WEST BHUTAN

Paro and surrounding valleys

• Tamchog Lhakhang is a temple built in honour of the Saint Thangthong Gyalpo, the iron chain bridge builder. In order to get to the temple one has to cross the iron chain suspension bridge over the Pa Chhu River

• The Haa Valley is renowned for its beauty and few inhabitants

• From here you can see pristine alpine forests and some of Bhutan’s mountain peaks

• Lhakhang Nagpo (The Black Temple)

• Lhakhang Karpo (The White Temple)

• Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve is the only strict Nature Reserve in Bhutan covering 601.59 km2 without permanent human settlement

• The Haa Valley is home to some nomadic yak herders

• Home stays are a popular choice

• Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and its largest city

• It is the main hub for commerce, religion and government

• Buddha Dordenma is a Shakyamuni Buddha statue, it stands tall at 54 m/177 ft overlooking southern Thimphu

• Tashichho Dzong, Seat of Government and the King’s offices, it was built without the use of a single nail

• The National Memorial Chorten is a place of daily worship

• Motithang Takin Reserve, the Takin is the national animal of Bhutan

• Simtokha Dzong

• Dechen Phodrang is the site of the original Thimphu Dzong

• Tango Goemba, centre for Buddhist studies

• Folk Heritage Museum

• National Library of Bhutan

• Choki Traditional Art School

• Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory

• Clock Tower Square

• Central Traffic Circle

• Weekend market at the banks of river Wang Chhu

• Thimphu Valley, Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek

• Punakha Dzong also known as “The Palace of Great Happiness”

  It is Bhutan’s second oldest and second largest Dzong

  King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema married in 2011 at Punakha Dzong

• Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

• Chime Lhakhang Monastery, where the Divine Madman originates

• Koma Tsachu water springs

• Limbukha village

• Temple and nunnery

• Overlooking Punakha and Wangduephodrang Valleys

• Phobjikha Valley, a u-shaped glacial valley where the Black-Necked Crane migrates to from Tibet late October to mid February

• The Black-Necked Cranes are a revered species by all in the valley

• Electricity poles and wires disappeared for underground cables in order to protect the birds

• Bhumtang or Chokhor Valley

• Ura Valley in Bhumtang, known for the famous Ura Yakchoe (the famous mask and folk dance)

• The Ura Yakchoe festival takes place in May from the 4th - 8th

• Jakar, administrative centre of Bhumtang District, located in the Choekor Valley, often referred to as “Little Switzerland”, visit Jakar Dzong and Wangdicholing Palace

• The Burning Lake, a 30 minute drive from Chamkhar town

• Trongsa Dzong, the largest fortress in Bhutan

• Thruepang Palace, the birth place of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck

• Chendebji Chorten, 18th Century Nepali-style Chorten

• Trongsa Tsechu, yearly 3-day festival at Trongsa Choekor Rabtse Dzong

• Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan’s oldest National Park

• Zhemgang, one of the last places in Bhutan were the Bon religion (indigenous religion of Tibet) is practised

• Trashigang, capital of Trashigang District

• Khoma, see how women weave a Kishuthara

• Gom Kora or Gomphu Kora, a beautiful temple amidst rice fields (Gomphu means “meditation place and Kora “circumambulation”)

• Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, covering over 1500 km2 on an altitude of 1500 - 6000 meters, a bird lover’s paradise

• Takila, visit the biggest Guru Rinpoche Statue in Bhutan, in fact this is the world's largest statue Of Guru Padmasambhava