7 BEST PLACES TO VISIT AT BHUTAN

• Punakha Dzong - The Punakha Dzong is located in a serene surroundings. You have to cross the Punakha river on a swinging bridge to reach the fort which houses the monastery and the royal living quarters. The whole place is very majestic and decorative. It is quite a large space and it takes almost an hour to do even a quick tour tour of the place. The doors, windows and the courtyard are all so ornate and colourful. The prayer area is very colourful and the statues are large sized and realistic.
• Paro Taktsang - If you google Bhutan, it's impossible not to have come across an image of a monastery perched precariously in the cliff side. Yes, that's Paro Taktsang, also known as Tiger's Nest monastery. If it is your first time there, you ought to visit. According to legend, back in 8th century, Guru Rinpoche (second Buddha) flew here on the back of a tigress. Due to its location, the only way to reach up is to hike or you could hire a horse for a major part of the distance.
• Buddha Dordenma - Great Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan celebrating the 60th anniversary of fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The statue houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which, like the Great Buddha Dordenma itself, are made of bronze and gilded in gold. The Great Buddha Dordenma is sited amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of Sherab Wangchuck, the thirteenth Desi Druk, overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
• Dochula (Pass) - Nestled in the eastern edge of the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan boasts of spectacular mountain views and some of the happiest people in the world. And with this beautiful outlook of life came the creation of Dochula Pass, a breath-taking mountain pass, in commemoration of Bhutanese soldiers who passed away in military operations for the country. Along the Dochula Pass, there are 108 memorial chortens (also known as stupas) called the 'Druk Wangyal Chortens' for each soldier's life lost in war. The hills are also decorated with colourful religious flags in five colours to represent the natural elements: blue for the sky, red for fire, green for water, white for clouds, and yellow for earth. To the local Buddhist people, these flags are symbols of veneration and the inscriptions of prayers on each flag signals peace and prosperity for Bhutan.
• Tashichho Dzong - Tashichho Dzong is a fortress located about 2 km away from the city of Thimphu in Bhutan. It had been constructed in 1641 and underwent several restorations since then. It currently serves both as a monastery and the central secretariat of the present government. Also known as the "fortress of the glorious religion", it is found right on the banks of the Wangchhu River. Originally built in 1216, the original structure of the Tashichho Dzong was destroyed in a fire, with the current dzong structure being newly built. A lovely rose garden in front of the building welcomes the visitors to the fortress. The manicured garden surrounding the building is a beautiful sight too. The tall building is a prominent landmark of Thimphu with almost all sightseeing tours of the city beginning with a visit to this beautiful Dzong resplendent with a golden roof.
• Chele La Pass - Bhutan, being a country with a mountainous landscape, is linked with a series of passes. Located at approximately 13,000 feet between the valley of Paro and Haa, Chele La Pass is the highest motorable road pass in Bhutan. The pass is famous for the stunning Himalayan views it offers, especially Mt. Jhomolari which is Bhutan’s most sacred peak at 22,000 feet, Tsherimgang mountains, Jichu Drake as well as views of both the valleys, Paro and Haa. Just a two-hour drive from the valley floor in Paro, you will reach Chele La Pass, covered in untouched forests, home to thriving flora and fauna. The surrounding area of this pass has several ancient trails, perfect for hikers.
• Pobjikha valley - Against the backdrop of western slopes of the Black Mountains in Wangdue Phodrang, lies the bowl-shaped Phobjikha valley that offers breathtaking views of vast expanses of green fields. It is home to the endangered black-necked crane that migrates to this area during winters. Phobjikha valley also called Gangtey, is one of the few glacial valleys in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Bordering the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, the valley is located at an altitude of 3000m above sea level, and hence comparatively cooler. It boasts being the winter home to black-necked cranes that fly from Tibet to escape the harsh winter and also one of the most prominent conservative sites of Bhutan. Relatively untouched by outsiders, the use of electricity in the valley began only a few years ago.