Bhutan

Temples & religious sites

Paro Taktsang

A monastery in Paro, Bhutan, built in 1692. Legend holds that Guru Padmasambhava meditated here for three years and attained enlightenment, making it one of Bhutan's foremost pilgrimage sites and landmarks.

Temples & religious sites

Punakha Dzong

Punakha Dzong serves as the administrative center of Bhutan's Punakha region. Built in 1637, it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and houses sacred relics of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition.

Castles & palaces

Tashichho Dzong

A Buddhist monastery and fortress on the west bank of the Wang Chhu River, north of Thimphu. It has long served as the center of Bhutan's government and once functioned as the summer capital.

Temples & religious sites

Rinpung Dzong

This large dzong (fortress-monastery) is Paro's most iconic landmark, carrying on the tradition of the Drukpa Kagyu school of Buddhism. It still serves as a monastic retreat and administrative office today, offering a glimpse into everyday life in Bhutan.

Museums & galleries

National Museum of Bhutan

A cultural museum located in Paro, western Bhutan. Visitors come here to explore Bhutan's history and traditional culture.

Temples & religious sites

Memorial Chorten

Built in memory of Bhutan's third king, this stupa is adorned with golden spires and bells. It's considered Thimphu's most prominent religious landmark, popular with locals and travelers alike.

Castles & palaces

Dechencholing Palace

A palace on the outskirts of Thimphu, Bhutan, built in 1953 by the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. It sits in a quiet spot just north of Tashichho Dzong.

Nature

Sankosh River

A river that rises in northern Bhutan and flows into the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India; the section near Wangdue Phodrang is also known as the Puna Tsang Chhu.