Uniquely Bhutan

Translating to "Temple of the hill of the excellent horse", Tachog Lhakhang is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Paro that sits calmly perched at the foothills beside the Paroo river. The old bridge was built by Thangtong Gyalpo after he dreamt of a spiritual horse while meditating at that place.

The old iron bridge that takes us to the temple was washed away in the 1969 flood and was restored back in 2005. Today, it is decked with colorful prayer flags, and walking on this timeless architectural extravaganza which is as many as six centuries-old is indeed an exhilarating experience.

Chhuzom (Chhu means river and zom means join) is the place where Paro Chhu and Wong Chhu meet. For many traditional Bhutanese this confluence is considered the union of a father and mother river. Paro Chhu represents the father and is sometimes called the Pho Chhu, Wong Chu represents the mother and is sometimes called the Mo Chhu. Because Bhutanese traditions regards such a convergence of rivers as inauspicious, there are three chortens here to ward off evil spells in the area. Each chorten is in a different style – Bhutanese, Tibetan and Nepali.The upper reaches of Wong Chhu, above Chhuzom, are sometimes referred to as Thimphu Chhu.

Jangtsa Dumgtseg Lhakhang [zlum brtshegs lha khang] is a Buddhist temple in western Bhutan. The temple is notable as it is in the form of a chorten, very rare in Bhutan. It is located on the edge of a hill between the Paro valley and the Dopchari valley, across the bridge from Paro. The Buddhist iconography depicted in the Chorten is considered a unique repository of the Drukpa Kagyu school

Bhutan is a mountainous country with a network of passes that connect it to the rest of the world. Chele La, the country's highest road pass, is located at 3988m (13,083ft) between the valleys of Paro and Haa. The vantage point attracts a large number of visitors, which is popular for a short excursion (2 1/2 hours). Some people prefer to drive, while others prefer to hike, and many people ride their mountain bikes down to Haa or Paro valley.

The road to Chele La is densely forested with spruce and larch trees. Depending on the season, you'll see sights like a frozen river, a waterfall, a rhododendron forest, and peaceful yaks grazing. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Jumolhari (Bhutan's most sacred mountain, at over 22,000 feet), Jichu Drake, and adjoining peaks to the north west, as well as the valleys (Paro and Ha).