PARO VALLEY
Generally visitors enter the Kingdom at Paro by the National Airline,
Druk Air. This beautiful valley, if ever a place exists, here
nature and man consulted to create their dearest image, it must
be the valley of Paro. Mt. Chomolhari 7320m reigns in white glory
at the northern end of the valley and its glacial waters plunge
through deep gorges to form the Pa-chu (Paro River). Paro is one
of the most fertile valleys in the kingdom producing a bulk of
the famous red rice from its terraced fields home to some of Bhutan’s
oldest temples & monasteries.
Drugyal Dzong: which means victorious fortress
was built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel to commemorate
his victory over the Tibetan invaders, led by Mingolian warlord,
Gushri Khan in 1644. Strategically built over the only passage
into Paro valley, the dzong helped to repel numerous invasions
all through the course of Bhutanese history. It so impressed early
visitors that in 1914 the dzong featured on the cover of the National
Geographic magazine. The dzong was gutted by an accidental fire
in 1951. The ruins, as still attract tourists.
Taktsang Monastery: literally means the Tiger’s
den. This temple clings precariously to a granite cliff 800m above
the Paro valley. Legend has it that the great Guru Padmasambhava
flew to this spot on back of a tigress and meditated in a cave
during the 8th century. The temple was built around the cave and
is a hallowed shrine for Bhutanese Pilgrims. A terrible fire in
April 1998 destroyed Taktsang’s medieval wall paintings
and all inner temples. A new construction has already begun by
the royal Government.
Rinpung Dzong: meaning the fortress on a heap
of Jewels was built during the time of Shabdrung in 1946. The
approach to the dzong is through a traditional covered bridge.
A walk to the dzong offers a good view of the architectural wonder
of the dzong as well as life around it. The dzong now houses the
Paro monastic school and the office of the civil administration.
It is also the venue of the great Paro Tshechu (festival) held
once a year in spring.
Ta Dzong: looking down upon the Rinpung dzong
was built in 1651 as a watch tower. The Ta Dzong is round more
like parts of a European castle. Since 1967 the dzong was re-established
as the national museum and holds fascinating collections of arts,
relics and religious thankha paintings.
Farm House: the beauty of Paro valley is embellished
by cluster of quaint farm houses. Bhutanese houses are very colourful
and traditionally built without the use of a signal nail. The
house looks very big from outside but is quite simple inside.
Its normally three storeys. The ground floor is always used for
cattle while the attic is used to store hay. The families live
in the middle floor. The best room is always kept for the family
chapel. A visit to a farm house is very interesting and offers
a good glimpse into the lifestyle of a farmer.