Bhutan is called the land of happy people, and a beautiful city called Paro has been built in the Paro Valley, 51 km away from the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. There is a lot of history and stories associated with this beautiful city. Therefore, Paro in Bhutan can be a memorable pleasure trip for travel lovers.
Best Time to Visit Paro: October to November
October to November is the best time to visit Paro because the sky is clear, and the weather is good. The nature of Bhutan is very beautiful in the eyes of tourists. Additionally, when you travel to Paro, you can experience Bhutanese festivals. The number of travelers to Bhutan from March to May is also considerable.
Must-See Sights in Paro
Paro is a sacred city to the Bhutanese. Along the way, you will see various Buddhist shrines. Additionally, you can see sky-high mountains everywhere in Paro City. In fact, the whole city is worth seeing. However, some notable places to visit are:
Rinpung Dzong: The word Rinpung means “heap of jewels.” This Rinpung Dzong is the biggest fort in Paro City. It is mainly the residence of Buddhist monks. Paro City looks very beautiful from here.
Ta Dzong: Built behind Rinpung Dzong, Ta Dzong is basically a museum, although it was once used as an observation tower. Currently, there are various paintings of traditional and religious significance in Bhutan.
National Museum: Ancient stamps and coins of Bhutan can be seen in the National Museum. This museum was once Ta Dzong Fort.
Drukgyal Dzong: Just 15 km from the National Museum, Drukgyal Dzong is the ruins of a fortress on the Tibetan border.
Tiger’s Nest or Tiger’s Monastery: Paro Tiger’s Nest Temple is located on a steep hilltop in the Paro Valley, 80 km north of Paro. The walk to Tiger’s Monastery is quite beautiful. There is a coffee shop here. The temple is also known as “Taktsang/Taksang” to the local Bhutanese. Besides, there is an opportunity to do trekking in Tiger’s Nest.
Kyichu Monastery: A huge idol of Guru Padmasambhava is installed in the main room of Kyichu Monastery. There is also an orange grove here.
Paro Chhu: The word Chhu means river, and Paro Chhu is the only river in Paro. The characteristic of this river is its flowing clear water, which calms the mind.
Iron Bridge: Iron Bridge is an ancient structure located on the Paro River beside the Thimphu highway.
Chomolhari: “Chomolhari” is a sacred mountain to the people of Bhutan and Tibet.
Accommodation in Paro: Where to Stay
Paro is the best place to stay in Bhutan. Many types of hotels can be found here along the main road. You will find several hotels in the range of 900 to 2200 taka. However, some hotels on the top of the hill are a bit more expensive. Among the good quality hotels are Peljorling, Samdup Soling, Jamling, Pemling, Parle Cottage, Jurmi Dorji, Mandela Resort, Dewachen Resort, Kitchu Resort, Hotel Olathang, and Hotel Druk. Also, there are several hotels to stay in opposite the police station and near the Paro bus stand, such as the City Hotel, KK Hotel, Hotel Dragon, Base Camp Hotel, and Hotel Zigmelling. Many Bangladeshi people prefer to stay in these hotels as many Bengali dishes are available.
Dining in Paro: Where to Eat
For those who prefer to eat vegetables rather than meat, Paro has various vegetarian food options. In fact, the people of Paro, Bhutan prefer vegetarian food, and every vegetarian dish is very interesting to eat. Among the slightly different dishes, you will find Datshi, which is actually a cow’s milk cheese, and Ema Datshi (a type of stew cooked with melted cheese).
Shopping in Paro: Souvenirs and Local Goods
For shopping lovers, there is no dearth of places to shop in Paro. You can buy various souvenirs, handwoven cloths, and wooden items from the handicraft emporium. You can also buy various showpieces, silk and woolen cloths, prayer wheels, etc., from Paro.
Paro Travel Tips: What You Need to Know
- Bhutanese people are very religious. They are very sensitive about their religion, customs, and culture. So even if something in their culture seems bad or different, refrain from making any harsh remarks about it.
- Bhutanese people do not kill any animals, but dogs are often seen roaming the streets. So, while walking on the road, be careful not to injure the dogs.
- Everything in Bhutan is very expensive, so when buying something, you should buy things as cheaply as possible.
- Take sneakers for walking on the hilly path, sunglasses, a sun cap to protect yourself from the hot sun, and an umbrella and raincoat for rain.
- If international roaming is not activated on the mobile SIM, the network will not be available from Phuentsholing. So you have to buy a Bhutan Tourist SIM separately.
- If you go to Paro via Thimphu and then return to Punakha, it will take a little more time, but the cost will be less.
- When it comes to renting a car, buying a car in Bhutan costs more, and renting a car in India requires a separate permit. So be careful about this.
- The currency of Bhutan is the Ngultrum, but the Indian Rupee is also used here. Try to spend Ngultrum inside Bhutan because this currency is not accepted anywhere except the border area of India.
- Bhutan is a very clean country, so avoid littering and spitting.
- Bhutan is a 100% smoke-free country. So if someone has a smoking habit, it should never be done in public. It is better to smoke in the smoking zone of the hotel. You will not be able to buy cigarettes anywhere in Bhutan, so if necessary, take some cigarettes with you from your country.
- Keep a first aid box and your necessary medicines with you.
