This scenic, terraced town sits in the shadow of 24,000-ft/7,320-m Mount Chomolhari (divine mountain). Paro has Bhutan's only airport, so most travelers arrive there. Though it's really only a large village, we recommend three nights to get used to the altitude, as well as to see the many sights related to Paro's days as capital of the western region.
Among those sights are the 200-year-old Ta Dzong (now the National Museum), the Rinchen Pung Dzong (sacred scrolls, icons, etc.), the Rimpong Dzong, the seventh-century Kyichu Lhakhang (holy temple) and the Dungtse Lhakhang (temple). Also worth seeing are the fortresses and monasteries of Paro Dzong, where Bertolucci's
Little Buddha was filmed, and Drugyel Dzong, named after a famous victory of the Bhutanese over Tibetan invaders (about 15 mi/24 km northwest of town). If you're there on a weekend, be sure to visit the colorful Paro market, where grains, chilies, oranges, bananas and a host of other items are sold. The Paro Tsechu festival is held in late March.
On a full-day trip, it's possible to visit the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), built on a 7,000-ft/2,000-m rock ledge overlooking the Paro Valley. It is accessible only by a narrow footpath. According to legend, the monastery was founded by Guru Rimpoche, who landed there on the back of a flying tiger. 12 mi/20 km straight-line, or 35 mi/55 km by road, west of Thimphu.