Jakar (2,800m) is the principal administrative town of Bumthang district in the north of Bhutan.

Understand

Spacious and surrounded by tree covered mountains, the valley in which Jakar is located (Choekor Valley) is considered to be one of the most beautiful in all Bhutan, and it is commonly referred to as 'Little Switzerland.' The Jakar area is known as a bastion of Vajrayana Buddhism, especially the Nyingma tradition, and there are many monasteries and sacred sites located here.

The cluster of villages below the dzong, which are collectively known as Jakar Town, have a population of around 5,000. The main bazaar is currently a row of single story buildings. However, due to the danger of the nearby river, this will soon be replaced by a new row of two storey shops currently under construction near the dzong.

History

Fortress: Jakar Dzong means the 'Fortress of the White Bird,' and it was constructed in 1667. Apparently, when a group of lamas were in the area searching for a suitable site for the new dzong, a single white bird continuously circled overhead before settling on the top of a hill. This was considered a good omen, and the hill was selected as the site for the dzong and White Bird was adopted as its name.

Buddhism: Jakar was the first place in Bhutan that Guru Rinpoche visited, and as the ruler of the region subsequently converted to Buddhism, Jakar is accorded the title of the birth place of Buddhism in Bhutan. In addition, one of most venerated and accomplished teachers of the Vajrayana school of Buddhism, Pema Lingpa, was born in the Jakar area.

Climate

Strong winds make Jakar a very cold place in the winter, with temperatures often dropping as low as -10°C. The best time to visit the area is from late May until the end of September.

Get in

• There is a regular bus service from Thimphu to Jakar, and the journey takes about eleven hours. The small privately operated Japanese coaster buses run by the Gari Singye company are more comfortable than the larger public buses. These buses leave Thimphu bus station at 6:30AM on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and make the return journey on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. A one way ticket costs less than 300Nu. NB: The bus does not make a stop until lunch time, so it is a good idea to take somes snacks along.

Get around

• As the tourist and pilgrimage sites are scattered throughout the area, a vehicle is essential to get around. Taxis can be hired from the main bazaar.

See

• Kurjey Lhakhang - one of Bhutan's most sacred monasteries. A body print of Guru Rinpoche is preserved in a cave around which the oldest of the three buildings is built. The original building was constructed in 1652 by Trongsa Penlop, while the latest addition was added by the late Queen Mother Ashi Kesang Wangchuk in 1990.
• Jambey Lhakhang (monastery) is one of the 108 monasteries that were miraculously constructed by King Songten Gampo in one night. The monastery is located between Kurjey Lhakang and Jakar Dzong.
• Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery is a more recent addition to the pantheon of monasteries and is located above the town. The abbot, Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, is a very highly respected teacher in Bhutan and speaks some English.
• The dzong (fortress) in Jakar, originally constructed in 1667, but rebuilt after being severely damaged in an earthquake in 1897, is one of the largest and most impressive in Bhutan and houses the administrative and monastic offices for the Bumthang district.
• Wangdichholing Palace, built in 1857, the palace was the principal residence of the first king of a united Bhutan and was also used by his two successors. It is an unassuming structure, lacking the ramparts and protective walls which became features of later palaces. Currently, the palace is unoccupied and can be visited.
• the Udee woodcarving factory.
• Traditional paper making, near Lame Gompa (Temple).

Do

• Tour the stunning country-side
• Visit sacred sites

Festivals 2006

• Nimalung Tsechu 4-6 Jul
• Kurjey Tsechu 6 Jul
• Tamshingphala Choepa 1-3 Oct
• Tangbi Mani 6-8 Oct
• Jambay Lakhang Drup 5-9 Nov
• Prakhar Duchhoed 6-8 Nov
• Nalakhar Tsechu 4-6 Dec

Buy

What

• woven wool items (yethra) - garments, rugs and bags woven with brightly colored wool are a unique product of the Jakar area and are highly prized throughout the kingdom.
• Dzo (female yak) cheese
• preserves
• wood carvings

Where

• There are a couple of gift shops in the main bazaar, and all the tourist hotels offer a wide selection of local handicrafts.

Eat

• Most of the tourist hotels in Jakar offer local and international style meals, while in the main bazaar area there is a pizza restaurant opened by a Bhutanese man who lived in Germany.

Drink

• apple juice - fresh from Jakar's famous orchards.

Sleep

Budget

• Sonam Hotel in the bazaar offers clean, wood-panelled rooms at around 250Nu per night

Mid-range

• The Swiss Guest House, Tel:975 3 631-145, Fax:631278, E-mail: maurer@druknet.bt - located across the river from the main bazaar.
• Mepham Guest House, located across the river from the main bazaar and just below Lhodrak Kharchhu Monstery, this stone and wood built building offers wood burning stoves in all its rooms and spectacular views across the valley to Jakar Dzong. Rate: double 1,350Nu, single 1,250Nu.
• Wangdicholing Guest House, Tel:+975 3 631-107, Fax:631138.

Splurge

Get out

• Tharpaling Monastery
• Thangbi Monastery
• Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake) - a place where some of Guru Rinpoche's scriptural treasures (Tib:terma) were discovered in the 15th century by the famous treasure discover Pema Lingpa
• the village of Ura (3,100m) - with its cobbled streets, monastery and background of snow covered mountain peaks, the village has a tranquil and gentle charm.
• Kunzang Drak - the retreat center of Pema Lingpa. It is about a one hour hike from the main road running through the Tang Valley.
• Chhumey Valley - famous for its woven woolen fabrics, this the best place to purchase a souvenir and to observe the process of weaving.
• Duer Hot Springs - a four day trek from Jakar.

Contact

• The area dialling code for Jakar and Bumthang is 03. From overseas, dial +975 3 XXXXXX
• There are two internet cafes in the main bazaar, both of which offer swift connections.
• The main post office is located at the lower end of the bazaar, near the bridge.