Paro

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Paro Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: September till November. Read More

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"Home to the Tiger's Nest of Bhutan"

Paro Tourism

Paro is a small town situated in the Paro Valley of Bhutan. It is one of the most fertile as well as historic valley of Bhutan which is the widest in the Kingdom. It is home to 155 temples and monasteries dating back to the 14th century and also home to Bhutan's sole international airport. The Paro Airport is the largest International Airport of Bhutan and has been one of the prime locations for numerous tourist visit. It is known to be the most challenging airport to land on.

With mesmerising landscape, Paro is dotted with traditionally built houses as well as paddy fields. One of the iconic monasteries of Bhutan- The Tiger's nest or the Taktsang, is situated over a cliff in Paro. Apart from this, Paro has numerous sites that are worth visiting, from Monasteries to Museums like the Rinpung Dzong, National Museum of Bhutan and the Paro weekend Market for the Shopaholics.

Paro is both the name of the district as well as a town located within the region. The city is known to be situated at the height of about 2280 metres on the banks of Paro Chu river, which is spread across an area of 1259 sq.m. The Paro Chhu river is the lifeline of Paro, adding a glorious touch to it. Paro town was formed in the year 1985, which now consists of colourfully painted shops lined all across the street. Over the years, Paro has been transformed enormously, and this is one of the prime reasons for the increase in tourist activity.

Must Know Before You Travel to Paro

Visitors are required to obtain a permit to visit Paro. 

Permits can be obtained from:
  • Border Immigration Office:
Jaigaon – Phuentsholing border entry point is commonly used. Jaigaon is the Indian bordering town, and Phuentsholing is the Bhutan bordering town. Stays in Phuentsholing are permitted without permits.

Location: Bhutan Immigration Office /Kharbandi Check Post, Phuentsholing
Open Hours: Closed on weekends and Bhutan Govt. holidays. Weekdays operational from 9AM to 5PM with a one-hour lunch break from 1PM to 2PM.
  • Paro Airport: Immigration Office open all days, including weekends and holidays; ideal for weekend or holiday travel to Bhutan.
  • Online Permit: Currently not available to the public; travelers must contact Authorized Bhutanese Tour Operators in advance to arrange permits. If opting for Online Permit, booking the entire package (hotels, vehicle, and tour guide) through them is mandatory for permit processing.
To acquire the permit, travelers must present:
  • a valid Indian Passport with a minimum of six months validity
  • or an Original Voter ID card.
  • For children below 18 years, a birth certificate (in English) or passport is required, accompanied by a legal guardian.
  • Additionally, two passport-size photographs are necessary.
  • It's advisable for tourists to have travel insurance for the duration of their stay, which can be purchased from Bhutanese insurance providers at the Pedestrian Terminal.

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More on Paro Travel

Currency in Paro

The primary currency utilised in Bhutan is Bhutanese Ngultrum. This currency is utilised all over Bhutan including the areas such as Thimpu and Paro. To know more read about the Currency of Bhutan.

Shopping in Paro

The most common area for shopping in Paro includes the Sunday market. Here you would find tons of the traditional Bhutanese items such as their Bhutanese clothes as well as their traditional handicrafts. The Sunday market is generally open from 6.30 AM to 10 PM. 

Read more on Shopping in Bhutan

Nightlife in Paro

Paro has a quiet nightlife when compared to Thimphu, with few cafes and pubs here and there. You're more likely to chill in Paro than party, however, if you're in a mood to party; there's a free Wednesday night for the ladies in numerous clubs.

History of Paro

Paro is the entryway to the land of Bhutan. This place is filled with the stories of legends as well as some of the greatest fights in the history of Bhutan. According to many people, this is the place where Guru Rimpoche came riding on the back of Tigress to spread the concept of Buddhism. He established some of the most famous monasteries in the country such as the Tiger Nest. He also established numerous institutions where the teachings of Buddha are taught to the students. It is in 1619 a Tibetan king came to this place and established the concept of dual governance.

To know more read about the History of Bhutan. 

Language of Paro

Dzongkha is the official language of Bhutan which has been derived from somewhat of a Tibetan dialect. However the medium of education in Bhutan is English, therefore people who are educated can very well converse in English. Also, there are some people who can speak the Hindi language pretty well too. There are certain Nepali immigrant present in the country who continue to talk in their native language. People here understand basic English and would be able to respond into some very simple questions as well as expressions.

Read more about Languages in Bhutan

Paro Customs

One of the things that truly make a Bhutanese stand out is their dress. Men are required to wear a knee-length dress which is similar to Kimono and has a waist belt just as that found in Kimono. Women at the same time are wearing what is known as Kira, accompanied by an outer jacket which is called as Tego and has an inner layer which is called as Wonju. Here you would find women usually serving the food and people offering a small prayer to whosoever they worship.

To know more about Bhutanese customs read about Dresses of Bhutan. 

Religion of Paro

Although the main religion practised in Paro or any other region of Bhutan is Buddhism, they treat all religions equally. Apart from Buddhism, Hinduism is the second-largest practised religion in this country.

Read more about Religion in Bhutan. 

Daily Budget for Paro

On an average you would be spending BTN 350 per day, which includes meals as well as basic travelling. However, in case you are shopping and travelling to nearby places, this cost would rise up to BTN 700 - 800 per day. These charges do not include any alcohol or any other luxury expenditures.

Exchanging Money in Paro

You can get your currency converted into the local Bhutanese currency easily at the Airport. However, as you move deeper into the city the ATMs get rarer and hence we would suggest you carry cash all the time. If you're an Indian you needn't worry about exchanging the currency as Indian Rupee is widely accepted in Bhutan. 

Exchange Rate
The exchange rate for the Bhutan currency works similarly to that of India's. The currency value is floating, rather than being fixed. It depends on various factors such as demand and supply of the Bhutan currency, demand and supply of foreign currency, interest rates applicable etc.

Currently, BTN 69 is approximately equal to USD 1. In the 1990s, USD 1 approximately equated BTN 26.
Approximately BTN 80 exchanges for 1 Euro.

Best Time to Visit Paro

Paro Photos

Paro, Bhutan
Paro Valley
paro Valley
Tiger's Nest Monastery

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FAQs on Paro

What are the things to do in Paro?

The top things to do in Paro are Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang), Rinpung Dzong Paro, Chele La Pass, National Museum of Bhutan, Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge, Drukgyel Dzong. You can see all the places to visit in Paro here

What are the places near Paro?

The top places near to Paro are Thimpu which is 22 km from Paro, Punakha which is located 49 km from Paro, Wangdue phodrang which is located 48 km from Paro, Gangtok which is located 80 km from Paro, Phobjikha valley which is located 79 km from Paro

How much does a package cost for Paro?

The packages for Paro start at INR 17952 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the local food in Paro?

Rice is the main component of the numerous meals cooked in Bhutan. Here you would find rice being served along with two or one type of side meals, including meat as well as vegetables. Some of the common vegetable eaten or consumed in Paro are tomato, spinach, pumpkin etc. There are a number of Bhutanese dish such as Ema Datshi, Phaksha Paa and everyone's favourite Dimsum or Momos which you should definitely try.

Read more about Local Bhutanese Dishes

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What is the best time to visit Paro?

March-May (Spring) is the best time to visit Paro in Bhutan. During this time, the hills come alive with the most beautiful blooms. October and November are the autumn months in Bhutan. During these two months, the weather in Paro it’s usually sunny during the day with a bit of snow in the higher elevations.

The skies are clear with a pleasant climate and the temperature experienced is hardly 20-degree Celsius. For trekking, October is the best month as the sky is clear and the temperature not so bad. Also, it is advised that you carry an umbrella along as there are possibilities of seasonal rainfall.

The monsoons in India, generally influence Bhutan's climate. June to September is the monsoon season in the country when there’s a lot of humidity and rains all around Bhutan. Late-November to early-March is the dry season in Bhutan which is again a good time to travel without the tourist crowd; however, it can get cold in early December to February. June-August is the low season in Bhutan and the hotel rates, and airfares are the cheapest during these months.
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