Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [92]
The best easy walk in the area is a three- to four-hour round trip from Dochu La to Lungchuzekha Goemba. It affords excellent views of the Bhutan Himalaya and you can return via the same route or descend to Trashigang Goemba and Hongtsho. From the 108 chortens the trail gradually climbs into red, white and pink rhododendron forest for 1½ hours with some steep sections, before branching left to Longchuzekha Goemba and right to Trashigang. Combine with dawn views from Dochu La for a great half-day excursion or do it after a morning visit to Punakha.
Phajoding Goemba
It is a 5km walk uphill from the youth centre in Motithang to Phajoding Goemba (3640m), a large monastic complex with 10 lhakhangs and 15 monastic residences, many of them used for extended meditation retreats. It was founded in the 13th century by Togden Pajo, a yogi from Tibet, who was searching for a place of meditation. Most of the buildings were constructed in 1748 through the efforts of Shakya Rinchen, the ninth Je Khenpo, whose image is the central figure in the main Khangzang Lhakhang here. The monastic school is housed in the Jampa Lhakhang and offers a more secluded environment than the Dechen Phodrang School in Thimphu.
From Phajoding you can ascend another 300m to Thujidrag Goemba. This is the last day of the Druk Path Trek in reverse. Click here for details.
Talakha Goemba
The 15th-century Talakha Goemba (3080m) offers spectacular views of the Bhutan Himalaya and Thimphu valley. You can drive part way and then set out on foot. From the small goemba you can make a strenuous six- to nine-hour hike up to the 4280m Talakha peak.
Thadranang Goemba
Another strenuous two-hour uphill hike leads to Thadranang Goemba (3270m). Start at the Yangchenphug High School and climb steeply up the ridge through a blue-pine forest.
Trashigang Goemba
It’s two hours from the hillside below Hongtsho to Trashigang Goemba (3200m). This goemba was built in 1786 by the 12th Je Khenpo. It is an important meditation centre and there are numerous small houses for pilgrims near the goemba. In addition to about 16 monks, there are a few anims (Buddhist nuns). Inside the lhakhang there are statues of several Je Khenpos who meditated here.
Wangditse Goemba
An easy one-hour walk with great views of Thimphu that takes you from the telecom tower to Wangditse Goemba, which was founded in 1750 by the attendants of Bhutan’s eighth desi, Druk Rabgye, and renovated in 2001. The lhakhang houses the statues of the guardian deities Yeshey Goenpo (Mahakala), Palden Lhamo (Mahakali) and Tsheringma (the goddess of longevity).
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During its construction Simtokha Dzong was attacked by a coalition of Tibetans and five Bhutanese lamas who were opposed to the Zhabdrung’s rule. The attack was repelled and the leader of the coalition, Palden Lama, was killed. In 1630 the Tibetans again attacked and took control of the dzong. The Zhabdrung regained control when the main building caught fire and the roof collapsed, killing the invaders. Descriptions of the original Simtokha Dzong were provided by the two Portuguese Jesuit priests who visited here in 1629 on their way to Tibet.
Expansion and restoration of the dzong was performed by the third Druk Desi, Mingyur Tenpa, in the 1670s after Tibetan invaders attacked it in 1630. It has been enlarged and restored many times since, most recently by a Japanese team of builders and architects.
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Western Bhutan
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PARO DZONGKHAG
PARO
AROUND PARO
PARO TO THIMPHU (53KM)
HAA DZONGKHAG
PARO TO HAA VIA THE CHELI LA (68KM)
HAA
AROUND THE HAA VALLEY
HAA TO CHHUZOM (79KM)
PUNAKHA DZONGKHAG
THIMPHU TO PUNAKHA (76KM)
PUNAKHA & KHURUTHANG
WANGDUE PHODRANG DZONGKHAG
PUNAKHA TO WANGDUE PHODRANG (21KM)
WANGDUE PHODRANG
WANGDUE PHODRANG TO PELE LA
PHOBJIKHA VALLEY
CHHUKHA DZONGKHAG
THIMPHU TO PHUENTSHOLING (172KM)
PHUENTSHOLING
GASA DZONGKHAG
GASA
LAYA
LINGZHI
SOUTHERN DZONGKHAGS
TSIRANG DZONGKHAG
DAGANA DZONGKHAG
SAMTSE DZONGKHAG
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Whether you arrive by air at Paro