THIMPU
Thimpu, at 2,316m is a fertile valley and has been the capital of Bhutan since 1960. State control has ensured that all houses and buildings in Thimpu are painted and constructed in the traditional Bhutanese style.

In Thimpu, Tashichho Dzong is of great importance as it is the main secretariat building housing all the ministries, the National Assembly Hall, the office of the king and the Throne Room. It is also the summer residence of the religious chief, the Je Khempo and the monk body. Within the National Assembly Hall is a 2-storey high statue of the Buddha and wall paintings depicting the twelve stages of Buddhahood along with columns of Kanju and Tenju (Buddhist scriptures). The annual Thimpu festival is also held here in the courtyard. It is hard to miss the stupa, a monument dedicated to the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, father of modern Bhutan. The Simtokha Dzong lies 8 Km away on a lofty ridge.

PARO VALLEY
The valley of Paro at 2280m, is the most beautiful in Bhutan and is one of the gifts of nature. To the north lies Mount Chomulhari in all its majestic glory while the glacial waters from the "five sisters" peaks fill the deep gorges with water giving birth to the Paro Chu river.

The " Tiger's Nest" monastery built around the cave where Guru Rinpoche - and later his follower Dubthok Singye — meditated, clings to a rock face, at 914m above the valley floor.

Across the river, on the knoll that rises from the river, sits the impressive Rimpung Dzong, which commands a grand view of the Paro Valley that stretches below. This impregnable fortress is known to have repulsed countless invasions from Tibet.

Behind Rimpung Dzong, high on the hillside, is the majestic Ta Dzong that is shaped like a castle. It was turned into the National Museum in 1967.

An interesting sight is the burned out shell of the fortress of victorious Bhutan, the Drukgyel Dzong. It lies 18Km from the town of Paro.

Other places of interest are Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the kingdom's oldest and most sacred temples, and Dungtse Lhakhang.

PUNAKHA
The fertile valley of Punakha has a temperate climate and is drained by the Phochu and Mochu river. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan until 1955,and still serves as the winter seat of the Central Monk Body. The fortress of Punakha was built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyalin in 1637 at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers. The Punakha Dzong houses many sacred temples, including the Machhin Lhakhang, where the embalmed body of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal lies in state. The road from Thimpu to Punakha goes over a 3,114m high Dochu La Pass, from where you can enjoy fascinating views.

WANGDIPHODRANG
At the junction of the Mo Chu and Tang Chu rivers lies the valley of Wangdiphodrang and at the confluence of the river stands the Wangdiphodrang Dzong. This Dzong has served as the seat of one of Bhutan's most powerful dzongpons for many centuries. Climbing higher, one comes across rich pastureland and a Yak dairy research station at Gogona. Famous for it exquisite bamboo handicrafts, the district also produces some fine slate and stone carvings.

TONGSA
Tongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of Bhutan's Royal family stands midway beetween Ha in the far west and Tashigang in the far east. A massive, many levelled structure, it slopes down the contour of the hill on which it is set. Originally built by Ngawang Namgyal in 1648, it was later enlarged and redecorated. Of special interest here is the superb collection of sculptures made of rhino horn. The Sherubling Lodge provides comfortable lodging for tourists.

BUMTHANG
Legend has it that when the lamas assembled to decide on the site for Jakar Dzong, a big white bird suddenly rose up in the air and settled on the spur of the hill east of Tongsa, in the wide valley of Bumthang. Thus, it was decided this was where the "Castle of the White Bird "would be built. Many tales of Padma Sambhava, the guru who took Buddhism to Tibet, will be heard around holy places of Bumthang, where he is said to have left his bodily marks on the solid rock face. Bumthang is also the home of the great Buddhist teacher Pemalingpa. The present dynasty traces its ancestry to the descendants of Pemalingpa.

TASHIGANG
The most important district of Bhutan lies in the far- east. Tashigang is also the largest in the region and rests on the banks of Dangme Chut. Of interest here are the coloured handspun cloth and endsilk, spun from cocoons bred on castor oil plants. The Tashigang Dzong stands on a steep ridge above the Manas river.

MONGAR
The second largest settlement in the east is Mongar and is located near Tashigang. The Dzong here is of rather recent origin built only in 1930. Built in the traditional architectural style centuries old, no nails have been used.