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LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL • 18 ROOMS, 2 SUITES & 9 VILLAS Opened in 2005...Uma Paro, in the wildly beautiful Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, offers comfort and singular style. The topography is dramatically varied, featuring pine-clad valleys, terraced hills and towering, snow-tipped ranges with impenetrable heights. Monasteries cling to cliffsides and rivers snake through valleys. Orchards line their banks. The entire nation is Buddhist, and retains deep respect for religious tradition. Uma Paro is an inland retreat, dedicated to Uma’s understated philosophy of quiet comfort in inspiring, culture-rich locations. It is also a place for adventure, where the landscape and people won't fail to uplift you. Simply gaze across the valley the morning you awake. At Uma Paro, there are 20 rooms and 9 villas (including one two-bedroom villa), fashioned by traditionally trained Bhutanese artisans alongside Cheong Yew Kwan, architect of Rocky Point at Parrot Cay. Kathryn Kng, who recently completed the contemporary-styled Metropolitan Bangkok, has designed the interiors. The fusion of clean-lined modernism with indigenous detailing, including carved wooden windows and intricate doors, makes for a fresh aesthetic that recognizes Uma Paro’s rich cultural context. At the same time, the design maximizes comfort with sleekly efficient amenities. The nine superior doubles are 25 square meters, featuring large, oversized bathrooms and separate showers, DVD players, heated towel racks, minibars and in-room yoga mats. In the two suites there are separate sitting, dining and study areas. In the eight one-bedroom villas enjoy a private spa and courtyard. The headline two-bedroom villa has all this plus an even greater privilege of space (300 square meters) and endless views. All rooms have views of the forest, mountains or valley. Cuisine at Uma Paro is modern, light and respectful of local nuances, available at the restaurant, 'Bukhari', set among tall pine trees. Menus revive traditional Bhutanese offerings. Specialties include ‘sicum paa’ or dried local pork with Bhutanese chili, and ‘bathup,’ a hearty soup based on handmade noodles. The foodstuff is largely organic, grown in the surrounding valleys. Uma Paro provides intelligent access to the different layers that make up Bhutanese life. Day trips through the nearby Paro Valley might incorporate Taktsang ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery, Drukyel Dzong and a visit to the temple of Kyichu Lhakhang with an orchard picnic. Each site displays Bhutan's Buddhist tradition brought to life by attending morning puja, or worship, in a local monastery. Other trekking destinations include the remote Haa Valley, carpeted in flowers and pines. Uma Paro can organize visits to Thimpu, the key cultural centre in Bhutan after Paro. In addition, Uma Paro offers overnight camping treks during spring and summer. Guests don’t carry their own gear (horses are provided) and camps are set up ahead of arrival. Food, as with all excursion picnics, are prepared by Uma Paro’s kitchen. Mountain biking itineraries include gentle downhill runs with more challenging routes down muddy tracks. Rafting is also a possibility. HOTEL RESERVATIONS | BOOK FLIGHTS
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