| Paro སྤ་ རོ་ | ||
 | ||
| State | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix tel | 975 8 | |
| Time zone | UTC 6 | |
Position
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Paro (སྤ་ རོ་) is a city of Western Bhutan.
To know
Paro, with its neat and colorful houses, seems to have come out of a fairytale world; it also houses the largest and most spectacular dzongs in the kingdom, a symbol of Bhutanese architecture. It is a historic city with many sacred sites and historic buildings scattered around its area. Furthermore, the Paro Valley is wide and verdant and is recognized as one of the most beautiful in all of Bhutan. Paro is typically chosen by nature lovers who want to spend a quiet and peaceful time. However, aside from the main street (which is built with traditional wooden structures), the bazaar area is a nondescript jumble of concrete buildings that is totally lacking in charm and character. With Jakar is Punakha, Paro forms the "golden triangle" of Bhutan's most popular tourist destinations.
Many scenes from the film Little Buddha by Bernardo Bertolucci were set in Rinpung Dzong, the main dzong of the city.
The excellent location on national road junctions has made Paro the largest and most important commercial center in Bhutan.
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Geographical notes
Paro is located east of the mountain Jomolhari, the sacred mountain for the Bhutanese.
Background
Rinpung Dzong a fortress-monastery overlooking the Paro valley has a long history. At the beginning of the 10th century a monastery was initially built on the site by Padma Sambhava, but it was not until 1644 that Ngawang Namgyal built a larger monastery on the old foundations; for centuries this imposing five-story building served as an effective defense against numerous invasion attempts by the Tibetans.
Built with stones instead of clay, the Dzong was named Rinpung, which means "heaps of jewels", but Rinpung and all its treasures were destroyed by the fire in 1907. Only one was saved. thangka, known as Thongdel. The Paro dzong was rebuilt by the Penlop Dawa Penjor after the fire. Housed within its walls is a collection of sacred masks and costumes. Some date back several centuries; others have been conferred by Dawa Penjor and his successor Penlop Tshering Penjor in recent times.
On the hill above the dzong is an ancient lookout tower called Ta Dzong which has been the National Museum of Bhutan since 1967. Across a medieval bridge under the dzong is the Ugyen Pelri Palace, a royal residence built by the penlop Tshering Penjor.
How to orient yourself
Paro (Bhutan): full screen map.
Along the main street is a traditional architecture complex with richly decorated buildings housing small shops, institutions and restaurants.
How to get
By plane
Paro boasts the only one 1 international airport (IATA: PBH) of the country, located in a deep valley. Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) is the main airline serving the airport and offering flights to and from Bangkok, Delhi, Dhaka, Katmandu is Calcutta. Bhutan Airlines instead it serves Paro from Kathmandu, Delhi and Calcutta.
L' Paros airport has been described as one of the most dangerous airports in the world. The airport has only one runway. Approaching airplanes tower 5,500m above the peaks Himalayans and the track length of 1,980 m represents a double challenge. As a result, only a handful of airline pilots (8 as of December 2014) are certified to operate commercial airplanes here. Approximately 30,000 people arrive at the airport every year.
By car
You can hire a taxi from Thimphu and reach Paro in about 45 minutes. The 30km ride is very pleasant, as the roads continue to unwind at every bend.
How to get around
By taxi
Taxis are available for hire within the main bazaar.
By car
As the main tourist sites of Paros are scattered throughout the valley, a vehicle is required to get around.
What see
- 1 Taktsang Monastery (Lair of the Tiger). Perched precariously on the edge of a 1,200-meter cliff, this monastery creates an impressive sight and is the unofficial symbol of Bhutan. It is a 2/3 hour hike, totally uphill, from the parking lot to the monastery, although there is a café located on the ridge in front of Taktsang (about 90 minutes on foot) which offers a welcome opportunity to rest and buy snacks. Taktsang was established as a sacred place for meditation by Guru Rinpoche who visited the site on his second visit to Bhutan in 747 AD, although the first monastery was not built until 1694. In 1998 a tragic fire destroyed most of the buildings. originals, but these have since been painstakingly restored to their former glory.
- 2 National Museum of Bhutan. Located in an ancient watchtower (which itself is a museum piece) above the dzong, the museum displays artifacts from Bhutan's history, as well as indigenous examples of flora and fauna.
- 3 Rinpung Dzong (Paro dzong). Built in 1646.
- 4 Drukgyel Dzong. This dzong was built in the 16th century to commemorate a victory over the invading forces Tibetan. The fortress today lies in ruins, bad weather and a fire in the 1950s damaged the site. Drukyel dzong is about 15 km from Paro.
- Drakhapo (Above Shaba, keeping the Shaba school to the right, then following the dirt road to the end. The complex is a five minute walk from here). Drakhapo is a monastic complex perched on a cliff. Guru Rinpoche spent two months here after completing a retreat in nearby Taktsang and placed many treasures during his stay (terma) in the cliff. The area also has several hand and footprints set in the rock.
- Kichu Lhakang (It is located just off the road between Paro bazar and Taktsang). It is one of 108 monasteries that are said to have been miraculously built by King Songten Gampo in one night.
- Jangsarbu Lhakhang (Located behind the Paro Dzong). This small, bland-looking temple is home to a magnificent statue of Buddha Sakyamuni brought from Lhasa and which is also home to the patron deity of Paro. Legend has it that the Sakyamuni statue was intended for the Paro Dzong and was simply placed in the temple for overnight custody. However, when it came time to move the statue, it proved impossible to lift it. As a result, it became a permanent feature of Lhakhang.
Events and parties
- Paro Tsechu.
Around February-March. Religious festival.
Around February-March. Religious festival.What to do
- Trek to Taktsang Monastery. Three-hour hike to the monastery located on top of a vertical cliff. The path is quite intuitive once you reach the starting point, plus there are many people going / returning from it. The trek takes you through green wooded areas and very scenic spots. Talking to those who take the same route, especially locals and lamas (monks), is a great way to get to know, understand and absorb their beautiful culture. There is a coffee shop about halfway, in case you need refreshments or an expensive but tasty meal.
- 1 Darts. You can watch the locals play and practice a different kind of darts game during the evenings on the riverside near the Bhutan Telecom office.
Shopping
- Kiras. The elegant traditional dress consisting of a cloth wrapped around like a skirt with a jacket to the top worn by Bhutanese women. Kiras are much cheaper in stores that are "general stores", as this is where the locals go shopping.
- Souvenir. The city is dotted with souvenir shops. Bargaining is recommended, especially if you buy items worth more than 400 Nu.
How to have fun
Night clubs
- Champaca Café, Main Street, ☎ 975 77212057. A relaxing cafe located in a traditional Bhutanese house. Great coffee and pastries.
- Zhiwa Ling Hotel. It has a nice bar serving top notch western spirits and international beers. In addition, the hotel has a nightclub on the ground floor.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- Peljorling hotel (Near the clock tower), ☎ 975 8 271-365. Excellent local and Indian cuisine at reasonable prices.
- First Floor Hotel (At the main bazaar). Simple, no-frills Bhutanese dishes and large portions at reasonable prices.
- Tandin Hotel, ☎ 975 8-272016. Contact them for fresh gnocchi (momo), Bhutanese dishes, noodles. Reasonable price.
Average prices
- Sonam Trophel Restaurant (On the main road), ☎ 975 8 28287, 975 17602292. It's not a very big restaurant, but one of the best in town. It is advisable to call and book in advance. Some recommended dishes (which aren't on the menu but can be ordered) are ginger potatoes, pumpkin curry, and marinated chicken momo.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- Sonam Trophel Hotel (Located in the heart of the city). The hotel is a familiar and distinctive landmark, traditional architecture and wood paintings, apart from the glass and concrete conformity of the other hotels. There are 10 rooms including 2 luxury suites. The rooms are equipped with basic modern amenities including large attached bathrooms with hot / cold running water, color TV with satellite channels, STD / ISD direct dial, laundry. WiFi connectivity and parking are also available.
Average prices
- Hotel KK. Nice rooms but extremely slow service in food and rude staff.
- Jor-yangz hotel (On the hill above the airport). Nice rooms with some of them having a great view over the Paro valley, efficient service.
- Holiday Inn Hotel (Located near the end of the airport complex), ☎ 975 8 272-101, @[email protected]. A ground floor hotel convenient to the airport and close to the main city. Friendly and efficient service. Pleasant rooms
High prices
- Aman Resort, @[email protected].
Single: from USD 1,000. A very expensive and luxurious hotel. - Como Paro Hotel (Uma), ☎ 975 8 271597, @[email protected]. A historic building converted into a hotel offering fantastic views over the Paro Valley. They serve "healthy food".
- Nak Sel Hotel and Spa, ☎ 975 8 272989. A luxury hotel, owned by Rainbow Tours, with about forty guest rooms. The hotel rooms have views of Tiger's Nest and Mt. Jomolhari.
- Zhiwa Ling Hotel, Satsam Chorten, ☎ 975 8 271277, @[email protected]. A large hotel which emphasizes traditional Bhutanese architecture. Located near some monasteries.
Single: from USD 1,000. A very expensive and luxurious hotel.Safety
How to keep in touch
Internet
There are a couple of internet cafes in the main bazaar. The most convenient is on the street behind the main square, near the bakery. However, internet connections in Paro are notoriously slow so be prepared for a very long wait.
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Paro (Bhutan)
Commons contains images or other files on Paro (Bhutan)
