The Most Exclusive Private Villas in Bhutan
A stay at Uma by COMO, Paro is about immersing yourself in the richly textured culture of Bhutan, a Himalyan all-Buddhist kingdom known as ‘the Land of the Thunder Dragon’, while enjoying the luxuries of traditional Bhutanese craftsmanship and the clean-lined contemporary design for which COMO Hotels and Resorts are known. With their Paro Valley location, you can easily access the highlights of this mystical country, from Tiger’s Nest monastery to the resort’s unparalleled spa and international cuisine favored
by the royal family.
Heaven on Earth
Otherwise known as ‘hidden treasure’ or ‘the last Shangri-La’, Bhutan is a landlocked Himalayan kingdom featuring flower-filled mountain ridges, terraced hills and dramatic ranges wrapped in mist where religion and nature have come together in a compelling Buddhist culture. Inspired by the landscape, spirituality and culture of the region, Uma Paro is an intimate, rural hotel steeped in the surrounding traditions amongst pine-clad valleys, lush vegetation, rushing rivers, and snow-capped mountains. This place beckons all travelers to whom the joy of discovery is reason enough for a journey.
Designed to give unparalleled access to the country while simplifying logistics, the resort offers guides and guided adventures to allow guests to explore Bhutan by foot, mountain bike or four wheel drive vehicle. Providing expertise to explore the area more deeply, they can look after your trip in entirety, from visas to Druk Air flights to day trips and camping, allowing you to witness something new in a land that time forgot. To experience the real Bhutan, local hotel guides will accompany you to festivals and ceremonies and can speak English, Hindi, Nepali, Dzongkha – the national language of Bhutan – as well as their own local dialects. Cling to a cliffside, spend the morning browsing Thimpu’s museums or wander aimlessly amongst the monasteries and markets; there’s no rush.
Exhilarate Your Soul
With soul-stirring views of forest, mountains and the surrounding valley, each villa occupies its own glade planted with azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and hydrangeas. Far more than a luxury abode, accommodations fuse understated modernity with intricate detailing fashioned by local artisans. Villas are entirely private, built of handcrafted stone, wood, and tiles – exuding a feeling that is at once rustic Bhutanese, yet with modern day indulgences. You will delight in wood furnishings vividly painted with flowers, Indian cotton bed covers with hand-stitched patterns paying homage to Bhutan’s Buddhist culture, and hand-knotted rugs that come from nearby Nepal. The result is a luxury resort with a fresh, original look that feels sleek even as it recognizes Uma Paro’s cultural context.
With separate dining, sitting and study areas as well as a fully appointed kitchenette, the oversized suites are popular for honeymoons. With a sophisticated, residential ambience and mesmerizing views from the king-size bed, the 180-degrees vistas of the valley may be tempt you to cancel the day’s trekking adventure.
Bhutanese Cuisine
Combining lost Himalayan recipes blended with contemporary accents, much of the produce at Uma Paro’s restaurants comes from their own organic kitchen garden and a sustainable partnership with local farmers, affording a bounty of fresh and vital ingredients. Much loved for their healthy COMO Shambhala Cuisine, Paro represents a lighter, nutritionally rich menu, where the kingdom’s royal family can often be seen enjoying a savory meal together.
Their main restaurant, Bhukari, is named for the traditional Bhutanese fireplace that forms a dramatic centerpiece to its circular, pavilion-style design. Nearby valleys provide freshly churned butter, hand molded farm cheeses, apple cider vinegar and wild flower honey. Lunch dishes tend more towards international comfort food, while dinner is gastronomic – a rare fine dining treat where menus are based on seasonal, local produce sourced by Indonesian born Executive Chef Dewa Wijaya, who delivers both Bhutanese and international dishes with strong flavors and serious finesse. Previously at the helm in the kitchens at the COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali and Parrot Cay by COMO in the Turks and Caicos, Dewa has worked hard to revive traditional Bhutanese offerings while providing contemporary interpretations of the cuisine of neighboring countries, especially India. His international repertoire is second to none. House favorites include Nut Crusted Lamb Loin with braised puy lentils, pomegranate glazed pear & cardamom yogurt as well as Handmade Linguine with poached egg, forest mushrooms, new season asparagus, Parmesan & truffle hollandaise.
Discover a Calming Spirit
The spa resort offers a slice of heaven with two private Bhutanese hot-stone bathhouses, a large indoor pool with alfresco sundeck, steam rooms for men and women, and a gym & yoga studio with distinguished Paro Valley views. Enjoy an ancient Indian approach to wellness that helps restore the body and mind to its natural state of equilibrium. The powerfully therapeutic Hot River Stone Massage uses hot and smooth oiled river stones which expertly trained therapists use to glide along muscles, correcting tensions at the deepest level. The resulting melting sensation promotes a profound sense of relaxation. Utilizing COMO Shambhala’s PURIFY line of skincare products, you will experience aromatherapy-based, premium grade essential oils free of parabens, petrochemicals, artificial fragrance or color. Key ingredients such as rose hip oil, peach kernel oil, aloe leaf and yeast extracts are rich in antioxidants that can fight the aging effects of free radicals. Moisturizing extracts include wild orchid that grows in Bhutan, and mannan, an ingredient used in Japanese cooking. Try the deep cleansing and nourishing holistic facial with PURIFY-infused steam compresses to help cleanse and prepare the skin to be holistically balanced through manual lymphatic stimulation. A unique massage using warm herbal bolus detoxifies at a deeper level through acupressure channels – leaving you with a clear mind and beautiful skin.
