Bumthang is considered as the spiritual hub of the country. The four valleys of Bumthang Choekhor, Tang, Ura and Chhume offer numerous experiences whether you want to hike, bike, discover temples, or learn more about Bhutanese lifestyle and culture. We have discovered a number of exciting things to do in the area and gathered the following information for you so that you can get a better idea of all the possibilities. This will help you get the most out of your time in Bumthang. We hope you will enjoy exploring the magical Bumthang Valley.
Morning in a Farmhouse :
To get real insight into how farming is done without machines and modern technology, get an early start and visit our friend’s local farmhouse in the valley. First, the lady of the house will take you to the cow field where you can take part in milking the family cows. Back in the farmhouse, you will get to see and participate in butter churning and local cheese processing. You will also get the chance to taste the freshly made dairy products. If you wish, they will prepare a traditional Bhutanese breakfast for you.
Bumthang Farmhouse Lunch :
If you wish to experience not just traditional Bhutanese food in authentic surroundings, but also Bumthang specialties made from local products such as buckwheat, we would like to take you for a very different lunch experience. The family you will visit has cooked for the Royal family for generations, and their idyllic farmhouse is located in Dorjibi village further into Choekhor Valley. By the time you arrive at their house, the lady of the house will have spent the entire morning preparing a range of local dishes, including some of the Royal family’s favourites, for you to enjoy along with a taste of their home made local wine (ara)
Bhutanese Farmhouse Dinner :
If you are celebrating a special occasion and wish to experience a more authentic way to explore Bhutanese cuisine, then let us arrange an Bhutanese dinner at a farm house.
Whereas lunch in the farmhouse is served in the kitchen, the dining room is used on special evenings. Sit back in the majestic wooden chairs, and enjoy each other’s company. On arrival you will be served freshly brewed milk accompanied with home made cereal from rice, maize and biscuit like made from wheat. The meal will be made up of a symphony of local dishes, all prepared with fresh ingredients and each with a distinct character. To extend the evening further, a pot of heated rice wine (ara) with butter will be served at the end of the meal to be enjoyed in the peaceful surroundings.
Butter Lamp Lighting in Pema Sambava
The Butter Lamp or karme represents the dispelling of the darkness of ignorance. The lighting of butter lamps is an offering of light to the deities and is one of the most common means of increasing one’s merits. It also helps to focus the mind and aid meditation.
Pema Sambava, a peaceful and charming temple beautifully situated in the mountainside overlooking the valley is a perfect location to perform the spiritual ritual of lighting 108 butter lamps. It is believed that while Guru Rinpoche was in Chokhor in the 8th century, he meditated in Kurjey by day and in Pema Sambhava by night. The lhakhang was then built by Pema Lingpa in 1490 around the cave where the meditation took place. The stone print of Guru Rinpoche’s crown shaped cave can still be seen. The main relic in the temple is a dungkar (sea shell/conch) which is believed to have flown here from Dozam, a place just across the river.
The temple caretaker will assist you in lighting your 108 butter lamps. It is said that this will protect you from evil and help you reach enlightenment.
Time: 10 minute walk to/from Pema Sambava.
Red Panda Brewery Visit and Beer Tasting :
The Red Panda Brewery was started in 2006 by Fritz Maurer, originally Swiss but a Bhutanese citizen since 1976. His brewery was the first established beer brewery in the country, and he is still the sole producer of the Weissbier. A visit to the brewery includes a 30 minute tour of the premises to learn more about the production process of Red Panda, the beer ingredients, the history of the beer and the health benefits of this Bhutanese speciality. The tour will be concluded with Red Panda beer and local cheese tasting in the brewery garden. For those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, Bumthang produced apple juice from the brewery across the road is also available.
Bar Hopping in Jakar Town :
From day to night, Jakar town changes dramatically. The Bumthaps love their bar cum shop cum restaurant cum hotel and they all meet in town to share a few beers, whiskies and momos (dumplings) in the evenings. If you like to experience the town after dark, we have handpicked a few of our favourite places. Our recommendation starts with a visit to Sonam Dolker Hotel where Mr Namgay will offer Indian wine or a local beer in his kitchen. From here, the next stop is Sunny’s Restaurant where you can get some of the best momos in town. A two minutes walk further down the town strip is Coffee Corner where Mrs Pema Zangmo will prepare her speciality, much appreciated by the villagers; Meat Rolls with chilli dip. Coffee Corner also serves the best milk tea in town. The next stop is the neighbouring bar, Tashi Phuntsho Restaurant for some ara (rice wine).
If you are still up for it, the tour ends across the road at Banga’s for karaoke and dancing. After seeing the Bhutanese on the stage in their ghos and kiras, your perception of Bhutanese dancing will be changed forever! If you want to try out your singing and dancing skill, you can make a song request, enter the stage, and sing along to a song of your choice before returning for a good night’s sleep at the hotel.
Astrology Reading by the Village Astrologer
The 77 year old Apa Dode is our gifted local astrologer who daily tells the fortunes of the villagers. After practising Buddhism as a monk in Trongsa Dzong for 17 years, he worked as the 2nd King’s astrologer whilst he was residing in the neighbouring Wangdicholing Palace. Dode has also spent two years meditating in Kunzangdrak and three years in Shugdrak.
If you wish to have your fortune told, we will take you to Dodo’s house in the nearby village Gongkhar.
Remember to have your birth date and time of birth ready for interpretation.
EASY HIKES
Temple Tour: Jampa Lhakhang – Kurjey Lhakhang – Tamshing – Khonchosum Lhakhang
Rather than driving to the beautiful temples in Bumthang, we recommend walking if the weather permits. You can start your walk from the hotel to Jampa lhakhang and continue through fields and meadows to Kurjey Lhakhang. On the way you will pass a beautiful Chorten and the newly built temple, Zangdo Palri. After Kurjey the trail continues past a water source, Kurjey Drupchhu, believed to be the Holiest Water in Bhutan, before you reach the suspension bridge which will take you across the river. The next stop is Tamshing Lhakhang. You may end the walk here, or continue to Khonchosum Lhakhang just 400 meters further. You may get picked up here or continue by foot to the hotel.
Jampa Lhakhang is believed to have been built in the year 659 by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, on the same day as Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro, in order to subdue a Tibetan demoness. It was here that Guru Rinpoche conducted the first sermon on Tantric Buddhism for his host King Sindhu Raja, the local ruler and his family. The place where Guru Rinpoche sat during the sermon can still be seen. Every year in October, the temple hosts a spectacular festival, the Jampa Lhakhang Drup. Two of the main attractions are the fire dance and the treasure dance or ‘naked dance’, and the fertility blessings for women.
Kurjey Lhakhang is named after the body (Kur) print (jey) of Guru Rinpoche who was invited to meditate here in 746 AD to subdue evil spirits and demons. There are three temples; the oldest temple was built in 1652 on the rock face where Guru Rinpoche meditated. The body imprint of the great master can be seen distinctly in the rock cave enshrined in the temple. The second was built in 1900 by the first King when he was still the Governor of Trongsa. The third temple was built in 1990 with the support of the Queen Mother Ashi Kesang. A wall of 108 chortens surrounds the temple grounds and symbolizes Buddha’s victory over the evil spirits. The Cypress tree which is seen near the temple is believed to have grown from the Guru’s walking stick.
Kurjey Drupchhu: During the 8th century Sindhu Raja, the King of Chakhar invited Guru Padhma Sambawa from Yangleyshey in Nepal (meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche) to cure his prolonged illness. The Guru meditated at the present Guru Lhakhang and subdued the Demon of Dragmar Dorji Tsegpa, known as Shelging Karpo, responsible for the sickness of the Raja. Drupchhu was made available at the end of Guru’s meditation with his spiritual power to celebrate the victory over the Demon and to cure the illness of the King. Therefore it is believed that this water is holy and cures all our sins and illnesses.
Tamshing Lhakhang (temple of good message) is located in a village across the river from Kurjey. It was built by Pema Lingpa in 1501 and is the most important Nyingma Lhakhang in the Kingdom. Being a skilled tantric master and an artist, Pema Lingpa sculpted the main statues and painted the frescoes, which can be seen even today, mostly in their original state. He also created a 25 kg suit of chain-mail armour and it is believed that you will be freed from your sins if you carry it around the lhakhang three times.
Khonchosum Lhakhang is a rural looking temple which has its roots in the 7th century. The current structure, however, dates back to the 15th century when Pema Lingpa, the Treasure Discoverer, restored it and revealed terma (sacred texts and artifacts) on the hillside behind the temple. The temple’s three small Buddha statues representing the past, present and the future, are believed to have flown there, hence the name Kencho meaning divine and Sum meaning three. Legend has it that when the bell inside is rung, it can be heard as far away as Lhasa in Tibet.
Hotel – Jampa – Kurjey – Tamshing – Khonchosum – hotel: 1 whole day easy hike with farm house lunch experience.
Kharchu Dratshang : This is another walk you can easily do on your own. You can do a nice loop through town and enjoy the spectacular views of town from Kharchu. After following the lodge main entrance road to its end, turn left and follow the road as it continues straight and then left downward towards town. Walk through the main street and cross the town bridge. Walk through the gate just as you are over the bridge and proceed up the mountainside which is paved with concrete steps all the way up to Kharchu.
Walk out through the Dratshang main entrance and follow the paved road which snakes down the hill and comes out just next to the Cheese Factory. Turn right and walk about 100 meters past the factory. Follow the concrete path leading down to the suspension bridge on your left. The concrete path will lead you to the prayer wheels just below Wangdicholing Palace. Enter through the Palace gates and walk through the gardens to the lodge.
Time: 10 minute hike up from the town. Difficulty level – Easy
Jakar Dzong : After following the main entrance road to its end, turn left and follow the road to the intersection with the sign pointing towards Jakar Higher Secondary School. Turn right and continue on this road as it twists up the mountainside to the Dzong. Rather than walking down the same way, you can follow the concrete steps which starts from just below the Dzong and leads back down to the main road.
Jakar Dzong was founded by Ngagi Wangchuk as a small hermitage in 1549. It was expanded in 1646 to help consolidate the Zhabdrung’s expanding power into the eastern region. Scouting for a place for the dzong, a small white bird was seen perched on a hill, which was taken as an auspicious sign, and hence the name Jakar, meaning the “white bird”. The dzong is now the seat of district administration and monastic body of Bumthang valleys.
Time: 30 minute hike up, 20 minute hike down. Difficulty level – Easy