Paro valley is the aerial gateway to Bhutan and being one of the widest valleys is the lucky location to the only international airport in the middle of paddy fields and traditional Bhutanese houses. Paro valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Kingdom with majority of it's inhabitants dependent on agriculture and tourism industry. Paro valley also contributes a large amount of fresh produce including, vegetables, rice and dairy to the Bhutanese palette. Hundreds of temples and monasteries can be found dotting the hills and vales, one of them being the remarkably iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery perched on a vertical cliff at 10,000ft high above the valley. The Paro chu (chu means river) meanders down the valley by the beautiful traditional farmhouses and terraced fields filled with rice and chilies. Large Weeping Willow trees and apple orchards can be seen stretching toward the road with a backdrop of lush green mountains rising up around the valley.

The Rinpung Dzong or the Fortress of Heaped Jewels is located along the Paro river gathering attention and admiration from every corner of the valley. Like all the Dzongs in the country, the Rinpung Dzong houses the administrative offices along side the district monastic body, i.e. the monks, their living quarters and learning centers. The beautiful view of the wide Paro valley with its paddy fields and Pa Chhu (Paro river) from the Dzong is spectacular and a good vantage point to take panoramic pictures of the valley. However, the Dzong along with the traditional cantilever bridge and the Museum (above the Dzong) illuminated by floodlights make for impressive night photography. The Rinpung Dzong is featured in Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1993 Hollywood movie ‘Little Buddha’ starring Keanu Reeves as a young Buddha; and one of Hongkong’s leading entertainment couple, actors Tony Leung and Carina Lau who got married in Bhutan chose the Dzong as an exclusive spot for their wedding photos.

The National Museum located above the Rinpung Dzong was previously a watch tower (Ta Dzong) built in 1649 to guard the valley from numerous Tibetan invasions. Built in the shape of a conch shell the tower was converted to a Museum in 1968, was severely damaged by three major earthquakes, the recent being in 2011 and renovated and reopened in all its former architectural glory in June 2020 as the National Museum. The Museum has on display numerous unique sets of religious and historical artifacts that narrate the traditional heritage and culture of Bhutan. The artifacts include festival masks, fine arts, paintings, textiles from all over Bhutan, collection of stamps, preserved specimens of exotic animals and many antique collections. A visit to the Museum will familiarize a visitor to the ancient culture and traditions of Bhutan and discover the beauty, mystery, myths and legends that makes Bhutan a hidden gem of a country.