Things to do in Paro, Bhutan

Paro in Bhutan is famous for the adventure sports and activities it offers. The only city in Bhutan with a flight connectivity, this also has peace in abundance just like the country’s capital, Thimphu. While we were on road trip through Bhutan in collaboration with R S Travels, we stopped at Paro to explore our adventurous side along with exploring the city. Here are the things to do in Paro during your next visit to Bhutan.

Tiger’s Nest:
Paro is hugely famous for the trek to Paro Taktsang Monastery also known as the Tiger’s Nest. The trek to the Tiger’s Nest from the base camp is difficult, period! For any working professional who is struggling to manage his personal and professional life and sacrifices any sort of physical exercise, it’s an eye opener. We managed to cover the 4 kilometer stretch in a little more than 3 hours.

Paro Paro

As it was our first actual trek and we were mentally prepared for the road ahead, we had gauged the physical strength it needs to cover the treacherous trek also correctly. The trek was enthralling, demanding and overall an astonishing milestone to be conquered. Here are a few things we learned from this trek to the Tiger’s Nest and would like to share with all the trekkers, especially beginners:

1) Try to start as early as possible and cover the maximum distance before it gets too hot during the day.

2) The trek is long and it should be covered at one’s pace. Do not rush at any point of time and avoid any discomfort.
3) Try to minimize the duration of the breaks as it disturbs the pace and would be difficult to cover the remaining distance.

4) Carry water, biscuits, energy bars and toffees to keep yourself hydrated and munching while on the way up.

5) Carrying a stick is recommended and can be bought from the base camp at nominal price.

6) The tickets to the Tiger’s Nest monastery are to be bought from the base camp by paying 500INR and cannot be bought at the monastery directly.

7) Keep yourself fully clothed as shorts/half sleeve t-shirts are not allowed inside the monastery.

8) Carry an umbrella or a raincoat as the rains are very unpredictable. Also, be careful when it rains as the path becomes slippery.

9) You need to leave all your electronic gadgets, wallets,etc. outside the monastery so you need to plan accordingly for the items you carry.
10) There is a cafe mid-way to the Tiger’s Nest which serves snacks and beverages to the guests.

Mountain Biking:
Mountain Biking is one adventure sport that has always allured the bike enthusiasts. Paro is a paradise for mountain bikers as it provides plenty of opportunities to roam around the city on a mountain bike. One can plan a visit to distant monasteries and temples on a mountain bike and enjoy the scenic beauty enroute.

PC : Google

Archery:

Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and is practiced/played widely here. We got to try our hands at the bow and arrow at the Tashi Namgay Resort where we stayed in Paro. This is also available at most of the other resorts in Paro.

Kayaking and Rafting:

Kayaking is taken to a different level in Paro as it provides exciting yet safe and kayaking for the tourists. The Paro Chhu river is very suitable for rafting and kayaking and it has good current in the entire stretch. Flowing in 7 kilometers stretch, this river provides an artistic view of the city while enjoying the adventure sport.

PC : Google

Stone Bath and Cultural Dance:

Stone Bath is a famous all across Bhutan and can be found in Paro too. The stone bath is a special bath setup prepared by using heated stones put in a wooden chamber with natural source of hot water. This bath has good medicinal value as the stones used release different minerals. We however could not enjoy it as the weather didn’t favor the stones to be heated properly. The stone bath usually starts from INR 700 and goes higher depending upon the place.

PC : Google

The hotels and resorts in Paro organize special cultural dance to display the Bhutanese culture. This can enjoyed in the evening after a day long trek and understand the culture of the country better at an additional cost.

Meditation and Nature’s Walk:

A place with abundance peace can be beneficial for finding inner peace. Paro is very peaceful and is most suitable for meditation and yoga. A walk around the city is like walking on the hills with a river flowing on the side, a perfect nature’s walk.

Places to Eat:

Sonam Trophel Restaurant: After almost a day long trek to the Tiger’s Nest and back, all we needed was a delicious meal. We had our dinner at Sonam Trophel Restaurant. The restaurant serves good Indian food and is the most sought after in Paro for Indian cuisine. They also serve a set lunch which has 7 dishes and should be booked in advance if you want to try the Bhutanese cuisine.

Paro

Authentic Pizza: They stand truly by their name and serve mouth watering authentic pizzas. We tried different kinds of pizzas there, both veg and non veg and were really happy with the taste. Their sea food pizza is highly recommended.

Paro

Brioche Cafe and Champaca Cafe: Brioche Cafe is very famous for the desserts and serves some lip smacking ice creams and shakes. The Champaca Cafe on the other hand serves one of the best coffee in Paro.

PS: This trip was sponsored for RoadtoTaste by RS Travels, Jaigaon and the experiences or views shared are solely of the author and is not influenced in any way.
To get your bookings done from RS Travels, you can check their website or connect with them on Facebook.

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3 comments

Amrita Sen May 19, 2017 - 9:06 PM

I had visited Bhutan long back. The Taktsang Monastery trek was one of the high points of my visit. Your post brought back fond memories. Happy travelling.. 🙂

VishuSaumya May 19, 2017 - 9:09 PM

Thank you so much Amrita. We are glad we could help you relive your memories! Happy traveling always! 🙂