Paro Valley lies in the central part of Bhutan. The city of Paro, the second largest in Bhutan (Thimpu is the largest), has the only airport in Bhutan. The Druk Air operates regular services from Paro to India, Nepal and Thailand.
Paro is the ancient center of religion and governance in Bhutan. The Dzongs, or temple complexes, the monasteries and palaces of Paro seem as old as the surrounding Himalayas and pine forests. The serenity of the Valley, so shielded from the influences of the outside world, seems to have stopped time in its tracks. The Rimpung Dzong, cut into the hillside, overlooks the Paro River snaking far down in the valley below. The old watchtower, Ta Dzong, stands guard on the slopes above the Rimpung Dzong. The Kyichu Lyakhang is an old temple just outside Paro. The Taktasang is an old pilgrimage center. The atmosphere of the Paro valley is of religious devotion. Paro is the site of the Kichu Resort, one of the best mountain resorts in Bhutan.
The Phobjika Glacier has been declared a protected area. The Glacier, high above the Himalayas, has preserved its serene atmosphere undeterred by the pollution that has taken its toll on many glaciers around the world. Near the Glacier is the Black Mountain National Park, home to rare black cranes and leopards.
The splendor of the Paro Valley lies in the undisturbed calm of the region, the craggy mountains and the peaceful people inhabiting this place.
