Top Things to do in Bumthang District
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6 Free Things to do in Bumthang District That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Bumthang District, Bhutan including Kurje Lhakhang, Jakar Dzong, Jambay Lhakhang Temple, Tamshing Lhakhang Temple, Ngang Lhakhang, Burning Lake.
1. Kurje Lhakhang
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 120 reviews
Reviewed By wlliew - Nikko, Japan
One of the most important temple in Buddhism with a cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated and left his body imprint. We were extremely lucky that the temple where the cave was located was open on the day we were there due to it being an auspicious day.
2. Jakar Dzong
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By BhutanSwalowtailTour - Thimphu, Bhutan
Jakar Dzong or the Fortress of the White Bird is strategically located on a ridge overlooking the beautiful and wide Bumthang valley of traditional houses, a small domestic airport strip, colorful new buildings and fertile fields. From a distance, the Dzong look like a white bird amid the lush green landscape, although the significance of the white bird is more divine and spiritual. Initially, while selecting a site for building a temple, a big white bird is supposed to have risen from the current site signifying a positive omen and thus a temple was built then. About 100 years later in 1667, the temple was extended into the current structure/fortress and named Jakar Dzong. Over the centuries, the Dzong played an important role in defending off many Tibetan invasion and was a stronghold for the security of the central and eastern Bhutan. Even though the Dzongs in Punakha, Thimphu and Trongsa look bigger, however the Jakar Dzong is considered the biggest with a circumference of more than 1,500 meters. The two unique and special features of the Jakar Dzong is its 50 meters high Utse (central tower) attached to the main eastern wall and its well protected water supply source (important in-case of a siege in the olden days). Like all the Dzongs in the country, the Jakar Dzong houses the district administration offices, few temples and monk’s living quarters. A visitor can interact with the young novice monks and also enjoy the scenic views of the beautiful valley below.
3. Jambay Lhakhang Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By BhutanSwalowtailTour - Thimphu, Bhutan
Jambay Lhakhang or the Temple of Maitreya is located in the beautiful valley of Bumthang and a short drive from the main town. Jambay Lhakhang was built in the early 6th Century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo credited for introducing Buddhism to Tibet and he is believed to be a manifestation of the Buddha of Compassion (Avalokitesvara) of whom the Dalai Lamas are similarly believed to be a manifestation of. Jambay Lhakhang is one of the 108 temples built by King Songtsen Gampo to subdue a giant ogress that was preventing the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayas. After subjugation, the body of the ogress was laid across the Himalayas (of Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal) and the King built 108 temples over the body of which the Kyichu Lhakhang is said to be constructed on the left knee of the ogress. The Lhakhang was visited by Guru Rinpoche and many saints over the years and is a treasure house of many ancient relics, artifacts and statues of prominent Buddhists figures. Like all ancient temples, the Jambay Lhakhang consists of a central shrine with a circumambulation path flanked by devotees every day. The central shrine contains a large statue of Buddha Maitreya, framed on either side by four Bodhisattvas. The ground floor houses the statues of the Past, Present and Future Buddhas. On the upper floor, the sanctuary contains remarkable paintings of Zangdopelri, the Glorious Copper Colored Paradise of Guru Rinpoche and the paradise of Amitabha (the Buddha of infinite light). The most unique and astonishing Naked Dance is performed on the grounds of the Lhakhang every year during the Jambay Lhakhang Drup/Festival. Sixteen men dance around the Temple completely naked at midnight, and the dance has many religious significance centered around the forces of evil and good. Another important dance is the Mewang or the Fire Dance performed to bless infertile women to bear children.
4. Tamshing Lhakhang Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By BhutanSwalowtailTour - Thimphu, Bhutan
The Tamzhing Lhakhang/temple located opposite to Kurjey Monastery along the Bumthang river is one of the most historically, spiritually and culturally significant monasteries in Bhutan. Presently the temple serves as a place of daily worship for the community and many religious ceremonies are held regularly. The 3 days Tamzhing Phala Choedpa is held every year in the Autumn season and is a popular Festival amongst both the locals and visiting tourists. Tamzhing is one of the oldest Nyingmapa temple in the world built in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, the great ‘treasure discoverer.’ Nyingmapa is the oldest of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism beginning with Guru Padmasambhava / Guru Rinpoche himself. In the 8th Century, Guru Rinpoche prophesied the birth of Pema Lingpa and he is one of the 5 great treasure discoverers. Treasure here means religious scrolls and teachings hidden by Guru Rinpoche to be discovered along the centuries and these treasures would further revitalize and propagate Buddhism. Tamzhing Lhakhang houses one of the oldest statue of Guru Rinpoche built by Pema Lingpa and the main essence of the statue is another statue of Dorji Sempa / Vajrasattava which is a treasure Pema Lingpa discovered from the Mebar Tsho/Burning Lake located in Tang valley in Bumthang. Another unique feature of the Tamzhing is a heavy iron net made and blessed by Pema Lingpa and it is believed that our sins will washed off if we can carry the iron net and circumambulate the temple three times.
5. Ngang Lhakhang
6. Burning Lake
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 145 reviews
Reviewed By Juntasinee - Bangkok, Thailand
I reached Burning Lake in the afternoon and the weather was so nice. There was no other tourists there so the place was very peaceful and nice. The lake is not really lake, it is a pool which is a part of river before the stream fall down to the lower land. My guide told me that I could get a natural and spiritual energies from this place. By the way, you must be careful because the site is slippery. On the way to the Burning lake, you can see small colorful conical clay mounds, called tsha tsha which engraved with a sacred Buddhist symbol. They are dedicated for living and dead people. Some of them contain bones and ashes. You also can see colorful pray flags at the entrance. Very beautiful and sacred place.
