Paro

Hiking to the Tiger's Nest

The Tiger's Nest, or Paro Taktsang, sits on a cliff at about 3,120 m, roughly 900 m above the Paro valley and about 10 km north of town. The hike up takes around three hours one way on a mule track through pine forest hung with prayer flags, so plan a full day with an early start.

Legend says Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, flew here on the back of a tigress and meditated in a cave in the cliff. The monastery around the cave was built in 1692 by the fourth Druk Desi, Tenzin Rabgye. A fire on 19 April 1998 destroyed the main building and its paintings; it was restored with government support and completed in 2005.

Halfway up, a cafeteria at the viewpoint across the ravine gives the classic photograph of the monastery. From there the path drops to a bridge beside a waterfall of about 60 m, then climbs steps to the entrance. Leave cameras at the gate, as photography is not allowed inside.

Rinpung Dzong, the National Museum and Kyichu Lhakhang

Paro's other sights fit into one unhurried day. Begin at the National Museum in the Ta Dzong watchtower, walk down to Rinpung Dzong and across the old cantilever bridge, then drive a few kilometres north to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest temples.

Rinpung Dzong was consecrated in 1646 as the administrative and monastic centre of western Bhutan, and it still houses the district monks and offices. Its courtyard hosts the Paro Tsechu, a spring festival of masked dances. The Ta Dzong above it, completed in 1649, now holds the National Museum.

Kyichu Lhakhang is traditionally dated to 659 and attributed to the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, one of a group of temples built to subdue a demoness across the Himalaya. Further up the valley, the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, built in 1649 to mark a victory over Tibetan invaders, were partly destroyed by fire in 1951.

Spring and autumn skies and how to plan a Paro visit

The best months for Paro are March to May and October to November, when skies are clear for the mountains and highs sit between 17 and 23°C. Winter days are sunny but nights drop below freezing, and the monsoon from June to September brings most of the rain and cloud.

Most visitors book through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, who arranges the visa, hotels and a driver.

Paro is the natural first and last stop on any route, since every international flight lands here. Drive to Thimphu in about 1 to 1.5 hours, or cross Chele La to the Haa valley. Read our Bhutan travel guide for the rest of the country.