Laya Gasa Trek

Rinpung Dzong, meaning "fortress on the heap of jewels," was constructed in 1644 under the directive of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Renowned as one of Bhutan’s most impressive dzongs, it exemplifies traditional Bhutanese architecture. Its inward-sloping walls create a formidable structure that stands high over the town, visible from vantage points throughout the valley as a striking white monolith.

Built in 1646, Rinpung Dzong has long been one of Bhutan's strongest and most significant fortresses, often used to protect the Paro Valley from Tibetan invasions. It withstood the 1897 earthquake, but after catching fire in 1907, it was rebuilt in 1908. Historically, it served as the National Assembly's first meeting hall, and today it houses a monastic school and government administrative offices.

Just west of the dzong, down the hill, is the Nyamai Zam, a traditional cantilever timber bridge crossing the Pachu River. An earlier version of the bridge was once dismantled to safeguard the dzong. Visitors can cross this bridge to reach the parking area near Ugyen Pelri Palace, with access to the main Paro market. The Paro Tshechu festival, highly popular with tourists, is also celebrated here.

Kyichu Lhakhang, built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, is among the oldest and most beautiful temples in Bhutan. Located a few kilometers from Paro town, it was established in 659 AD to pin down the left foot of a giant ogress believed to be obstructing the spread of Buddhism in the region.

Originally, Kyichu Lhakhang consisted only of the main shrine, the Jowo Lhakhang, which houses one of the valley’s most revered artifacts—a 7th-century statue of Jowo Sakyamuni. In 1839, additional structures and a golden roof were added by the Paro Penlop and the 25th Je Khenpo.

According to legend, Guru Padmasambhava visited the temple in the 8th century and hid numerous spiritual treasures there, further enhancing its sacred significance.

The Ta Dzong, now the National Museum of Bhutan, is a unique cylindrical structure shaped like a conch shell. Built in 1649 by Langonpa Tendzin Drugpa, the first Governor of Paro and half-brother of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it served originally as a watchtower to guard Paro Rinpung Dzong against invasions. Its strategic location right above the fortress provided an ideal vantage point.

In the past, the dzong served as the center of both state administration and spiritual life in the Paro Valley. The watchtower's design includes six spiral floors descending from the top, with stone walls two and a half meters thick. During its time as a watchtower, it not only accommodated soldiers but also held prisoners of war.

In the 1950s, the Bhutanese government undertook a complete renovation of the building to adapt it as a museum for the national collections. It opened to the public in 1968.

Today, the museum includes the main Ta Dzong building with six floors of exhibits and a secondary exhibition space in a modern structure located uphill. The ground floor offers a flexible gallery space for temporary and rotating exhibits.

Drukgyal Dzong, also known as Drukgyel, is a historic fortress and Buddhist monastery located in the upper Paro District of Bhutan. Built in 1649 by Tenzin Drukdra at the request of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it commemorates Bhutan’s victory over a Tibetan invasion. Named "The fortress of the victorious Drukpas," Drukgyal Dzong symbolized the Bhutanese identity, as "Drukpa" refers to the people of Bhutan. Nearby lies a local temple with a central image of Tara, worshipped by the people of Phangdo.

In the early 1950s, a fire severely damaged Drukgyal Dzong, reducing it to ruins, but much of the stone and rammed-earth walls remain, showcasing its historical defensive function. In 2016, to celebrate the birth of Bhutan’s Gyalsey (Crown Prince) and commemorate the arrival of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1616 and Guru Rinpoche's birth year, Prime Minister Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay announced plans to restore the dzong.

Though missing many wooden elements, the remaining structure clearly reflects its original design, allowing visitors to appreciate its medieval fortress architecture. Drukgyal Dzong is also on Bhutan’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage inclusion.

Gasa Dzong, also known as Gasa Tashi Tongmön Dzong, serves as the administrative center of Bhutan's Gasa District in the northwestern region. Built in the 17th century by Tenzin Drukdra, the second Druk Desi, it stands on a site first used as a meditation retreat by Drubthob Terkungpa in the 13th century. Originally constructed as a fortress to protect against northern invasions, it was later expanded by the fourth Desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye, who consecrated it with ritual objects in the Guardian's Temple (Mgon Khang).

The dzong holds great spiritual significance. Legend tells that upon Zhabdrung’s journey to Bhutan, Gasa’s deity traveled to Tibet to greet him, receiving the blessing and new name "Trashi Thongmoen." Consequently, the dzong was named in honor of the deity in 1648. Locals believe the surrounding landscape resembles the figure of Tsheringma, the Goddess of Long Life, with the dzong resting over her "chest," symbolizing protection and longevity for the region.

In January 2008, a fire severely damaged Gasa Dzong, necessitating restoration efforts to preserve its historical and spiritual essence.

Punakha Dzong, often hailed as Bhutan's most beautiful fortress, is especially enchanting in spring when the blooming lilac jacaranda trees enhance its whitewashed walls. Built in 1637, it served as Bhutan's capital until the 1950s and remains the winter residence of the monastic body. Known for its historical and religious significance, this dzong is where Bhutan’s kings are crowned.

Legend says Guru Rinpoche predicted the dzong’s location at the “trunk” of an elephant-shaped hill at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers. Initially, a smaller structure, Dzong Chung, housed a Buddha statue here in 1326. Expanded in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Punakha Dzong is named Pungthang Dechen Phodrang, meaning Palace of Great Happiness.

The dzong spans 180 meters in length and 72 meters in width, featuring a six-story central tower (utse) crowned by a gold dome. With three courtyards, it is unique among Bhutan’s dzongs, containing sacred relics, including the Rangjung Kharsapani, a revered image of Chenresig central to the annual dromchoe festival.

Visitors enter via the Bazam bridge, rebuilt in 2008. Defensive features include steep wooden stairs designed to retract and a massive wooden door closed each night. Noteworthy areas include the kunrey (assembly hall) with exquisite murals and gold statues of Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, and the Zhabdrung. To the north, Dzong Chung offers blessings from a Sakyamuni statue, while nearby lie a royal palace and a cremation ground. Punakha Dzong remains a vibrant symbol of Bhutan's spiritual and cultural heritage.

Perched majestically above the Punakha valley, Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten stands as a stunning example of Bhutanese art and architecture. Built by Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, this chorten serves not as a place for communal worship or education, but as a spiritual tool to ward off negative forces and promote peace for all living beings.

The chorten's intricate golden spire and elaborate wall patterns reflect Bhutan’s rich artistic traditions. From its top, visitors can enjoy serene views of a Bodhi tree, lush gardens, prayer wheels, and a small temple housing a peaceful Sakyamuni Buddha.

Inside, visitors encounter a grand 15- to 20-foot sculpture of Vajrakilaya, Bhutan’s most powerful protective deity, with 103 vivid 3D forms emerging from his main figure. This multi-layered deity exemplifies the complex, balanced beauty of Bhutanese spiritual art. Further shrines display other wrathful deities, their intense energies transformed by their consorts, illustrating the harmony between wrath and acceptance.

A final staircase leads to the roof, where a golden Sakyamuni Buddha greets visitors, providing a moment of peace and breathtaking views—a perfect photography spot. Reaching the chorten requires a scenic one-hour hike through rice paddies, pine forests, and over an ancient-style suspension bridge. This path, lined with traditional irrigation channels and prayer wheels, offers panoramic views of Punakha valley, making the journey as memorable as the destination.

The Wolakha Nunnery, also known as Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, is a newly constructed traditional nunnery located on a 1,550-meter hilltop in Punakha, Bhutan, directly opposite the historic Chimi Lhakhang. Though consecrated in 2010, the site, called Omalatsekha, has deep spiritual roots, having been visited by notable Buddhist masters, including Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. In the 1990s, Bhutan’s 69th Je Khenpo, Geshey Gendün Rinchen, predicted that a monastery would rise at this sacred location.

Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji and Yum Thuiji Zam, the maternal grandparents of Bhutan’s King, petitioned for a large-scale nunnery in this area. With the King’s approval, groundbreaking began on September 11, 2008, and by October 2010, the central statue, an eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara, was completed and consecrated by the 70th Je Khenpo, Trulku Jigme Chhoeda.

The nunnery, located on the southeastern spur of the mountain that also houses Talo Monastery and Nalanda Buddhist Institute, overlooks the Punakha Valley. The architectural layout includes a central rectangular lhakhang (temple) with perpendicular walls, adorned with a red khemar band and topped with a multi-tiered jabzhi roof. Nearby is a white-washed stupa, modeled after Kathmandu's Bodnath Stupa, ringed with niches depicting 84 mahasiddhis, 16 arhats, and prominent figures of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage. Surrounding these structures are dormitories and facilities supporting about 170 resident nuns, fostering both spiritual practice and traditional education in Bhutan’s monastic landscape.

The Great Buddha Dordenma is a monumental statue of Shakyamuni Buddha located in the mountains overlooking Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. Built to celebrate the 60th birthday of the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the statue also honors Bhutan’s monarchical centennial. Constructed at a height of 177 feet (54 meters), it is one of the world’s largest Buddha statues, containing over 125,000 smaller gilded Buddha statues inside—100,000 measuring 8 inches and 25,000 measuring 12 inches—all made of bronze and gilded in gold.

Situated on the historic site of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of the 13th Druk Desi, Sherab Wangchuk, the statue overlooks the southern approach to Thimphu. Construction began in 2006 and concluded in September 2015, costing over $47 million, funded largely by Singaporean businessman Rinchen Peter Teo. In total, the project exceeded $100 million.

The Great Buddha Dordenma fulfills two ancient prophecies. In the 20th century, yogi Sonam Zangpo predicted that a large statue would be built in this area to bring blessings and peace to the world, while Guru Rinpoche's ancient terma also referenced such a statue in the region.

Surrounding the statue is the Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park, opened in 2011, which preserves 943 acres of forest and includes outdoor gymnasiums introduced in 2015, offering a tranquil setting for both reflection and recreation.

This prominent white Thimphu Chorten, a major landmark in Thimphu, holds deep significance for Bhutanese, serving as a focal point of daily worship. Built in 1974 as a memorial to the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–72), the Tibetan-style stupa is best visited early in the morning, when elderly devotees quietly circumambulate, families light butter lamps, and schoolchildren in traditional ghos and kiras perform a quick kora (ritual walk around the chorten).

The chorten, with its golden finial catching the sunlight, has richly painted annexes facing each cardinal direction, adorned with elaborate mandalas, statues, and a shrine honoring the beloved king. Activities continue from dawn until after dark, though tourists are advised not to visit at night to allow for uninterrupted local worship. Near the main entrance, dedicated elderly devotees are often seen turning giant prayer wheels, adding to the chorten's vibrant atmosphere.

Paro Taktsang Goemba, or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, is perhaps Bhutan’s most famous monastery, dramatically perched on a cliffside, 3,000 feet above Paro Valley. Nestled among a forest of blue pine and rhododendrons, the monastery is steeped in legend. It is said that Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava) arrived here on the back of a tigress, a manifestation of his consort Yeshe Tsogyal, to subdue the demon Singye Samdrup. Following this, he meditated in a cave at the site for three years.

Guru Padmasambhava, revered as the figure who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan, is considered the country’s spiritual protector. Paro Taktsang is the most famous of the thirteen “tiger lair” caves where he meditated. Each year, a festival called Tsechu, held in March or April, celebrates Padmasambhava’s life and legacy in Paro Valley.

The main temple, or Lhakhang, was constructed in 1692 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye, the Governor (Penlop) of Paro, around the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated.