Thimphu:
It is the capital of Bhutan, situated at 2,285 m (7,500
ft) above sea level. Just over 30 years old, this tiny
Himalayan city was built by the late king Jigme Dorje
Wangchuk in order to replace the ancient capital of Punakha.
Quiet and peaceful with its streets lined with traditional
shop fronts. Beautiful textiles in wool, silver jewelry,
thangkas and other traditional crafts of the kingdom are
available in various Handicrafts Emporiums.
Paro:
Paro, the winter capital of Bhutan, is 52 km far away
from Thimphu. With patchwork fields, willow glades, murmuring
trout filled streams and scattered hamlets, Paro is the
most attractive of Bhutan’s valleys. Bursting with
colour and tradition, this tiny town is overlooked by
a dramatic Dzong, while hamlets and isolated farms dot
the countryside. The houses here are considered to be
among the most beautiful in the country.
Punakha:
Located at an altitude of 4430 ft above sea level, Punakha
had once been the winter capital of Bhutan. It is still
being used as the winter home to Bhutan’s spiritual
leader and the monks of Thimphu and Paro. Blessed with
temperate climate and fed by Pho-Chu (male) and Mochu
(female) rivers, it is the most fertile valley and best
red rice grower in the kingdom. During a clear weather
one can have a splendid view of the distant Himalayan
snow capped peaks at Docha La (pass) on Thimphu-Punakha
road. It takes about two and half hours to reach from
Thimphu.
Bumthang:
The valleys of Trongsa and Bumthang are separated by Yutola
pass. Bumthang has its own unique geographical feature
that separates it from all other regions. Composed of
four smaller valleys, the deeply spiritual region of Bumthang
is shrouded in religious legend. The valley is home to
sacred Jampa and Kurjey monasteries. Bumthang is also
the traditional home to the great Buddhist teacher Pema
Lingpa to whom the present monarchy traces its central
lineage. Tsechu festival in Bumthang is one of the most
popular festivals in Bhutan.
Wangdue Phodrang:
This is the last town on the highway before entering central
Bhutan. Sitting on the top of a hill, the formidable Dzong
is the town’s most visible features. In the 17th
century, Wangdue played a crucial role in unifying western,
central and southern Bhutan. The town itself is little
more than an enlarged village with well-provided shops
and hotels. The road from Wangdue to Trongsa is one of
the prettiest in Bhutan passing through streams forest
and villages before climbing the Pelela Pass on the Black
Mountain ranges into the Trongsa valley. South of the
highway is the Gangtey Gompa, an old monastery dating
from the 17th century.
