All visitors are required to enter the Kingdom at Paro by the national airline, Druk-Air. It may be more convenient for some visitors to leave the kingdom via the southern outlets of Samdrup Jongkhar in the east or Phuentsholing in the west. Twenty-five years ago all visitors would have had to walk five days across the mountains to reach Paro from the Indian border, now the Journey by air is only 45 minutes from Kolkata (Calcutta), Kathmandu or Dhaka.

 The mythical dream like kingdom comes into view as Druk- Air’s BAE-146 aircraft swings in giant arcs and descends onto Bhutan’s only airstrip at Paro. Once on the Ground, the dexterity of the international flight crew can be fully appreciated as a glance in any direction provides an awe-inspiring view at very close range of the Himalayan Mountains.

An officials at Bhutan’s now defunct government tourism authority described the Paro valley in poetic terms: if ever a place exist where a nature and man consulted to create their dearest image, it must be the valley of Paro. To the north, mount Jhomolhari (mountain of the Goddess Jhomo) reign in sacred glory. The glacier waterways from its five sister peaks plunge through deep gorges, finally converging to form the Paro River that nourishes the rice fields land the apple and peach orchards of its own valley.’

Paro valley is one of the most populated areas of the whole country. Because of its proximity to the airport, there are hotels and tourist facilities close to the airstrips the hotel Olathang is located on the southern face of the valley in the heart of the pine forest. The Druk hotel and the Paro hotel have opened closer to Paro Town.

The valley of the Paro contains a wealth of attractions and requires a few days to be properly explored. Casting a shadow across the town of the Paro and controlling all the secular and religious activities in its valley is the elegant and perfectly symmetrical Rinpung Dzong. Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzongs houses the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (Judge) of Paro District.

Behind Rinpung Dzongs, on the high hillside, is the Castile –shaped Ta Dzong. One time watch tower built it defend Rinpung Dzongs during the inter valley wars of the 17th century; Ta dzong has housed the nation’s heritage in Bhutan’s national Museum since1976. The museum’s circular shape augments its varied collection displayed over the several floors.

Form a Buddhist point of view; Paro was the first stop for Guru Rimpoche on his crusade from Tibet to Bhutan over one thousand years ago. Guru Rimpoche is said to have arrived on the back of the tigress and meditated at a monastery is now a hallowed shrine for Bhutanese pilgrims who travel from all over the land to pray at its temple. Tourist is us usually not allowed into the temple itself but they can should climb the mountains that leads top spectacular look out onto Tiger’s Nest. The trail from the road takes a good walker about half that time to descend. A café at the lookout provides well-earned tea and snacks. For those unable o walk up the mountain (and it’s a tough walk even when acclimatized), local tour operators can arrange ponies who ably trot up the ,mountain in a couple of hours.

Eighteen kilometers from Paro town on the south side of the valley are the burnt ruins of Drugyel Dzongs (victorious fortress). It was from this monastery that the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century.

A sprinkling of shops decorates the high street that marks Paro Town. This is a good place to buy a packet of biscuit and some drinks before a journey.