Trashigang

The hub of eastern Bhutan, where cliff-top Trashigang Dzong overlooks the valley, with trips to Gom Kora, Chorten Kora and the herder villages of Merak and Sakteng.

Trashigang is the largest town in eastern Bhutan and the headquarters of Trashigang Dzongkhag (district). At about 1,100 m, it sits on a hillside above the valley of the Drangme Chhu. Roads lead north to Trashiyangtse, east to the highland pastures of Merak and Sakteng, and south via Khaling to Samdrup Jongkhar on the Indian border. Developed later than the west and seeing few tourists, the east has kept its dzongs, monasteries and village life largely unchanged. Oct–Dec and Mar–May bring clear skies and good visibility, making them the best seasons; Jun–Sep is the monsoon, when landslides often block mountain roads. The Gom Kora festival and Chorten Kora festival in spring, and the Trashigang Tshechu in early winter, are great chances to experience eastern Bhutan's festivals. Sightseeing follows three main routes: Trashigang town and its dzong; north via Duksum and Gom Kora to Trashiyangtse (Chorten Kora, the traditional arts school and the Bumdeling black-necked crane sanctuary), doable as a day trip; and east via Rangjung and Radhi to Merak and the Brokpa herder villages of Sakteng, which requires a special permit, with 2–4 days recommended for trekking or homestays. Getting there: it's a two-day drive from Bumthang via Mongar, crossing the 4,000 m Thrumshing La pass; you can also enter from Guwahati in Assam, India, via Samdrup Jongkhar (about 7–8 hours). Yonphula has a small domestic airport with irregular flights. Under Bhutanese rules, foreign visitors must book through a licensed tour operator, pay the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) and be accompanied by a licensed guide throughout. Plan on 2–3 days, plus another 3 if visiting Merak and Sakteng.

Top sights

• Trashigang Dzong – Built in 1659 on a ridge with cliffs on three sides overlooking the confluence of the Dangchu and Gamri rivers, it is the administrative an…
• Gom Kora – A sacred temple on the banks of the Dangchu, where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated and subdued demons atop a giant boulder. Its cav…
• Chorten Kora – A white giant stupa built in 1740 modeled on Nepal's Boudhanath Stupa. It is the landmark of Trashiyangtse and the most important pilgrimag…
• Trashiyangtse Dzong & Institute for Zorig Chusum – A peaceful valley town in northeastern Bhutan, with old and new dzongs and the Institute for Zorig Chusum, one of Bhutan's two national sch…
• Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary – A high-mountain reserve in northeastern Bhutan where black-necked cranes winter in the valley in winter. It is also a habitat for butterfli…
• Merak – A high-altitude Brokpa herding village at about 3,500 meters, where residents wear yak-wool clothing and spider-leg hats, and a semi-nomadi…
• Sakteng – A Brokpa herders' valley surrounded by mountains. The Sakteng protected area is famous for its rhododendron forests, and legends say the sn…
• Rangjung Woesel Choeling Monastery – A Nyingma monastery on a hillside in Rangjung, east of Trashigang, home to hundreds of monks, with fine murals and views over the terraced…
• Radhi – A terraced village known as the 'Granary of the East,' where households weave wild silk and traditional aprons, and visitors can watch weav…
• Duksum Iron Chain Bridge & Weaving Village – A small village on the road to Trashiyangtse, with remnants of an ancient iron-chain bridge built by Thangtong Gyalpo and women weaving by…
• Kanglung & Sherubtse College – A hilltop town south of Trashigang, home to Sherubtse College, Bhutan's first university, and Zangdopelri, a Padmasambhava pure-land temple.
• Drametse Lhakhang – One of eastern Bhutan's most important Nyingma monasteries, and the birthplace of the UNESCO-listed Drametse Ngacham mask dance.

Where to eat

• Druk Deothjung Resort Restaurant – The hotel restaurant most often recommended in Trashigang. Serves eastern Bhutanese home cooking, with views over Trash…

Itineraries

• Bhutan East-West Traverse: Guwahati to Paro – Enter overland from Assam, India, and travel from east to west along the entire Bhutan East-West Highway.