. Amidst the mountains, the sight is so colourful and vivid that one remains awe-struck by the grandeur of the city.

Popularly known as the Iron Chain Bridge, the Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge crosses the Paro Chhu to the Dzong. This 600-year-old bridge was built by ThangtongGyalpo in the late 1300s, who is said to have built 108 bridges all over Tibet and Bhutan. Made of wood and Iron, this is the first bridge to have ever been built in Bhutan. Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge greets its guests with a fantastic view of the surroundings.

Located at approximately 13,000 feet between the valley of Paro and Haa, Chele La Pass is the highest motorable road pass in Bhutan. The pass is famous for the stunning Himalayan views it offers, especially Mt. Jhomolari which is Bhutan’s most sacred peak at 22,000 feet, Tsherimgang mountains, Jichu Drake as well as views of both the valleys, Paro and Haa. Just a two-hour drive from the valley floor in Paro, you will reach Chele La Pass, covered in untouched forests, home to thriving flora and fauna. The surrounding area of this pass has several ancient trails, perfect for hikers. The slopes of the mountains around are covered in White Poppy, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The drive to Chele La Pass is through dense spruce and larch forests where you can see many sightings such as yaks grazing, frozen river, waterfalls, rhododendron forest and roadside springs.

or “Tiger’s Nest”:Tiger’s Nest” is one of the most famous places to visit in Bhutan and one of the holiest sites in Bhutan. It is perched on a steep granite cliff at 2950 metres overlooking northern paro valley. The place is especially venerated because of its association with Guru Rimpoche and is believed that more merit is gained if we meditate even for a minute in Tasktshang than many months in other places

Built in the early 1900s, the UgyenPelri Palace is an excellent display of Bhutanese architecture at its finest. It was modelled after the ZangtoPelri which was known as Guru Rinpoche’s paradise. It currently serves as the residence of the queen mother of Bhutan. The palace is closed to the public. It is situated next to the iconic Five Chortens of Paro, may be viewed in its entirety from the Paro Dzong.

This broad valley at an altitude of 2700m contains early historic and legendary traditions of Bhutan. This lovely valley is the religious heartland of the nation and home to some of its oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries. Tales of Guru Padmasambhava and the tertons (“religious treasure-discoverers”) still linger in this sacred region.The main tourist attractions in Bumthang are

Constructed in 1549 by the great grandfather of the first Shabdrung, the dzong was initially built as a monastery. It was upgraded in 1646 after Zhabdrung firmly established his power. Jakar Dzong is now used as the administrative center for Bumthang valley, and also houses the regional monk body.

This temple was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, SongtsenGampo. It is one of 108 monasteries which he built to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region. Its present architectural appearance dates from the early 20th century. This temple is considered one of the most sacred ones in Bhutan and the main altar has the jowo which is the image of Buddha at 8years and is similar to the one which is present in the Jokhang temple in the Potola Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

Located further along the valley, Kurje Lhakhang comprises three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 against the rock face where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century. This place considered to be the most holy and also historically significant as Buddhism in Bhutan started from here.Three to five minute up from the gate is the “Drup-chu” or holy water and is considered the holiest water in Bhutan.

Located across the river from Kurje Lhakhang, is the temple founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa the famous treasure discoverer. There are very old religious paintings around the inner walls of the temple. There is also an iron jacket made by the great tertoen himself and at your visit you would probably come across pilgrims circulating the main altar with the jacket as it is believed to wash away sins.

located few minutes from Tamshing is this temple and it dates back to 7th century. This temple is famous for its giant bell which bears an antique inscription. Legends say that the bell was stolen from a Tibetan royal family and transported to Bhutan. Tibetan armies were sent to fetch the bell back but because of its immense weight, the soldiers could not carry it and dropped it that made the crack which is still visible. The bell was taken to the national museum in Paro, but misfortune fell on the locals and the bell was returned to the temple. Besides the bell, the temple also houses statues of the three past, present and future Buddhas from which the temple derives its name- “Koenchog” means divine / buddha and “sum” means three.

It is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. AshiPeldon, the lineage of Jakar built this in the 14th Century as her private residence but was later converted into a temple as legends say that AshiPeldon found the main statue of the temple in the ground floor. This lhakhang houses some very fine paintings of the Goddess of Victory and Long Life.

Palace: Built in 1658 by TronsgaPenlop Jigme Namgyel, the founder of our present monarchs, this palace is one of the oldest palaces in Bhutan. It was the seat of Bhutan’s reining Wangchuk Dynasty and one of the finest examples of domestic architecture in the Country.

or “The Burning Lake” is one of the most sacred pilgrim sites in Bhutan. It is a narrow gorge in the Tang River and is believed to be the place where the saint Tertoen (treasure discoverer) discovered religious treasures hidden by Guru Padmasambhava. There is great legend of how the saint discovered the treasures.