"The Jewel of East"
Trashigang Tourism
Trashigang, called the 'Jewel of the East', is a beautiful hill station located in Eastern Bhutan, spread across an altitude ranging from 600 m to over 4000 m. It is the largest district of Bhutan and is immensely beautiful and serene. Trashigang is also a renowned town for trade-in Bhutan, serving as a vital trade centre on the trade route between Assam and Tibet.
One of the most famous tourist spots you will find here is the Trashigang Dzong or 'The Fortress of the Auspicious Hill'. Built-in 1659, the purpose of this majestic fort was to defend the town against Tibetan invasions and is now a prominent tourist-spot in Eastern Bhutan. Radhi village, known for its rice fields and skills of weavers, is a must-visit location when you are in this side of Bhutan. The town's old bazaar area around the prayer wheel is an excellent place to shop for clothes, eatables and Bhutanese goods.
An interesting fact about Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is that it's known to house the Black-rumped Magpie and Migoi (a type of Yeti whose existence is believed by Bhutanese). Dangme Chhu, Bhutan's largest river, also flows through this district and offers a great scenic view. The district also has its own domestic airport Yonphula domestic airport.
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Things to do in Trashigang
1. Trashigang Dzong
An ancient monastery originally built to protect Trashigang and nearby areas from Tibetan invasions. One of the most significant monasteries in Bhutan, Trashigang Dzong is a hilltop dzong that has exi (Read More)sted since 1659. Popularly known as ���The Fortress of the Auspicious Hill�۪, it was made to defend the area from the invading armies of Tibet. The Trashigang Dzong is a major political zone of Eastern Bhutan, as it has been for over 300 years. The dzong is also famous for the Trashigang Tshechu, an annual three-day-long festival and one of the most significant festivals of the area.
2. Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary
Officially launched in 2003, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is the newest protected area in Bhutan. Spanning 650 square kilometres on the easternmost region, it shares a border with Arunachal Pradesh in I (Read More)ndia. This sanctuary is known as the ���paradise of rhododendrons�۪ as it costs around 35 species of the 46 rhododendron species found in Bhutan.
3. Dangme Chhu
The Dangme Chhu is the largest river in Bhutan. You can see this river flow throughout the Trashigang district, forming a nice backdrop or view from many attractions in the city. It flows from the Eas (Read More)tern Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh and then through Bhutan. A lot of Rafting and Kayaking adventure activities take place in the River throughout the year.��
4. Radhi Village
Radhi is a famous little village located an hour away from Trashigang, 30km east of Trashigang Dzongkha. It is known as the rice bowl of the east and is popular for its terraced rice fields and weavin (Read More)g. The rich green fields are a major source of grains in eastern Bhutan. It is one of the major producers of some of the most authentic and high-quality raw silk textiles in Bhutan. Two rivers, Chongdiri and Yudiri on the east and west respectively, irrigate the village. Currently, it has a population of over 200 households.
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Language
Tshangla (Sharchopkha) is the common language of Trashigang, similar to that of rest of Eastern Bhutan.
History
It's a small district with no significant historical tale. Although Trashigang Dzong, now a prominent tourist-site built in 1659, is historical and was constructed to defend Trashigang against Tibetan invasions.
Shopping
Trashigang, being the small town that it is, doesn't have many market-places but there's an old-bazar near the prayer wheel where you can buy Bhutanese souvenirs such as Handwoven Textiles, handicrafts, cane and bamboo items, small wooden products. Food items such as fruits, vegetables, dry fruits can also be bought at reasonable prices here.
Religions
Religious Majority is Buddhism, like the rest of Bhutan. Sharchops, the populations of mixed Tibetan, Southeast Asian and South Asian, dominate the region.
Nightlife
The place is quiet with not a remarkable development and therefore, the nightlife is dull and silent. There are no clubs or bars where you can enjoy the night.
Customs
Trashigang witnesses an annual fest around November and December called Trashigang Tshechu which is one of the biggest festivals in eastern Bhutan. People from all over eastern Bhutan come to the festival which takes place at Trashigang Dzong. It is a festival of dance and songs and hence different sacred mask dances are performed during the festival along with other traditional folk songs and dances. The main focus of the festival is the unfurling of the thongdrel (large tapestry) of Guru Tshengyed (eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche).
Tips
If you're planning a trip to Trashigang, then try to keep it during December when the annual festival takes place. You will get to see Bhutanese culture in a better way.
Best Time to Visit Trashigang
Nearby Places
How to Reach Trashigang
How to Reach Overview
There are regular buses from the capital city Thimphu, leaving at 7:00 AM and reaching Trashigang the next day at 5:30 PM, with a night's stop in Bumthang. Direct buses are also available from Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashiyangtse, and Mongar.
How to reach Trashigang by flight
The city has a domestic airport called Yongphulla Airport where most of the flights are dismissed. You can land at Paro International Airport, from where it's around sixteen-hours long journey to Trashigang.
How to reach Trashigang by road
From Paro, drivers can take Bumthang - Ura Hwy to reach Trashigang in about 17 hours. There are plenty of cabs available which can be hired to reach Trashigang from Paro.
How to reach Trashigang by bus
Direct buses are available from Samdrup Jongkhar, Thimphu, Trashiyangtse and Mongar, which take around a day to reach Trashigang.
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FAQs on Trashigang
What is famous about Trashigang?
The scenic beauty and view it offers leaves you awestruck. You feel close to God and nature.
What is not so good about Trashigang?
There's no infrastructural development and the transportation facilities are not really great which can be an obstacle for old people or physically disabled group.
What is the best time to visit Trashigang?
October - December, April - May is the best time to visit Trashigang. The annual fest Trashigang Tshechu takes places somewhere around November and December where people from all over Eastern Bhutan come and take part in folk singing and dancing. The climate is also very pleasant at this time. April-May is spring season in Trashigang when there is a cool breeze and nice weather all around. 20 - 27 degree Celsius is the average temperature of Trashigang from the end of April to May. It's spring season, and the breeze is cosy and pleasant. A wide variety of flora can be seen during this period.
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What is the local food in Trashigang?
Druk Denjung Hotel offers simple and tasty Bhutanese dishes. Lepcha Hotel, Kuenkhor Restaurant, Nyendra Restaurant, Dubjor hotel are a few names where you will find delicious food. Suja, pa, shamu datsi are some common Bhutanese dishes that you'll find here. However, you won't really find any clubs or bars for alcohol here.
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What is the best way to reach Trashigang?
There are regular buses from the capital city Thimphu, leaving at 7:00 AM and reaching Trashigang the next day at 5:30 PM, with a night's stop in Bumthang. Direct buses are also available from Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashiyangtse, and Mongar.
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What are the places near Trashigang?
The top places near to Trashigang are Thimpu which is 189 km from Trashigang, Punakha which is located 167 km from Trashigang, Paro which is located 211 km from Trashigang, Jakar which is located 84 km from Trashigang, Bumthang which is located 92 km from Trashigang
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