Tourist Places In Bhutan

1. Rinpung Dzong

Rinpung Dzong is a beautiful dzong (fort), with towering walls, built in the 16th century. Known as the Fortress on a Heap of Jewels, Rinpung Dzong is among the best tourist places to visit in Bhutan and a classic example of Bhutanese architecture and deep rooted traditions. You can look at the Bhutan tourist places map for its exact location.

The entire area is filled with various temples and shrines. Some of the shrines are, Kungarwa, Monk’s assembly hall, Sandalwood stupa, protector’s shrine and so on. Every year there is an annual festival of tshechu and it is held in Rinpung Dzong and it starts from the eleventh day to the fifteenth day and the day is marked in Bhutan’s lunar calendar. If you want to know the months properly then it’s the months of March to April.

In this festival holy images are carried in a procession, and this very thing is followed by the mask dances which tells many stories and these are performed by the monks for many days. On the fifteenth day before the dawn breaks a sacred banner which consists of eight manifestations of Padmasambhava is showed for the public in those early hours and the tradition is that there will be no sunlight to fall on the banner.

2. Chele La Pass

Located at an altitude of about 3,989 meters, Chele La pass is among the popular tourist places in Bhutan. The magnificent pass is en-route the Haa Valley in Paro. On a nice and clear day, you can experience the Jomolhari mountain from here and the adjacent peaks from the northwest side and can view the valleys of Haa and Paro as well.

This pass is located at the 13,000 feet above in the west from the Paro valley, it is the highest road pass of Bhutan and is surrounded with amazing views of the Himalayan range, and the Mount Jomolhari, which is this country’s most sacred mountain and it’s over 22,000 feet. To reach this place you have to take one and a half hour drive from the valley floor of Paro.

Another attraction of this place is the Haa summer festival, and this is the symbol of the rich culture of the nomadic heaps. You can have a small excursion, which will take only 2 and a half hours, as many tourists visit this place for the excursion in here.

3. Punakha Dzong

 Punakha Dzong is the second largest dzong in Bhutan(The Land of Thunderbolt) and is known for its brilliant structure. Among the best tourist places in Bhutan, the dzong speaks volumes about the beautiful stories and traditions of the Buddhist culture. Do not miss this on your Bhutan sightseeing tour.

Punakha is the winter capital of this country and the head clergy of Bhutan spends the winter in this popular Dzong. The Punakha Dzong is situated on the 1,200 meters and on this height no one ever suffers from height sickness or oxygen shortage, so if you are thinking about hiking, then you can aim for the higher place such as Paro Taktsang or tiger’s nest and it’s a very ideal place for beginners.

This dzong is considered the most beautiful one in the country and the very first national assembly was held here in 1953. This is the second largest fortress in Bhutan and most popular one as well. To finish the building of this dzong took a year and the most interesting fact is that this building has no usage of nails. Almost every national treasure of the country is kept here, and in here the king of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck got married to the Queen Jetsun Pema in 2011.

4. Buddha Dordenma Statue

The Buddha Dordenma Statue is a 169 feet tall statue of Buddha, built at the foot of the hills in Thimphu. This iconic gold and bronze statue is visible from almost anywhere in Thimphu and is among the best tourist places in Bhutan.

This is a statue of Buddha and it’s a giant one at the top of the mountains in Thimpu and it’s also known as the Kunzang Phodrang. The presence of this giant statue of Buddha symbolizes the dominant religion of Bhutan. This very religion plays a solid part in this country and in the everyday life of the country people. You will see the string of flags at the roadsides and the several praying wheels around the clock tower, which is at the midst of the town.

There are small temples and the various paintings that adorn the walls that are made of cement and rock. Buddha dordenma is the largest statue and it’s 52.5 meters tall and made of bronze. Inside this figure, there are 125,000 small figurines of the same. There are 25,000 and 12 inches ones and 100,000 8 inches one.

5. Dochula Pass

Dochula Pass is a beautiful pass consisting of 108 Chortens or Stupas, built in the memory of the Bhutanese soldiers who died in a war against the insurgents from India. The beautifully built temple and stupas, with the picturesque Gangkar Puensum peak in the background, makes the Dochula Pass one of the most beautiful tourist places in Bhutan. Dochula pass is situated at on the way to Punakha and Thimpu.

This very pass is a popular location for every tourist who visits the country. From the pass, you can have a panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range, and you must know the view is very beautiful from the top. You will get to see the snow covered mountains and the amazing backdrop of the place. So many Bhutanese families enjoy their holidays in this area, they have small picnics, and some just come here to enjoy the view. You can have pack your lunch and have tea in a flask and come here to enjoy the food and hot tea.

6. Tiger’s Nest

Tiger’s Nest or Taktsang Monastery is one of the must visit places in Bhutan. It is known for the beautiful and the sacred monastery of Guru Rinpoche. It is considered as a place of pilgrimage and is an easy half trek, which gives you the panoramic views of the Paro valleys.

According to the legends, Guru Rinpoche also considered as the second Buddha rode to this place on a tigress’s back to suppress a local demon and thus he meditated here for 3 months. This place is Bhutan’s most religious site and it hangs on the cliff as it stands above the lush forest of thousands of species of rhododendrons and blue pine.

Tourists can come to this monastery by standard permits which your guide will arrange for you. Also, you have to register your at the entrance deposit your cameras and bags because photography is prohibited inside of the temple.

7. National Museum Of Bhutan

The National Museum of Bhutan tops the list of Bhutan tourist attractions. Built in the year of 1968 and set above the famous Rinpung Dzong, it was constructed to exhibit the famous Bhutanese art. From contemporary paintings to ancient statues, the museum today houses about 3000 masterpieces and exhibits more than 1,500 years of cultural heritage of Bhutan. This place is also the photo gallery of the country and many Bhutanese holds their dance ceremonies in this place as well.

The building is currently under some temporary building but you can visit the other parts of it as the museum is divided into portions for wildlife, masks, and so on. At the evening time the museum lights up and you can visit the place to take amazing photos. Apart from masks and wildlife, you will get to experience the pretty flora and fauna in this place and get to view the brief history of Bhutan as well.