The isolated Haa valley lies southwest of the Paro valley, hidden behind the high ridhge of the Chelela. Despite easy access to Tibet, the remote valley has always been off the major trade routes and continues to be on the fringes of tourism. Less than 3% of visitors to Bhutan make it to Haa, but it’s a picturesque valley that is ideal for mountain biking and hiking, and there is real scope here for getting off the beaten track. There are at least a dozen monasteries in the valley. Perhaps the best way to visit is to spend a day cycling to the nearby sights. As per the 2017 census, the population of Haa dzongkhag was 13,655 in 2,952 households making it the second least populated dzongkhag in Bhutan after Gasa. The dominant language of the district is Dzongkha, the national language.
Wangchulo Fort
Haa Wangchulo Dzong is newest, built in 1915 and used for district administrative offices, court of Justice and monk’s shelter too.
Lhakhang Karp (White Temple)
The white pigeon perched at the foothills of the three magnificent mountains to the south of the Haa Dzong, commonly known as RigsumGonpo. This is the location of the Lhakhang Karpo or the White Temple. The temple’s architecture is the true depiction of Bhutanese art and culture, both on the outside and the inside. An intricately carved colossal door welcomes tourists with much grandeur to the temple.
Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple)
A short drive or a ten-minute walk north of the Lhakhang Karpo is the Lhakhang Nagpo (the black temple). This is the spot that the black pigeon chose. Built on top of a lake, the Lhakhang Nagpo owes its name to its colour (black) in the middle of a tranquil green lush forest. The temple is nicely painted in black and exhibits deep horizontal slits of red and white. The dark and mysterious Lhakhang Nagpo is a representation of the tantric procedures prevalent in the valley. It’s where the guardian deity Da Do Chen sits.