Paro Valley
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Paro is situated in the fascinating kingdom of Bhutan, is unique in beauty and in history. Mount Chomolhari also known as the mountain of the Goddess, is to the north. Its peaks the "five sisters" plunge torrentially through deep gorges, where they finally converge to form the Paro Chu river. The river nourishes lush rice fields and apple and peach orchards of the Paro valley. The 'Taktsang' monastery, literally meaning 'Tiger's Nest', is built around the cave in which Guru Rimpoche - and later his follower Dubthok Singye - meditate. It clings, seemingly impossibly, to a cliff of rock, which is 3000 ft above the valley floor. Across the river, stands the elegantly symmetrical Rimpung Dzong, which commands a view of the Paro valley stretched out below. The Paro monastic body and the office of the Dzongda (District Commissioner) and Thrimpon (District Judge) arew housed there in present times. |
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The Thongdroel, the most sacred giant painted and appliqued scroll depicting the eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava with the two attendants, Khendu Yeshey Tsogyel and Mindha-Rawa, is displayed for a few hours on the concluding day of the Paro Festival.
Behind Rimpung Dzong and high on the hillside, is the beautiful Ta-Dzong which played an active part in the defense of Rimpung Dzong invasions, has been the National Museum since 1967.
