1. Drukgyel Dzong

Drukgyel Dzong, the fort of the victorious Drukpas. Although gutted by a fire, this fort is renowned as the stand from which several Tibetan invasions were repulsed. To the north can be seen in all its majesty, the dome of sacred Mt. Chomolhari or the abode of the "mountain of goddess."

2. Rinpung Dzong

The construction of the Paro Dzong was started in 1644 by the order of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of modern day Bhutan. Unlike most of the other Dzongs in Bhutan, it survived the massive 1897 earthquake mostly intact, though it was damaged by fire in 1907.Paro Dzong’s full name is Ringpung Dzong, which means ’the fortress of the heap of jewels’. In the 15th century, two brothers (descendants of Phajo Drugom Zippo, the founder of the Drukpa Kagyupa School in Bhutan) named Gyelchok and Gyelzom lived in the Paro valley. Gyelzom established himself at Gantakha Monastery; his brother Gyelchok travelled to Tibet to study theology. When Gyelchok came back to Paro, he was not respected in the community due to the many years he had spent studying without any money. His brother Gyelzom, renounced his existence, in his eyes a "beggar" could not be part of the family. Gyelchok moved to Humrelkha, a place which took its name from the guardian deity of Paro, Humrel Goemba. He then built a small structure that would later become the Paro Dzong. Gyelchok’s descendants, who controlled a large portion of the valley, are well known through Bhutanese history as the ’Lords of Humrel’In 1645, the "Lords of Humrel" relinquished their small fort to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, thus recognizing his religious and political prowess. Immediately, the Zhabdrung began construction of a much more superior fortress and in 1646, the Dzong was consecrated.Approached by a gently sloping flagstone road and an attractive wooden bridge roofed with shingles and abutted by two guard houses; the Dzong is the administrative seat of the district of Paro, and also contains a state monastic community of about 200 members. Administrative offices line the first courtyard of the Dzong. The entrance is guarded by two traditional effigies standing on either side of the gate: a Mongol holding a tiger on a leash and a man holding a black yak. The Utse of the Dzong is one of the most beautiful in Bhutan with its outstanding woodwork. Just above the Dzong stands the so-called Ta Dzong (watch tower). At present this tower houses the National Museum of Bhutan. In 1905 the Dzong caught fire, but was repaired in 1908/9 to its original state with the addition of statues of Guru Rinpoche, Buddha and the Zhabdrung. The most precious object of the Dzong, the Thongdroel, a 20×20 meter wide Thangka, was saved from the fire and is displayed in spring to the public during the Tshechu.

 3. Trashichhodzong

It is a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the northern edge of the city of Thimpu in Bhutan, on the western bank of the Wang Chu. It has traditionally been the seat of the Dharma Raja and summer capital of the country. "It was built by the first Dharma Raja, who also founded the Lho-drukpa sect of Buddhism, which has remained the distinctive sect of Bhutan. The correct transliteration of the vernacular name-Bhrashis-chhos-rdzong, meaning "the fortress of auspicious doctrine"-is, according to Dr. Graham Sandberg, Tashichhoidzong...." The main structure of the whitewashed building is two-storied with three-storied towers at each of the four corners topped by triple-tiered golden roofs. There is also a large central tower or utse. The original Thimphu dzong (the Dho-Ngyen Dzong, or Blue Stone Dzong) was built in 1216 by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa where Dechen Phodrang now stands above Thimphu. Soon after, Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo, who first brought the Drukpa Kagyu lineage to Bhutan, took it over. In 1641 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal acquired it from Lama Phajo’s descendants, but soon finding it too small, he built another one, known as the lower Dzong for the administration, keeping the older one for the monks. The original dzong was destroyed by fire in 1771 and everything was moved to the lower one which was expanded then, and again by the 13th Druk Desi (1744-1763), and also in 1866. It was damaged during an earthquake in 1897 and rebuilt in 1902. King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck had it completely renovated and enlarged over five years after he moved the capital to Thimpu in 1952 in traditional style using neither nails nor written plans. Tashichoedzong in 1921It has been the seat of Bhutan’s government since 1952 and presently houses the throne room and offices of the king, the secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance. Other government departments are housed in buildings nearby. West of the dzong is a small tower of Ney Khang Lhakhang which houses a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha and protective deities.

4.  Druk Wangyal Chortens

Built in 2004 to "...celebrate the stability and progress that His Majesty has brought to the nation," this hill of 108 religious buildings in the middle of the pass reflects Bhutan’s spiritual and artistic traditions.

5.  Wangdue Phodrang Dzong

Wangdue Phodrang Dzong was founded by the Zhabdrung in 1639. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was supposedly at Chimmi Lhakhang in Punakha when he met a decrepit old man who described a ridge in present day Wangdue Phodrang as a ’sleeping elephant’ and told him he would unite the country by building a Dzong on the neck  of the ridge. The Zhabdrung, surmising the old man to be Yeshey Gonpo (Mahakala), took his suggestion and sent forth a noble to scout the area. As the emissary drew close to the area, he saw four ravens circling above the ridge. Upon reaching the ridge, the birds flew away in four directions, north, south, east and west. When returning to Chimmi Lhakhang, he made his report. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel took this as a good omen and immediately set forth in 1638 to construct a Dzong overlooking the convergence of the Dangchu and Punatshang chu. The people of Wang and Shar Dar Gyad were involved in its construction along with the people of Rinchen Gang who were skilled masons. There are three doorways and three courtyards in the Dzong. The first gate is the entrance, the second leads to the inner sanctum of the Dzong and the third contains the deep interiors of this historic structure. Years later, the Dzong was enlarged by the 4th Desi Tenzin Rabgye. In addition to the four storied Utse built by Zhabdrung he added another two storied Utse. The construction was looked after by the Dzongpon Gedun Chophel. The 7th Dzongpon of Wangduephodrang Sonam Lhendup also added new structures to the Dzong. He also installed a statue of Lord Buddha. Much later with the passage of time a powerful local lord known as Kawang Sangye, extended the Dzong towards the present town. Another Wangzop, Acho Boep, ordered further construction, modifying the Dzong to the form which it holds today. In 1837 the Dzong was destroyed by a great fire and later rebuilt. During the time of Lam Neten Pelden Singye the Dzong was also damaged by a severe earthquake which was later rebuilt. Dzongpon Domchung also seems to have also restored the Dzong though at an unknown time. During the reign of the Late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the Dzong was renovated supervised by Dronyer Pema Wangdi. The rabdey was first instituted by Zhabdrung himself after the completion of the Dzong which was alter increased during the time of 10th He Khenpo Tenzin Chogyal.

6.  Chimi Lhakhang

It’s built in 1499,  a half-hour’s walk from the road but is not to be missed, especially if you’re feeling infertile. For a small offering, a monk will pour some yellow water into your hand and bless you with the Divine Madman’s wooden phallus. The Divine Madman is quite a Bhutanese folk hero. Born in 1455 in Tibet, he traveled extensively in Bhutan railing against the stiffness of the clergy and meditating with "girls and wine." His outrageous and often obscene ways of communicating Buddhist teachings were designed to have people "discard their preconceptions" (in Lonely Planet’s words). Incidentally, many Bhutanese houses have the Divine Madman’s phallus painted near the entrance, and even the hospital in Jakar has his wooden phallus hanging from the eaves.  Reaching the Divine Madman’s temple requires walking across several brightly-colored mustard terraces.

7.  Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten

Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten stands majestically on a strategic ridge above the Punakha valley. Thragthung Dudjom Lingpa visualized it out of Buddhist treasure teachings. It is sacred religious edifices, which will help to ward off negative forces, promote peace, stability and harmony in a changing world. It is the only one of its kind in the world. This chorten is a fine architectural and traditional manifestation whose details of constructional design are drawn from the scriptures and not from the technical books. The Chorten is also an esoteric embodiment of positive forces prevailing over all negative influences in the three forms of existence. According to Lamas, the Chorten is a quintessence of Buddhism and in various ways it will promote the health, happiness of the king and people thereby subjugating all evils.

8.  Punkha Dzong

It’s Bhutan’s most attractive site. Constructed in 1637-8 during the reign of the Shabdrung, the dzong was Bhutan’s second, after Simtokha in Thimpu. At 600 ft long, the dzong has housed as many as 600 monks. Today, the Central Monk Body winters here before moving to Trashi Chhoe dzong in Thimpu for summer. The dzong also hosted the National Assembly until the capital was moved to Thimpu in 1961. The dzong has survived 6 fires, 2 glacial lake bursts, and 1 earthquake. Its defensive fortifications include a giant wooden front door that is still closed and barred shut at night and a steep set of front steps than can be pulled up. The dzong’s location at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Pho Chhu (literally, the mother and father rivers) not only quelled the spirits present wherever two rivers meet, but it was also foretold by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century, when he said that a man would "arrive at a hill shaped like an elephant." (Guru Rinpoche introduced Buddhism to Bhutan.) Look closely at the two hills left of the dzong and you might be able to see the elephant laying down with its trunk pointing at the dzong. The architect of the dzong conceived the dzong in a dream where Guru Rinpoche took him to Zangto Pelri, the Guru’s heavenly abode. Of course, the design was never put on paper or even sketched.

9.  Taktshang

Paro Taktsang (spa phro stag tshang) / (spa gro stag tshang) is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan. It was built around the Taktsang Senge Samdup (stag tshang seng ge bsam grub) cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated in the 8th Century. Today it is the most well known of thirteen taktsang or "tiger lair" caves he meditated in at different places in Tibet and Bhutan. Completed in 1692, the temple hangs on a cliff at 3,120 metres (10,200 feet), some 700 meters (2,300 feet) above the bottom of Paro valley, some 10 km from the district town of Paro. Famous visitors include Milarepa, Machig Labdr?n, Thang Tong Gyalpo, and in the 17th century Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The name Taktsang (stag tshang) means "Tiger’s lair", the legend being that Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) flew there on the back of a tiger. The monastery includes seven temples which can all be visited. The monastery suffered several blazes and is a recent restoration. Visitors ascend the slope to the monastery on foot or on mule-back.

10. The National Folk Heritage Museum

It displays traditional Bhutanese ways of life in a traditional Bhutanese house. It is an interesting view in to Bhutanese culture and domestic lives of the Bhutanese. There are also Bhutanese dances and exhibits held in the Museum Compound.