Bhutan is a landlocked mountainous country in South Asia that is well known for its monasteries, Buddhist temples along with the high mountains, vast plains and valleys.

The mystical villages of Bhutan that are shrouded in misty mountains, this Buddhist land certainly needs to be in your bucket list for traveling.

Bhutan has some of the world's best travel destinations and cities; read along to find the inspiration for your next trip.

Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan located in the west central part of the country. Thimphu is best known across Asia for its many Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Top things to do in Thimphu is to experience the –

• Tashichho Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fort.
• Memorial Chorten of Thimphu with a stupa.
• Visit the Changangkha Lhakhang, Folk Heritage Museum, Simply Bhutan Museum, Bhutan Textile Museum, Buddha Dordenma.
• Take a stroll at the Cloth Tower Square.
• Visit the Centenary Farmers Market for shopping local goods.

Popular food to try in Thimphu include red rice, Momos and Jasha Maroo (spicy chicken).

Best time to visit Thimphu – the ideal time to visit the city is from March till May or from September till November.

How to reach Thimphu – you can book a flight to Paro International Airport to get access to the city of Thimphu.

Punakha is the seventh largest city of Bhutan located in the district of Punakha Dzongkhag.

Top things to do in Punakha are to experience –

• The Punakha Dzong, the most famous fortress (dzong) at the bank of Mo Chhu river.
• You can walk on the Punakha Suspension Bridge.
• enjoy white river rafting in the Mo Chhu river.
• visit the Chimi Lhakhang monastery.
• Get to discover the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten monastery, Talo monastery and many more places.

Popular food to try in Punakha include rice, noodles, Ema Datsi and homemade ice-cream.

The fortress hosts a religious festival every year where you can see people performing traditional Lingkana dance and music.

Best time to visit Punakha – the ideal time to visit the city is from March till May.

How to reach Punakha – the nearest airport from the city is Paro International Airport from where you can take a bus or taxi to reach the city.

Jakar is the largest city of Bumthang district of Bhutan located in the north eastern part of the country.

Top things to do in Jakar is to experience

• Witness its Swiss cheese production
• Buy the famous bright colored wool of Jakar called Yethra.
• Shop a number of collectible items including the rugs, bags, wood carvings, yak cheese and many more souvenirs at many small shops.
• Visit the Dragon Handicrafts, Gongkhar Handicrafts, Bumthang Handicrafts Shop, Yoser Lhamo Shop and many others.
• Get to see the Ta Dzong Museum.

The popular food to try in Jakar consist of Jasha Maroo, Ema Datsi, Phaksha Paa and many western delicacies.

Best time to visit Jakar – the time from March until May is best to visit the city.

How to reach Jakar – you can book a flight to Bathpalathang Airport located right to the town.

Wang Chhu is a river in Bhutan that is a tributary of Brahmaputra river that flows through Bhutan, India and Bangladesh.

Top things to do in Wang Chhu is to experience the

• kayaking and rafting on the river.
• Take some photographs from the bridge at its starting point in Chuzzom.
• Get to see rich alpine forests and charming steep valleys on the way.
• various golden monasteries on the top of hills.

The non stopping nature of the rapids of Wang Chhu makes the whitewater rafting and kayaking more interesting.

Best time to Wang Chhu– the months of April, May, September and October are best to visit the river.

How to reach Wang Chhu – the best way to reach the river is by getting to the Paro valley and from there to Chuzzom.

Haa Valley is one of the most picturesque places in Bhutan located in the south western part of the country in Paro. The beautiful valley surrounded by the pristine mountains and alpine forests that is sure to win your heart.

Top things to do in Haa Valley is to experience the

• enjoy an overwhelming natural beauty.
• Go trekking in the dense forests .
• Birdwatching in the forested area.
• Explore architectural landmarks of valley like Lhakhang Nagpo and Lhakhang Karpo.
• Live a typical Bhutanese lifestyle at the valley.

The most popular food to try in Haa Valley is the Hoentay Dumpling. Try the Pappadums, Datsi dishes and many Indian and continental dishes.

Best time to visit Haa Valley – the best time to visit the valley is from September till November.

How to reach Haa Valley – the nearest airport from the valley is Paro International Airport from where you can take a cab or car to reach the valley.

Dochula pass is an important place in the Thimphu Punakha highway that is well known across the country for its 108 memorial stupas. Located at an elevation of 3100 meter, this colorful place is one of the highest points in the country.

Top things to do in Dochula Pass is experiencing the –

• majestic views of Himalayan mountains .
• Admire these cultural stupas.
• Visit the holy Druk Wangyal Lhakhang Temple.

The popular food to try in Dochula Pass includes its warm streaming beverages along with multi cultural cuisines.

The colorful festival of the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple gives you a perfect opportunity to explore Bhutanese art and culture.

Best time to visit Dochula Pass – the ideal time to visit the place is from September till February.

How to reach Dochula Pass – you can start your road journey from the Thimphu city to reach the pass.

Taktsang, also known as the Tiger’s Nest is a monastery in Bhutan and one of the most recognized landmarks in Bhutan located at the upper mountainous side of the Paro valley.

• Discover the cave located inside the monastery
• See a waterfall, dense trees and the distant mountains.
• Hike and trek along a steep cliff.

The popular food to try in Taktsang includes Pad Thai, cheesecakes, sandwiches, spicy chicken and many more dishes.

Situated on a steep cliff at around 900 meter above the ground and reaching this multi building monastery is in itself quite adventurous.

Best time to Taktsang - the best time to visit the monastery is from September till November.

How to reach Taktsang – you can get to the monastery by taking a two hour long slow hike from the upper side of Paro valley.

Trongsa is a beautiful small town in Bhutan located in the district of the same name in the heart of Bhutan.

Top things to do in Trongsa is to experience the

• Trongsa Dzong, the largest fortress in the country.
• Get a spectacular view of the deep mystic valleys from the balconies of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants.
• Wander the marvelous Thruepang Palace.
• Visit the Royal Heritage Museum, Chendebji Chorten and many more.

Every December or January, a five day festival is celebrated in the town that you need to experience in Trongsa.

The popular food to try in Trongsa consists of Thukpa, Momos along with many varieties of Bhutanese and Tibetan cuisine.

Best time to visit Trongsa – the ideal time to visit the town is from November to February.

How to reach Trongsa – the nearest airport from the town is Paro International Airport from where you can take a cab to reach the town.

Royal Manas National Park is the oldest national park in Bhutan, a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site for its biodiversity

Top things to do in Royal Manas National Park

• Find diverse animals like Bengal tiger, elephants, gaurs, golden langurs, one horned rhinos, wild water buffaloes, hornbills and many more.
• Go for a boating trip on the Manas river flowing through the national park.
• Explore many more natural regions linked with the national park.

The national park showcase some distinct plant and animal species some of whom are quite rare and endangered

Best time to visit Royal Manas National Park – the time from November till February is considered best to visit the national park.

How to reach Royal Manas National Park – the nearest town from the national park is Gomphu. You can take a bus from Trongsa to get to Gomphu and to reach the national park.

Paro is the third largest city of Bhutan and the only international airport site in Bhutan. It is a retreat to discover many sacred sites of Paro.

Top things to do in Paro –

• Take a stroll at the fertile and historic land of Paro, home to some cozy traditional houses
• Meet the friendly local people working on paddy fields.
• Visit the National Museum of Bhutan.
• Walk at the Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge and discover the majestic Rinpung Dzong Paro.
• Shop many traditional goods in the weekly market .
• Capture the colorful painted shops lined along the small streets.

The popular food to try in Paro includes a high variation in Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese cuisine with dumplings as most famous.

Best time to visit Paro– the months of April, May, September, October and November are best to visit the town.

How to reach Paro – the town can be accessed easily by booking a flight to Paro International Airport.

Buddha Dordenma Statue is a historical Buddha statue in Bhutan located at the ruins of Kuensal Phodrang or Buddha point near the city of Thimphu.

Top things to do in Buddha Dordenma Statue is to

• Have a lovely sunset view from the statue.
• Get awe inspired with the wonderful panoramic views of Thimphu valley.
• Go hiking in the nearby mountainous area.
• Go to Kuensel Phodrang National Park on your next trip to Thimphu to see some ancient ruins.

With a height of 54 meter, this statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is the tallest in the world making it a major sacred site in Bhutan.

Best time to visit Buddha Dordenma Statue – the best time to visit the place is from March to May or from September to November.

How to reach Buddha Dordenma Statue – the place is just 5 km away from the Thimphu city from where you can take a taxi to reach the statue.

Dongkola Lhakhang is a monastery over the top of a mountain in Bhutan at an elevation of 3370 meter in the state of Paro in the village of Shaba.

Top things to do in Dongkola Lhakhang –

• Get an adrenaline rush with trekking and hiking the high mountains with your energized kids
• Stop at many charming hilly villages
• Take a snap of various stupas with a breathtaking view of the snow covered Himalayan mountains in the background.

The mysterious history of the monastery and the lifestyle of the villagers makes it more enthusiastic to explore the place.

Best time to visit Dongkola Lhakhang– the time from March until May or from September to November is best for visiting the place.

How to reach Dongkola Lhakhang – the place can be reached by taking a bus or taxi from the city of Paro or Thimphu to Shaba village from where you can hike to reach the monastery.

Trashigang is a picturesque small town in Bhutan located at the easternmost part of the country in the district of Trashigang above the Drangme Chhu river.

Top things to do in Trashigang is to experience the –

• Visit the Trashigang Dzong, the most prominent landmark in the town.
• Go to Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary that is well connected with this small town.
• Take view of monasteries like Yonphula Lhakhang and Chador Lhakhang.

The popular food to try in Trashigang include Momos, Sel Roti and Jalebis that you can eat at many roadside stalls.

The annual Trashigang festival is the largest festival in eastern Bhutan that increases the charm of the town.

Best time to Trashigang – the months of October and November are best for visiting the town.

How to reach Trashigang – the town can be reached easily by booking a flight to Yonphula Airport located in the town.

Phobjikha Valley is the widest and largest U shaped glacial valley in Bhutan surrounded by the Black mountains in central Bhutan.

Top things to do in Phobjikha Valley is to experience the –

• The annual black necked crane migration
• Explore wildlife including sambars, wild boars, bears, red foxes and many more animals.
• Visit the Gangtey monastery to complete the trip.

The valley is a paradise for nature lovers where you get to see some amazing natural wonders from diversifying landscapes to the rich flora and fauna.

Travel tip – there are not any restaurants in Phobjikha Valley and so try to carry your own food.

Best time to visit Phobjikha Valley – the months of October, November and December are best to visit the valley.

How to reach Phobjikha Valley – the best way to reach the valley is by taking a cab or car from the city of Thimphu.

Phuentsholing is the second largest city of Bhutan located in southern Bhutan at the border of India and Bhutan.

Top things to do in Phuentsholing –

• Pass the city’s famous Bhutan Gate, the gate for entering Bhutan from India.
• Visit Ame Chhu Crocodile Breeding Centre.
• Get surprised by looking at gharials and mugger crocodiles.
• Visit the Pelir monastery.

The popular food to try in Phuentsholing include many Indian and Chinese cuisines and its Asian French food.

This underrated city offers a perfect mix of Indian, Bhutanese and Nepalese culture

Best time to visit Phuentsholing – the time from March to May is best for visiting the city.

How to reach Phuentsholing – the nearest airport from the city is Paro International Airport from where you can take a cab or car to reach the town.