A drive through to the valley covered with mountain ranges around you with beautiful scenery is something every itinerary should have. And to experience this there is not a better place than our neighboring country Bhutan. The place is filled with flora and fauna of rare exotic species. The rivers originating from the foothills of The Himalayas and meandering down the country gives a rippling experience all along the journey. Known as the land of thunderbolts you can enjoy calm and serendipity here as well as enjoy adventurous hiking trips, going on mountain bike rides, and many more adventures. Bhutan is a small country sharing borders with India along with the states of West Bengal and Sikkim. People tend to visit Bhutan during summers as a small trip to escape from the hard tiring life schedule.

Here we look at some of the best places to visit Bhutan.

1. Thimphu

The capital and largest city within the kingdom, Thimphu is situated in the western part of central Bhutan, is one of the country’s most stunning valleys. The town Thimphu may be a widely detached place that lies on the banks of the Wang Chhu River. While the Thimphu doesn’t have a surprising nightlife for the younger generations of holidaymakers, it does have many amazing and astounding sights to determine, including the Tashichho Dzong, the traditional fortress monastery at the sting of the town. Monasteries are a special attraction while shopping here is also quite nice and cheap. You can taste authentic Bhutanese food here in some of the best restaurants in the country. The journey via road is also mesmerizing here.

Some of the best places to visit in Thimphu are

1. TrashiChho Dzong- This is one of the biggest forts in Thimphu and is a host to some of the biggest cultural events in the country. The place has been destroyed 5 times due to war but has been rebuilt continuously.

2. National Memorial Chorten– The place is known for its scenic beauty and people visit here to worship the Lord, mostly the natives. The architecture is beautiful with white marble walls and golden roofs.

2. Paro

 Paro is one among the foremost fertile furthermore as the historic valley of Bhutan which is that the widest within the Kingdom. It has long-lasting monasteries of Bhutan- The Tiger’s nest or the Taktsang is situated over a cliff in Paro. Besides this, Paro has numerous sites that are worth visiting, from Monasteries to Museums just like the Rinpung Dzong, National Museum of Bhutan and also the Paro weekend marketplace for the Shopaholics. It is the only place to have an airport in Bhutan and is one of the most beautiful valleys which you can find here.

Some of the best places to visit in Paro, Bhutan are

1. Tiger nest- It is a monastery that is located on top of a hill with the view. The name is given so as there are tales regarding a tiger demon heard from priests in the monasteries.

2. Airport View Point- this is a very tiny airport surrounded by the river along both the side. There are only a few pilots who can land a plane here as everyone is not certified to land in Paro. The scenic view of the airport is also great.

3. Phuentsholing

It is right across the border of India and Bhutan and is generally known as the gateway to Bhutan and must-visit place in Bhutan. Phuentsholing is the second largest town in Bhutan and serves as an economic hub and trade center for Bhutan. It shares a border with West Bengal and people visiting Bhutan by road generally start their tour from Phuentsholing. It is one of the most developed towns in Bhutan and offers something different from the others.

Some places to visit in Phuentsholing, Bhutan are

1. Bhutan Gate- This is a big entrance where people enter Bhutan from India.

2. Torsa River Side- This is a beautiful walk from phuentsholing and people often go here for a morning walk. Vehicles are not allowed here.

4. Phobjika Valley

The place is located along with the backdrops of the Black mountains in Bhutan. It’s home to the endangered black-necked crane that migrates to the current area during winters. Phobjikha valley also called Gangtey, is one of the few glacial valleys within the Kingdom of Bhutan that is a must place to visit. The place is not often visited by people as it has one of the best scenic views to offer. Electricity was introduced a few years back and if you are a nature lover this place will take you far from the noise of the city and culture.

5. Haa Valley

Known as the tiniest district of Bhutan, Haa Valley is one of the foremost picturesque places located in the south-west of Paro.  Although a touch isolated, with hardly any attractions; the Valley offers the foremost surreal views within the entire of Bhutan. It’s home to nomadic herders and houses an awfully small population of Bhutan. Haa valley is idle for people who love hiking and motorbiking in the mountains. This place is also the major producer of crops in Bhutan.

6. Chele La Pass

Bhutan, being a rustic with a mountainous landscape is linked with a series of passes. Chele la pass is one of the highest motorable passes in the world located in between Paro and Haa Valley. The pass is legendary as it offers stunning Himalayan views, especially Mt. Jhomolari which is one of Bhutan’s highest points at 22,000 feet and is often considered sacred. The slopes of the mountains around are covered in White Poppy, which can’t be found anywhere else within the world. The drive to Chele la is alongside dense forest and valleys you’ll see many sightings like yaks grazing, a frozen river, waterfalls, rhododendron forest, and roadside springs.

7. Rinpung Dzong

If you would like to witness the top-notch architecture of Bhutan, Rinpung Dzong is that the place you should visit in Bhutan. The name of this dzong translates to ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewel’. The Dzong houses 14 shrines and chapels which make it occupy a spot among the foremost prominent religious places in Bhutan. The place is located in Paro and is a must-visit if you have been there.

8. Bumthang

Home to four beautiful mountain valleys and an array of ancient monasteries and temples, Bumthang takes its place as the most historic of all districts in Bhutan. When in Bumthang, there are lots to be accomplished other than visiting the foremost sightseeing spots just like the Kurjey and Tamshing Lhakhang; one must go trekking up the mountainside or taste the beer, cheese, and buckwheat delicacies the region offers.

9. Royal Manas National Park

This is the oldest national park in Bhutan and is home to many rare and exotic species of animals. Occupying south-central Bhutan, it shares its southern borders with Manas Tiger Reserve in India which gives the name Royal Manas. The place is rich in fauna and flora, plus is a calm and dense place to make animals live in their natural habitat. It is also home to many of the endangered species like Asiatic Elephants. The holy Manas river flows through the National Park.

10. Dochula Pass

Bhutan is the land of mountains. The country is nestled in between mountain ranges and valleys meandering into rivers with mountain passes for mobility.  One such is the Dochula Pass, which is a pivotal point in the border security of Bhutan with Soldiers guarding the posts. The hill and pass are covered with various types of flags. To the local Buddhist people, these flags are symbols of veneration, and therefore the inscriptions of prayers on each flag signals peace and prosperity for Bhutan.

11. Gautama Dordenma Statue

Erected within the mountains to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the fourth Bhutanese king, Jigme SingyeWangchuck, Gautama Dordenma Statue is one amongst the biggest Buddha rupas within the world. The height of the statue is a gigantic 52 meters and it holds 125000 small statues of Lord Buddha inside it. Around the statue is a national Park which can be a good place for relaxation as it is coveted in nature and is calm and quiet.

12. Samdrup Jongkhar

SamdrupJongkhar may be a community in South-Eastern Bhutan and shares a border with Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Its proximity to the Indian border with multiple Indian shopkeepers and hawkers putting in place shops here makes it one among the biggest urban centers of Bhutan. SamdrupJongkhar, a fine-looking hill-station and is alleged to be the oldest town in Bhutan.

The above are some of the best places to visit in Bhutan. There are a lot of undiscovered places still in Bhutan which you can explore. The calmness and old and rich heritage of the place makes it a memorable destination for an outing.

Let’s look at some of the best food items of Bhutan

1. Ema Datshi

This is the most popular food item of Bhutan and can be found everywhere. The best thing is you can have it during breakfast, lunch, or dinner as well. This is a stew made up of chilly and cheese (datshi means cheese in their native language). Though the item is quite spicy, it is taken to be the national food of Bhutan.

2. Kewa Datshi

Kewa means potato and the dish is cheese and potato served together in a blend. It is a mild dish and not so spicy. The potato is sliced according to the need and is served hot.

3. Shamu datshi

This is another cheese item served with mushroom. The dish is a stew served with Bhutanese butter and is also cooked with Bhutanese cheese. The mushroom is locally grown giving a native taste of Bhutan.

4. Shakam Datshi

We move to the first non-veg item and it is the Shakam Datshi. It is beef and cheese and is quite popular among the Bhutanese people as well as other foreigners who visit the country. The meat is dried but not dehydrated gives a unique taste. The meat is exotic and is quite thicker as compared to others.

5. Shakam Paa

Shakam paa is beef served with dried chilies. The beef is kept thicker and is a great source of Protein among the Bhutanese people.

6. Shakum Shukam Datshi

The Shakum Shukam Datshi is one of the rarest dishes that is found in Bhutan and is not made everywhere. As you can guess with the name the dish contains cheese slices of beef and chillies but the Shukam here stands for dry white chillies. The white chillies add another level of spiciness to the food and make this a very rare yet popular dish in Bhutan.

7. Red Rice

Red rice is the staple food of Bhutan. It is found in the valleys of Paro and the rice takes very less time to be cooked as compared to other rice. This is because the rice is partly milled and thus gives a reddish-brown tinge when cooked properly. The rice is completely gluten-free and is a great source of mineral for the body. This dish is often accompanied by the various Datshis the Bhutanese make.

8. Jasha Maru

The Jashna Maru is the typical Chicken Stew that is found in every Hill station but this is different in its way. The dish is made of diced chicken along with garlic and ginger paste and with coriander leaves to give the food the required essence. This is generally served with rice.

9. Phaksha Paa

Just like chicken and beef or yak, hill stations are also famous for pork dishes. Paksha Paa is pork that is served with red chilies and is quite spicy. The pork and chilly are stir-fried and are served with mountain vegetables like radish and spinach. A traditional Bhutanese vegetable known as Bok Choy is also added which is white mustard cabbage.

10. Sikam Paa

When there is talk of meat how can we forget the bacon? Sikam is the transparent pork belly that is dried out in the sun and is fried with chilies. The food is quite rich and has a lot of spices and is delicious when served and eaten.

11. Yaksha Shakam

If you are fond of beef then you must try Yaksha Shakam. The meat is not beef but dried yak is used. The food is made by drying up the yak and fermented yak cheese which gives the food a great essence and taste.

12. Gondo Datshi

This is a fried egg served with cheese and the dish is made up of butter instead of oil. This is the Bhutanese version of scrambled eggs which contains a lot of butter and as usual contains the special Bhutanese Chilies.

13. Momos

If you go to any hill station Momos are a must to find the dish. These are a special type of dumplings that are either served boiled or deep-fried. There is a lot of variety of momos ranging from chicken, beef, pork, yak veg, or even cheese momos. They are served with the special Bhutanese red chutney which is quite spicy.

14. Jaju Soup

This is the traditional Bhutanese soup and is served as a starter. The soup is made up of leafy vegetables like spinach or even turnips. The broth is made with butter or milk and is served hot.

15. Puta

Puta is the traditional Bhutanese noodles. They are quite healthy as compared to the other noodles as it is made up of buckwheat. The noodles are generally served boiled and at times act as an alternative to rice.

The above shows a list of some of the best food items that you can try out in Bhutan. The food here is generally spicy and boiled but you will get a different taste to everything that you eat.