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Best Places to Visit in Bhutan in December

The Gangtey Monastery is one of the most attractive places to visit in Paro because of its rich cultural heritage and its beautiful structure and location. It is a centre of art, culture, religion, spirituality and learning and is considered one of the primary religious centres for Nyingma Buddhism. Known as the Gangtey Gompa, this monastery was built in the 17th century in typical Tibetan style with pillars surrounding a courtyard and the rest of the structure decorated with frescoes and paintings.

Apart from the monastery itself, you can go on tours and treks in the vicinity from where you can observe the incredible beauty of the surrounding hills and forests. 

Location: Gangtey Valley, Bhutan 

Price: Free entry

Punakha Dzong is also known by the name of Pungthang Dewa Chhenbi Phodrang which translates into ‘The Palace of Great Happiness’. This majestic building dates back to the 17th century and is the second largest and the second oldest Dzong in Bhutan.

The entire building follows a very rustic and traditional Bhutanese architecture and all six storeys have been made out of compacted earth, stone and timbers. If you are looking for Bhutanese places to visit in December, there are not many that match the stunning geographical features that surround Punakha Dzong. Since the Dzong is situated between the Pho Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female) rivers in the Punakha valley, the scenery becomes all the more beautiful when everything is covered in mist, giving the place an otherworldly vibe. 

Location: Punakha, Bhutan

Timing: Daily, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Price: Rs. 300

This historical city of Bhutan lies on the Indo-Bhutanese border and is home to some amazing sites. Situated at an altitude of only 300 metres above sea level, this is the perfect place to visit in Bhutan in December. While here, you can admire the beautiful architecture of the Bhutan Gate which also marks the entrance to Bhutan from India.

Also, spend time with the crocodiles at the Amo Chhu Crocodile Breeding Center or visit the historic Zangto Pelri Lhakhang. If you are looking for a more nature-based experience, you can spend your time at the Zangto Pelri Park or enjoy a picnic by the Torsa riverside.

Location: Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Timing: Open all-day

Price: Free 

Rinpung Dzong holds an important place as a major religious and political centre of Bhutan. This large monastery and fortress belongs to the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school and is also home to the district Monastic Body. When here, you can visit the fourteen distinct shrines and chapels housed inside the Dzong and admire the rich Bhutanese architecture of the place.

The original building has been a part of the landscape since the 15th century and has been capturing the imagination of people worldwide, especially after its appearance in the 1993 movie Little Buddha. The place also hosts colourful festivals during the Spring months where traditional mask dances are organised for several days.

Location: Paro, Bhutan

Timing: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Price: Free

Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, which is situated in the mountain ranges of Bhutan. It was constructed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the fourth King of Bhutan. This architectural marvel houses over a hundred thousand smaller statues of Buddha inside of it.

Both the bigger statue and the ones inside have been built using bronze gilded in Gold. This 169-metre tall statue stands amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of the thirteenth Desi Druk. If you are looking for places to visit in Bhutan in December, this beautiful gold and bronze structure sitting amidst a 943.4 acres wide conserve forest must be on your list!

Location: Kuensel Phodrang, Thimphu, Bhutan

Timing: Daily, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Price: Free

For all the adventure enthusiasts looking for Bhutan places to visit in December, the oldest Bhutanese national park, Royal Manas National Park, might prove to be the best option. Spread over a massive area of 1,057 square kilometers, the place covers three separate districts and four different wildlife sanctuaries and parks! You can go hiking, trekking or enjoy a jungle safari in the depths of the wilderness.

As the national park is home to Bengal tigers, elephants, gaurs, golden langurs and hundreds of species of birds, a trip here is bound to be filled with the thrills of the wild.

Location: Bhutan

Timing: Daily, 5:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Price: Free entry

Punakha Suspension Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in Bhutan and stretches up to a length of approximately 520 feet! You can enjoy spectacular views of the river flowing underneath the bridge or the valleys rolling in every direction.

Made with solid planks of wood and cables anchored to massive cement block,  the bridge is surprisingly stable for its length and is covered in colourful religious flags at all points. It also acts as a starting point for several multi-day trekking trips in the region.

You can also stopover at the bridge if you are visiting the famous Punakha Dzong as it lies only half a mile away from the religious centre. You simply have to head north from the dzong, walk past the cremation grounds and follow the river to reach the bridge.

Location: Punakha, Bhutan

Timing: Open all-day

Price: Free

Simtokha Dzong also known as the Sangak Zabdhon Phodrang or the ‘Palace of the Profound Meaning of Secret Mantras’ is a relatively small dzong and the first of its kind in the country. It was built in the year 1629 and today houses one of the premier Dzongkha language learning institutes.

While here, you can spend your time admiring the architecture of the place with traditional Buddhist aspects like prayer wheels or around 300 carvings of saints and philosophers made in slate. This dzong is one of the most popular Bhutan places to visit in December and welcomes people from around the world.

Location: Simtokha, Bhutan

Timing: Daily, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Price: Free

Jigme Dorji National Park is the second-largest national park in the country. Apart from covering multiple districts, it also pans over all three climatic zones of Bhutan. You can experience everything from frozen glaciers to dense jungles, rivers and historic sites without having to leave the park.

It is home to important cultural sites like the fortresses of Lingshi Dzong and Gasa Dzong and sacred mountains like  Mount Jomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake. The diverse animal cover in the area includes Bengal Tigers, bharals, black musk deer, Indian leopards and over 300 species of birds. If you decide to make it a place to visit in Bhutan in December, you can also witness the glaciers Lunana and Laya Gewogs in their full glory.

Location: Bhutan

Timing: Daily, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Price: Free