Unveil the Wonders of Bhutan

Situated on the west flank of the Black Mountains that separate it from central Bhutan's Trongsa district, Phobjikha Valley is a wide, flat glacial carving of such extraordinary beauty that for some Bhutanese, it is their favorite valley of all. Endangered black-necked cranes take winter refuge here between late October and early March, in an annual migration of hundreds of miles from China's Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Locals have long revered these cranes as heavenly birds and bestowers of good luck, and the marshy valley floor is abundant in a unique dwarf bamboo that the cranes favor. The Crane Festival, popular with locals and tourists alike, welcomes them back every year on November 11. Thirteen other globally threatened bird species also find sanctuary in this quiet and remote valley, a good portion of which is officially protected area managed by Bhutan's Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN). Avifauna outnumber the 4,700 or so human residents, and Phobjikha has remained almost entirely agrarian while some other parts of Bhutan race ahead in development. Overhead transmission lines for electricity are forbidden, and calls to devote more valley land to growing its distinctively sweet potatoes have so far been thwarted. Phobjikha is part of Wangdue Phodrang district and is 130 km (80 miles) — about a 5 hour drive — from capital city Thimphu. It's often referred to by another name, Gangtey, after Gangtey Goempa, the monastery built atop a small hill in 1613 by the grandson of Pema Lingpa, famed Bhutanese treasure revealer. The Gangtey Goempa courtyard is the site for both the Crane Festival and the annual masked dance festival, or tsechu, held annually from the 5th to 10th days of the eighth lunar month of the Bhutanese calendar. Just to the north is Kunzang Chholing, a Buddhist college (or shedra) where 300 monks study. Gangtey's high elevation of 2,900 m (9,500 ft) has it blanketed with snow in the winter, but nature walks and treks are popular the rest of the year. One moderate 3-day trek from Gangteng Goempa to Kilkhortang Lhakhang passes through the forests of blue pine, birch, and rhododendron that surround the valley, and the 90-minute Gangtey Nature Trail walk is also popular. Tourists can see the black-necked cranes anytime over the winter from the Crane Information Centre viewing platform near the nesting grounds. The RSPN especially welcomes tourists to stay in the homes of Phobjikha Valley villagers. This “community-based ecotourism” is an excellent way to interact with locals and give them an economic boost that aligns with habitat preservation efforts. If you would like to visit Phobjikha with a homestay, add this profile to your Wish List and tell your tour operator.

The winding road east of Trashigang leads along the south bank of the Gamri Chhu, dipping in and out of a series of side valleys to the village of Rangjung, 16km (10 miles) to the east. An elaborate Tibetan-style chorten marks the center of town, while the main religious establishment - the Rangjung Yoesel Chholing Monastery, stands on a nearby hill. The charming town is the gateway to the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (the world's only nature reserve created to protect migoi or yeti habitat), as well as a cluster of smaller sites in the isolated valleys surrounding the town. Rangjung and the surrounding area produce excellent examples of the silk cloth for which eastern Bhutan is famous.

As it approaches Bumthang from the west, the road snakes up over the 3,425m (11,235ft) Yotong La Pass before dropping down on the far side into the beautiful Chumey Valley, one of Bumthang's four major valleys. Home of Bhutan's tastiest potatoes and the finest wool yathra, Chumey is a wonderful place to wander at will, stopping at remote hillside lhakhangs and sleepy villages along the way. Visit the valley's Yathra Weaving Centre to see the region's characteristic thick woolen fabric being produced, or explore Nimalung Lhakhang, site of the annual Nimalung Tsechu held each summer.

Khuruthang town in Punakha is small compared to the other cities in Bhutan and the walking duration for a complete round of the town takes only 15 mins. This commercial hub of Punakha district is located along the banks of Punatsangchhu River and it is just 5 km from the magnificent Punakha Dzong. Upgraded to a town in the year 1998, this well structured concrete settlement has always been the point of various types of businesses including the illustrious Sunday market that has attracted numerous tourists as well as locals over the years. While there, you can take a short visit to Khuruthang Goemba which is situated next to the market area.

Khaling sits on a gentle south-facing slope above the Drangme Chhu. The village, a loose collection of buildings spread across the sunny hillside, is most well-known as home to the National Institute for the Visually Impaired. This institute, established in the 1970s, draws its students from across the country, and has successfully established a Dzongkha version of Braille. Just outside the village on the road to the Indian border is the National Handloom Development Centre, which works with local women to produce cotton cloth that is sold as far afield as Thimphu. Khaling also lends its name to the Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary, a hundred kilometers (63 miles) further south.

Often referred to as the lost world of the Mythical Yeti, Sakteng is an isolated valley inhabited by the semi nomadic highland people known as the Brokpas (people of the pastures). Covering an area of 650 km, Sakteng is bordered by the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh (Tawang) in the north and east, Phongmey Geog and Kangpara Geog in the west, Shingkhar Lauri Geog in Samdrup Jongkhar and Merak in the south. Sakteng is a scenic pastoral valley located at around 3000m in the protected area of Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) in Trashigang District, in Eastern Bhutan. With an assemblage of rich ecosystem diversity and a distinctive cultural heritage, Sakteng is one of the distinct and special attractions of Bhutan since tourism is relatively new to this village that opened up to foreign visitors only in September 2010. Unlike anywhere else in the country, it offers the visitors an experience of a unique semi-nomadic lifestyle, culture and vernacular in a magical place where time is held back by the love of a people for their tradition and culture. Even though it is comparatively smaller to other sanctuaries of Bhutan, the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary functions as one of the major watersheds that benefits downstream districts from its two main rivers and numerous lakes. With 30 species of mammals, 227 species of birds, 5 species of reptiles, 2 species of fish, 622 species of plant (including the national flower Blue Poppy) with an amazing 35 species of rhododendron and 622 species of butterflies, the sanctuary is considered one of the richest faunal and floral diversities in the country. The sanctuary is adorned with a diverse ecosystem ranging from warm broadleaf forests to alpine meadows. It is home to some of the rarest wildlife species in the country, such as the red panda and the Himalayan monal pheasant. The Merak-Sakteng loop trail is the longest trekking route in the sanctuary apart from a short birding and orchid trail. Dresses are woven out of yak hair and sheep wool. The most distinctive is the black yak hair hat with five fringes worn by Brokpas. Brokpa men wear red wool jackets tight around the waist with the belt. The men are tall, well built with high cheek bone features. Unlike traditional Bhutanese women, Brokpa women keep long hair tied up in plaits with colourful ribbons. They produce excellent textiles from yak wool and raw silk. Agriculture is restricted to few pockets of the village due to limited arable land and harsh weather conditions and hence the Brokpas practice a transhumance way of living with livestock rearing consisting of yaks, sheep and dzoe and dzoms (yak and cow hybrid). Every winter, Brokpas take on ‘Drukkor’ or grain journey to the lowland villages where they barter their yak products with maize, grains and other necessities. Sakteng abounds with various stories of the mythical yeti (abominable snowman), which is said to be seen frequently roaming the valley. These exciting and thrilling stories of the mythical creature should stir the adventurous spirit in you as you sit around a fire in the company of a unique tribe who seem as mythical themselves as the stories of the bigfoot.

The district capital of Bumthang, Jakar is a beautiful valley situated alongside the banks of Chamkhar Chhu river in the central eastern region of Bhutan. Jakar is located in Choekhor Gewog and is also the location of the Jakar Dzong which translates to ‘white bird fortress”, a dzong constructed in the year 1667. A popular tourist destination, connected via the east-west highway and the Batpalathang Domestic Airport. The town of Jakar is home to a large number of good quality hotels, guest houses and handicrafts shops. and consequently the town is served by several good quality hotels and craft shops. there are so many guest houses. Jakar is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country since it also functions as the base for all the visitors to Bumthang, the spiritual heartland of Bhutan.

Bomdeling Gewog in the north of Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan is known for its its vast biodiversity and unspoiled ecosystem, the sole reason behind the establishment of the Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary to protect and preserve this natural wealth, particularly the globally endangered black necked cranes that winter here, the only attraction that has boosted tourist inflow into the gewog. Sharing its boundaries with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and Yangtse Gewog to the south, Bomdeling is spread over an area spanning 850 sqkm and connected to the Dzongkha headquarter via a feeder road of roughly about 8.6 kms. The people are mostly farmers growing paddy and finger millet as their staple cereals. Other than the black necked cranes, Bomdeling is also famous for the unique dialect they speak called the Zalakha (roughly translated as the monkey language) and the much sought after wooden bowls (Dapa) and the handmade papers.

Located 196 km towards the south of Wangdue District, Gelephu town lies in the southern foothills of Bhutan. It is the only place in Bhutan where one would not see much slopes but only extensive plains. It is one of the gateways to Bhutan from India and is located close to India border. If one has enough time and does not know what to do in Gelephu, do not miss out the weekend market where one can smell the fresh vegetables and cannot ignore the sight of the variety of colorful spices. 1 km towards the northern side of the town is the Nyimalung Dratshang which is the winter residence for the monks of the Chummy valley in Bumthang.

Bjoka village is one of the gewog under Zhemgang District. Bjoka is well known for its bamboo and cane craft products. The beautiful cane and bamboo products that you will find in Bhutan is generally produced by the proud people of Bjoka village. The bamboo and cane craft products are the community’s identity and are the cultural heritage. 90% of the community depends on the production of bamboo and cane products as their basic source of income. Another interesting thing about Bjoka village is the big black and white house with 18 doors. The house is built with black and white stones whereby it is believed that the black stones were used by the laborers from India and after they ran away from the site, the locals continued the construction but using the white stones. The head of the village “Bjokha Khoces” who are the direct descendants of Tibetan King Thrisong Deusten occupies the unique structure of the Bjoka village.

A 3 hours hike from a Jangbi, a monpa community, takes you to the next Monpa village called Phrumsor. This hike will give you an opportunity to see some rare birds such as the great hornbills, Rufous-necked hornbill, and a lot of golden langurs. This village still doesn't have motor road access and electrical connectivity. They use small solar powered light source and mostly use firewood as a source of energy. The main cash crops of these people oranges, cardamom, and maize corn. Phrumzor also provides great chance travel photography with its untouched and raw lifestyle.

As home to the only international airport in the country, Paro district is the one place in Bhutan that virtually every foreign tourist gets to visit. This is fortunate, because Paro district is a microcosm of Bhutan. In its 1287 square kilometers (497 square miles) are contained some of Bhutan's oldest fortresses, the precious artifacts of the National Museum, and cliff-clinging religious centers like Kila Goemba nunnery and Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) monastery that to many foreigners are iconic of Bhutan. Mt. Jomolhari rises to 7,326 meters (24,035 feet) on the district's northern flank near the border with Chinese Tibet. This sacred mountain — abode of protector goddess Jomo, bound under oath by Guru Rinpoche to protect the local land and people — is the source of two mighty rivers, the Amo Chhu and the Paro Chhu. The latter flows south down the entire length of the district, through Paro Valley and the capital, Paro. The valley is one of the country's widest and is the thriving heart of the district, containing terraced working rice fields and the country's highest concentration of tourist accommodations, everything from humble homestays to 5-star luxury resorts that meet the most stringent global standards for service. Tourism accounts for a greater percentage of the economy than in any other district. Nature appears right at the edges of the valley's human settlement. Numerous day hikes offer the chance to experience ancient monuments along with pristine nature. Tiger's Nest is just 10 km north of Paro town, with the climb from the trailhead taking up to three hours, depending on one's fitness level. Trails from Chelela, Bhutan's highest motorable pass, lead both to Kila Goemba nunnery and to Kyichu Lhakhang, which dates to the seventh century and is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. The entire northern part of the district is protected land and includes a swath of Jigme Dorji National Park. Geography has determined the fate of Paro district for hundreds of years. When relations were friendly, Old Tibet sent goods and lamas through the mountain pass along the shared border near Mt. Jomolhari. When they were not, Tibetans sent invading troops through the same pass. Tibetan immigrant Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the great unifier of Bhutan, built Rinpung Dzong in 1646. The imposing five-story fortress — which overlooks Paro town, population 20,000 — played a critical role in repelling successive waves of Tibetan troops seeking to invade his adopted country. It is now the administrative and monastic body center for Bhutan's western region, as well as the site of Paro Tsechu, the nation's largest annual festival. The National Museum is located just above Rinpung Dzong, inside Ta Dzong, the huge old watchtower for the fortress. Drukgyel Dzong up valley was also part of the network of protective fortresses the Zhabdrung constructed; though destroyed by a fire in the 1950s that left only its outer walls and central tower standing, its ruins remain impressive. Despite the concentration of the tourism industry in Paro, it remains a relatively unexplored destination for international travelers. Paro offers a wealth of scenery, history, culture, and ancient spiritual sites just near the airport.