Locating very near the Paro International Airport and by the Paro River, Tashi Namgay Resort is surprisingly quiet at night. It is a very good 3-star hotel. There are conference facilities for up to 200 people, guest rooms, suites, a big restaurant, a bar, a gym and spa facilities.
First built in 1649, the conch shape watchtower (or Ta-Dzong) was established to protect the Paro Dzong (Fortress) below by overlooking the entire Paro valley from all directions. Conch shell has been the horn trumpet in Buddhism since the beginning of time. The conch shape design encompasses the union of sun (circular shape outside) and moon (crescent shape inside) which symbolizes fame and victory, making it very meaningful as a watch tower. In 1950s, the watch tower was closed to a collapse state. The third king ordered a renovation project to enhance the structure of the building and turned it into the National Museum. It now houses historic artifacts, antiques, ritual objects used in traditional festivals, as well as some preserved specimens of animals in Bhutan.
Sitting on the steep hill overlooking Paro Valley, the Paro Dzong (fortress) was built in 1644 to protect the valley from Tibetan invasions. It’s formal name is Rinchen Pung Dzong (usually shortened to Rinpung Dzong), means ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewels’. The site was first built as a monastery then a big fortress for protection purpose. Like most other Fortress, Paro Dzong is well-sited on a steep hillside adjacent to a main river and there is a watch tower at the back. Many of them remain in use, housing both monastic body and district government office.
The Iron Chain Bridge is an unique attraction en route to Thimphu from Paro International Airport. It was built by Thangtong Gyalpo, a reputable Tibetan adept known as “Icon Chain Maker”. People believe that he had superpower and built 180 iron chain bridges by himself across Tibet and Bhutan regions. Many of them are still in use today.
