Day Hikes in Bumthang Valley

Tharpaling Monastery

It is located on the hillside above Bumthang.  The monastery was built by a great saint called Kuenkhen Longchen Runjam.

Drive about thirty minutes onto Lamigompa. The walk runs along the ridge of Kikila and finally follows the traditional trek route between Trongsa and Bumthang.Walk down to the Chumey Village, the hike ends with a wonderful view of Jakar Dzong. Here, Advent tour transport will be waiting for you. Drive back to the hotel.

Pasaling Gompa

It is located about three hours’ hiking distance above the Swiss Guesthouse on a steep incline through blue pine forest. Visit the Lhakhang which overlooks the beautiful valley of Bumthang.

Kunzang Drak

A tough one-hour steep ascent up the hillside on the way to Khandroma Lhakhang at the back of the site is spectacularly situated against a vertical rock face that seeps holy water.

A tough two hours sharp ascent hike on the way to Tang valley leads you to one of the most important sites related to Pema Lingpa and many of his important sacred relics including the gilded stone bearing his footprint are located here.

A Hike to Ngang Lhakhang

After three hours’ hike along the Bumthang river from Thangbi Gompa lies the small region of Ngang Yul (‘Swan Land’), with its centre a swan temple- Nganglhakhang.This area was visited by Guru Rinpoche, but the current Ngang Lhakhang (Swan Temple) was built in the 15th century by Lama Namkha Samdrup, a contemporary of Pema Lingpa, who also built Namkhoe Lhakhang in the Tang Valley.  The renovated swan temple contains some wonderful painting of the Zhabdrung on the side wall opposite the altar and an image of Guru Rinpoche on a lotus surrounded by two ducklike swans.

After breakfast take a hike to Ngang Lhakhang with packed picnic lunch.  Three hours’ walk up the Bumthang river from Thangbi Lhakhang is the small region of Ngang Yul (‘Swan Land’). This is where Ngang Lhakhang- “Swan Temple”.  A wonderful trek to Ngang Lhakhang will pass through villages, fields and forests and cross the suspension bridges.

Then hike back to Thangbi Lhakhang where your car will wait for you.

Jampa Lhakhang – Kurjey Lhakhang – Tamshing Hike – (Khonchosum Lhakhang)

A hike starts from the Jampa Lhakhang, a ten-minute drive from Jakar town. The Jambay Lhakhang is said to be one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsan Gampo in the 7th century, in his effort to propagate Buddhism. It is told that 180 temples were built in a single day, to pin down evil spirits to earth forever. Further hike through the beautiful fields to Kurjey Lhakhang via newly built temple, Zangdo Palri.The Kurjey Lhakhang (Kujey means, “Body imprint”), the sacred place is the final resting place of the cadaver of the first three kings of Bhutan. The temple to the right is the oldest and was built by Minjur Tempa in 1652. It was built in the vicinity of the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated and left his body imprint. A large tree behind one of the temple buildings is believed to be a terma (hidden treasure) that was left there by Guru Rinpoche. The trail then leads to the Kurjey Drupchhu (holy water) before reaching the suspension bridge. According to the myth, Kurjey Drupchhu is a holy water created by Guru Rinpoche to help  Sindhu Raja, the King of Chakhar caused by the Demon of Dragmar Dorji Tsegpa, known as Shelging Karpocure. The Guru meditated at the present Guru Lhakhang and subdued the demon and the Drupchhu was made available at the end of Guru‟s meditation with his spiritual power in celebration to the victory over the Demon and to cure the illness of the King.

Next, we will hike to Tamshing Lhakhang. The Tamshing Lhakhang, a blessed land circled with numerous temples and monasteries. Tamshing Monastery in Bumthang is well known for its splendid and majestic beauty. It is one of the most historically, spiritually and culturally significant monasteries in Bhutan founded by Pema Lingpa (1450 – 1521), a great saint and spiritual master in both the Bhutanese and Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist traditions.  Your tour vehicle will be waiting for you.

Note: Easy trek