Paro Valley

In the fascinating kingdom of Bhutan, Paro is unique in beauty and in
history. To the north, Mount Chomolhari (mountain of the Goddess), reigns in
white glory and the glacier waters from its "five sisters" peaks
plunge torrentially through deep gorges, finally converging to form the Paro
Chu river that nourishes lush rice fields and apple and peach orchards of
the Paro valley.
The 'Taktsang' monastery, literally meaning
'Tiger's Nest', built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche - and later his
follower Dubthok Singye - meditated; clings seemingly impossibly to a cliff
of rock, all of 3000 ft above the valley floor.
Across the river,
on the knoll that rises from the river, stands the elegantly symmetrical
Rimpung Dzong, commanding a view of the Paro valley stretched out below.
Today it houses the Paro monastic body and the office of the Dzongda
(District Commissioner) and Thrimpon (District Judge).
The
Thongdroel, the most sacred giant painted and appliqued scroll depicting the
eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava with the two attendants, Khendu
Yeshey Tsogyel and Mindha-Rawa, is displayed for a few hours on the
concluding day of the Paro Festival.
Behind Rimpung Dzong, high
on the hillside, is the majestic Ta-Dzong which played an active part in the
defense of Rimpung Dzong invasions, has been the National Museum since 1967.
Eighty km out of Paro is the burned out fortresses of victorious Bhutan, the
Drukgyel Dzong. Kytichy Lhakhang, one of the kingdom's oldest and most
sacred temples, and Dungtse Lhakhang are also centres of attraction.
Click
here for Booking / More Information