In a way you absorb and take in a great deal in Bhutan just by being there without going to any formal, tourist sites, but there is so much rich heritage and culture to be experienced via visiting some of its main sites. It’s hard not be totally enchanted by Bhutan.
Obviously monasteries are a must in Bhutan as are the Dzongs or fortresses. But you could also opt to see some smaller, more remote temples reached by short hikes across the country side too.
There is the famous Tigers Nest or Tatktsang monastery reached via a hard, long hike and hundreds of steps. So that one really isn’t for the unfit.. although you can do part of the journey on a small horse.
Depending on how long your trip to Bhutan is and where exactly when you go, you can experience a huge amount of culture and a completely different landscape and even climate.
It also depends on the time of year you visit, we visited in November with cold, crisp, chilly mornings and evenings but generally bright sunny days.
But April is when Bhutan has a Rhododendron flower festival and the valleys are filled with colourful wildflowers. If you venture further than the standard Paro and Thimpu and go to the Gang Tey valley and Bhumtan, you have a a very different experience with an almost Switzerland like feel.
We loved our visit to Kyichu Lhakhang one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, it’s not a long drive from the COMO Uma Paro hotel in Paro. Do see the ever flowering orange tree in the garden.
The other very special place for us was the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten we reached after an hour or so hike across farmland and paddy fields in Punhaka. It has a number of stories or levels, do keep climbing to the top for the spectacular view!
It was a Saturday morning and there was a prayer ceremony happening that we too a little part in. That was very atmospheric and peaceful. We had a picnic lunch on the grounds of a nunnery that day. That was also a serene place.
Of course the most imposing site you see in Punakha when you arrive is the majestic Punakha Dzong itself, built in the seventeenth century an now still home to about 1000 monks. This is a spectuacular, large palace like Dzong with plenty of gold and finery as coronations and royal, ceremonial functions take place here. See feature picture above.
If you want to know about Bhutanese culture do visit the Bhutan museum or Ta Dzong, an interesting building in itself. A large circular building that has a very comprehensive collection of artifacts from coins to costumes explaining the evolution of Bhutan and the role of the monarchy.
Most itineraries will take on a standard set of site seeing and walks etc. But if there’s something you don’t want to see or skip, then a reputable guide will have no problem adjusting, but it’s hard to see places if you haven’t booked via your guide before hand.
We were very happy with our guide and driver from the Como hotel group as nothing was too much trouble for them! We skipped some things like the fertility temple and added others like the artisanal brewery near the Do Chula pass and had Indian lunch at the Pema by Realm hotel vs what was on our scheduled itinerary!
If you do decide to do the Tigers Nest hike then you MUST ensure you have your tickets before you start you will NOT BE allowed in nor can you buy tickets at the top! It took us around 7 hours round trip at a medium pace.
Note it’s freezing in the mornings but then does warm up in the middle of the day, so do layer your clothing accordingly.
Click Where to Stay in Bhutan to find out about the hotels we chose.
and eating is so important on holiday! Click Food in Bhutan to see what you can expect.
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