Places to visit in Bhutan

Paro

1. Drugyel Dzong: the dzong of victorious drukpa(bhutanese) and was built in 1649 to commenmorate a victory over Tibet. It was gutted by fire in 1951 and no major renovation have been done but is kept as monument for the visitors. From here you can have a view of Jomolhari, which is about 7314m from sealevel.
2. Kyichu Lhakhang: it is one of the oldest and sacred temples in Bhutan and was built in 7th century by Songtsengampo, the first buddhist king of Tibet. He has built 108 temples in a night and of 108 2 are in Bhutan; one is Kyichu in Paro and other Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang.
3. Dungtse Lhakhang: The temple in the form of a chorten whcih was built in 1421 by Thanthong Gyalpo who came to Bhutan in search of iron ore to be used for constructing bridges.
4. Taktshang: It is one of the most popular monastery and is most visited by tourist. According to the legend Guru Padmasambhava came to Taktshang in 8th century flying from east of country on the back of tigress (transformed by one of his consort). He then meditated in the cave for about 3 months and subdued evil spirits. The monastery was built by 4th desi Tenzin Rabgay and it was gutted by fire in 1998 and was completly restored in 2005 and was consecreated by young reincarnation of Desi Tenzin Rabgay the original builder of this monastery.
5. National Museum: Collection of fine arts, paintings and bronzes. There are also textiles, jewellery, and handicrafts sections as well as galleries of stuffed animals and butterflies from bhutan. The stamp's is popular and displays 3-D stamp, record stamps, silken stamps, embossed stamps and the famous triangular stamp depicting yeti.
6. Ringpung Dzong: the fortress of the Heap of Jewels, was built in 1645 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It was damaged by fire in 1907 and was immediately restored. It is used for administrative purpose and monastic bodies.

Thimphu

1. Tashichoedzong: the fortress of Auspicious Religion, also known as Thimphu Dzong is one of the largest Dzong in Bhutan. It was built in 1641 and rebuilt into present structure by late king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (Father of Modern Bhutan) in the year 1962-1969. The first courtyard contains the Government Ministries and the second belong to the Monastic Community and is the summer residence for the Je khenpo (the chief abot) and the central monastic body. Between them stands Central tower.
2. Memorial Chorten It was erected by late grand mother Ashi Phuntsho Choden in 1974 in memory of her son third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. People pay their respect on his photo graph mounted on an alter inside.
3. National Library: It was estblished in 1969 and it contains foreign book on Bhutan, the Himalaya and Buddhism a unique and very rich series of Bhutanese ans Tibetan Book, Manuscripts ans xylographs
4. National Institute of Traditional Medicine: The traditional medical services was established in the year 1968, under the command of our third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. But National Institute of Traditional Medicine was established in the year 1988, for the welfare of Bhutanese people and to preserve its rich culture and tradition. The Traditional Medicine Services in Bhutan is fully integrated with modern health care and delivery system and is available in all 20 district hospitals.
5. Handicrafts Emporium: can get an idea of the range quility and prices of what is available. It contains thangkas, bamboo ware, textiles, woodcarving, jewellery, book and pottery.
6. National Institute of Zorig Chusum: The school teaches the paintings and also making of sculpture and statues. It offers an eight-year course, which provides instructions in many of Bhutan's traditional arts to boys and girls from throughout the country whose aptitude is more of artistic than academic.
7. Drupthop Lhakhang: It is a small red monastery with a excellent just above Tashichhodzong. It was built in 1980s and small attached nunnery.
8. Simtokha Dzong: It is the oldest Dzong in Bhutan and was built by Zhabdrung in 1629. It is 6 km from Thimphu.
9. Changgangkha Lhakhang: It is the oldest temple in Thimphu, dating back to the fifteenth century. It was built by the descendant of Phajo Drugom Zhipo.
10. Kuensel Phodrang: Another place from where you can get a good overview of the Thimphu valley is from Kuensel Phodrang popularly known as Buddha Point as there is a Statue of buddha which is largest in the country.
11. Vegetable market: It is a weekend market ans is opened from friday evening to sunday evening. Here people come from all parts of Bhutan espicially wetern to seel thier farm produce.

Punakha

1. Punakha Dzong: Also called Punthang Dechen Phodrang, ans was built in 1637 by Zhabdrung. It is located at the confluence of two rivers; mo chu and pho chu looking like a huge ship. It is also a summer residence of Monk Body.
2. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten: This chorten is a impressive example of our fine Bhutanese architecture and art. It was built by the third Queen, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck.
3. Talo Goenpa: A day excursion to Talo would be great with picnic lunch. The festival there happens in spring and draws full attention from any visitors.

Wangduephodrang

1. Wangduephodrang Dzong: It was built in 1638 by Zahabdrung and enlarged by Desi Tenzin Rabgye in 1683. It houses the provincial monastic community and also for administrative purpose.
2. Chhimi Lhakhang: It is located on a hill top and built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the Divine Madman. Lama Drukpa kuenley subdued the demoness of the Dochula with his "Magic Thunderbolt of wisdom". A wooden effigy of the lama's thunderbolt is preserved in the temple, and the childless women can go to the temple to receive a wang (blessings) from the saint. There is a statue of lama and his dog, as well as that of the Lama Zhabdrung, Sakyamuni, Chenrezig and lama's brother Ngwang Chogyal.
3. Gangtey Gompa: It was founded in 16th century by Pema Thinley, grandson of PemaLingpa.
4. Phobjekha Valley: It is one of the most beautiful valley in Bhutan and it is also the winter home for the Black-necked Crane.

Trongsa

1. Trongsa Dzong: It is one of the most impressive dzong of Bhutan looking at the size, design and position. It was first erected in 1543 by lama Ngagi Wangchuk. It was then enlarged by Chogyak Minjur Tempa in 1652.It contains 23 temples ans press where religious books are printed in traditional form.
2. Ta Dzong: meaning- watch tower. Its architecture protruding from the main building is unusual. The main temple established in 1977, is dedicated for Gesar, the deity and hero of the great epic.
3. Kungarabten: It is 1 hour drive from Trongsa to the south. It was the winter palace of our second King Jigme Wangchuck. The palace is a impressive building with superb wood work and decorations.

Bumthang

1. Jakhar Dzong: The fortress of white bird, was founded in 1549 by lama Ngagi Wangchuk who saw a white bird when he was looking for a place to built a temple. Was enlarged by Zhabdrung and restored by Desi(Temporal Ruler) tenzin Rabgye.
2. Kurje Lhakhang: It is named after the body print of Guru Rinpoche which is preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the three buildings.
3. Tamshing Monastery: It was built by Pemal Lingpa from 1501-1505. It contains some of the most remarkable paintings of this periond of Himalaya.
4. Jambay Lhakhang: It is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (the 33rd Tibetan king) to subdue the evil spirits in the Himalayan region.
5. Mebartsho: Meaning burning lake, but it is more gorge than a lake and the name refers to the most famous episode of Pemalingpa's life.

Mongar

• Mongar Dzong: The original structure of the dzong was established in the year 1930 replacing the original Zhongar dzong. The present dzong was rebuilt in the year 1953.

Trashigang

1. Trashigang Dzong: The dzong was built in 1659 by Trongsa Penlop Minjur Tenpa and served for centuries as an administrative headquarters and monastic body.
2. Rangjung Woesel Choeling Monastery: It was founded by Dungse Garab Dorje Rinpoche in the year 1989. The main objective of establishing the monastery is to provide a conducive environment for the study of Buddha dharma as expounded in the Dudjom New Treasure Lineage and carry out dharma activities for the benefit of the Buddhist community living in and around the monastery.

Trashiyangtse

1. Gomphu Kora: Gomphu kora temple stands jon terraced paddy fields above the river. Near it is a huge rock marks the holy place where Guru Rinpoche is said to have subdued demon. An important festival is held here in March or April.
2. Chorten Kora: Chorten Kora is an important stupa next to the Kulong Chu River in Trashiyangtse. The stupa was built in the 18th century by Lama Ngawang Lodro, the nephew of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in order to subdue a harmful demon believed to have been living at the site where the chorten is now located. The stupa is modeled after the famous Boudhanath stupa in Nepal popularly known as Jarung Khashor.