Bumthang

Bumthang | Paro | Punakha | Thimpu | Wangdue Phodrang | Trongsa | Fame & Infamy

Although the Bumthang valley is only about half way from the capital Thimpu in the West and the Eastern border of Bhutan, it tends to be about as far east as anyone ventures. Most of the tourist sites lie in the Western half of the country and given the cost induced time constraints for most visitors and the appalling standard of the roads, there seems little point venturing further unless you are of an unduly masochistic and foolhardily risk seeking disposition. Rather confusingly the signposts imply that Bumthang is a town; it is only as the road penetrates further across the mountains that the signs indicate actual towns and it is with a sinking heart that you realise you have another two hours of bone shattering driving before reaching the relative comfort of your overnight accommodation. On the whole the road surfaces are not significantly worse than the rock strewn pistes of the Mauritanian Sahara, but their thrill lies in the enhanced features of rock falls from above, verges collapsing into the yawning chasms below all nicely topped off by the homicidal tendencies of the oncoming Tata trucks devoid of brakes or the inclination to use them if they had. Notwithstanding all of this it is well worth the discomfort and perils of the two day drive, arriving in a peaceful valley with a number of temples conveniently located within a days moderate walking of Jakar, the only town of significance and where you will most likely end up staying.

Jakar Dzong	Jampey	Kurjey	Tamshing

Jakar	Burning Lake	Thangbi	Bumthang