Paro
Second largest town in Bhutan
Paro is a prosperous, bustling community of farmers,
traders, civil servants and students. Bhutan’s famous
red rice only grows in the Paro Valley while the
government farm near the airport produces root and
seed stock for distribution throughout Bhutan and
Asia. The western end of the valley is only 20kms from
the Tibetan border and for centuries it has been the
first point of entry for Tibetans, either invading armies
or traders. The shops in Paro market are crammed
with a variety of trade goods from both China and
India. Prices are cheap for some goods - a bottle of gin
for £2. Paro is home to many government officers and
their families, as it is the district headquarters,
administered by the Dzongdha (Regional Governor)
from the famous medieval Rimpu Dzong.
Rimpu Dzong - dominates the valley. The first
monastery was built here in the tenth century, and was
subsequently rebuilt several times over the centuries.
Destroyed by fire in 1905, it was rebuilt exactly as the
original design, without nails or cement. Now the main
Paro monastery and the headquarters of all
government offices which administer the western
region of Bhutan. It is guarded on the river side by a
15th century covered bridge (also built without nails)
and on the high side by Ta Dzong (The Watch Tower).
Ta Dzong - The Watch Tower above Rimpu Dzong, since
1967, has housed the National Museum of Bhutan.
Through the arrow-slit windows there are views over
the Dzong bridge, the Queen Mother’s Palace and the
paddy fields lining the river.
Taktsang - a steep, 1½-hour hike to a teahouse, where
we enjoyed a great view of Takstang Monastery (its
name means “tiger’s nest”), perched on a cliff 900
metres above the valley floor. The ‘Tiger’s Nest’ was
home to Guru Rimoche when he first came to Bhutan.
The monastery seems to hang suspended from the
sheer cliff face. All Bhutanese try to make a pilgrimage
to Takstang at least once in their lifetime. In 1998 the
buildings of Takstang were destroyed by fire but they
have since been completely rebuilt.
Drukyel Dzong - situated on the western extremity of
the valley, until its destruction in 1950, it was for
centuries the first line of defense against Tibetan
invaders. Great views of Chomalhari, Bhutan’s 2nd
highest peak.
Kyichu Lhakong - a 7th century temple, from where
Buddhism was spread throughout Bhutan by disciples
of Guru Rimpoche. We were only allowed to enter the
forecourt but could sense the atmosphere of antiquity
and sanctity.
Hillside Villages
We trekked to our guide, Dorgi Tshering's, family village
and house perched on the mountain side. There was
no road into the village.
