Bhutan At A Glance - Zone 3

The Eastern Bhutan                                                                                                      

15    Mongar Dzongkhag  

Mongar Dzongkhag covers an area of about 1954 sq. km with elevations ranging from 400 - 4000 meters above the sea level. The Dzongkhag has about 5000 households. Potato and corn are the principal cash crops in the Dzongkhag. Settlements are scattered and most settlements remain remote and inaccessible. This makes delivery of services difficult and costly. Kurichu Power Plant is expected to bring tremendous socio-economic changes in the Dzongkhag.

The Mongar Dzong was built in 1953 and is unusual as it has two entrances. The Dzong was establish here in 1930 to replace the original Shongar Dzong and now housed for 150 monks. The places for visitors are Kilikhar Buddhist Institute. Drametse Goenpa founded in 1511 by the great granddaughter, Ani Choten Zangmo and her husband Yeshi Gyalpo in a place she called Drametse means "the peak where there is no enemy". The monastery is housed of about 70 laymen (married Nyingma monks). There also Bhutanese Pilgrim, a two days walk from Yadi to Aja Ney .  The ‘A' of Aja is a sacred letter and ‘Ja' means one hundred. Guru Rimpoche placed 100 "A"s on the rocks and for devotes it's like a treasure hunts, the more you see the more merits you gain.  Recently the Hotels are coming up with full dedication and will have no any problem to visit out there.

16   Lhuentse Dzongkhag   

Lhuentse is one of the least developed Dzongkhags in the country with 2506 households. Apart from the district highway, the Dzongkhag lacks internal motor roads and most villages remain remote and inaccessible by motor roads. Limited agriculture land and other farm infrastructure pose considerable problem in enhancing farm production and productivity. This region also famous in textile and they produced many traditional textiles.

Singye Dzong an important pilgrimage place for Bhutanese is on the old trade route from Bhutan to Lhobrak in Tibet. Its three days walk from Lhuentse. Its believed that Guru Rimpoche flew from here to Taktsang monastery in Paro while Yeshi Tsogyel, the consort of Guru Rimpoche who concealed many terms (treasures) and got enlightenment.  One and half hours drive from Lhuentse to Dungkhar Naktsang and the Naktsang of Trongsa Penlop, Jigme Namgyel the father of the first Hereditary Monarchy of Bhutan. Dungkhar also believed to be blessed by Guru Rimpoche and Pema Lingpa. At present a 132 ft Guru statue , one of the largest statue in the globe is under construction by Udeyana project.

17      Trashigang Dzongkhag

Trashigang is one of the largest Dzongkhags in the country. It has three Drungkhags (sub district) with 8464 households. Though the Dzongkhag has over 93 km of internal feeder roads, most settlements are still inaccessible by motor roads. Rough land terrain and scattered settlements make delivery of services difficult and costly.

Tashigang Dzong built in 1667 by Chogyel Minjure Tempa, Bhutan's third Desi. Bhutan's only University is located in Kanglung and Kanglung monastery.  Weaving Centre in Khaling for the Bhutanese textile just 2½ hours drives from Tashigang. Rangjung Wodsel Chholing Monastery , a large Nyingma Goenpa founded in 1990 by Garub Rimpoche and now housed of more than 350 monks. Radi also famous in textile. Women here are weavers who specialize in fabric made from raw silk.   Two days walk to Merak & Sakteng the Northern part of Bhutan. Its beautiful gracious valley with pristine environment and best place for visitors, especially those who love to walk in the countryside and get back into a time.

18    Tashiyangtse Dzongkhag

Tashiyangtse was a Drungkhag under the administration of Trashigang Dzongkhag until 1992 when it was established as a separate full-fledged Dzongkhag coinciding with the start of the Seventh Plan. Tashiyangtse is also known for its Wildlife Sanctuary at Bumdeling , which is the winter roosting place for the black-necked cranes. Tashiyangtse Dzongkhag falls in the north east of the country with elevation ranging from 1000 - 5400 m above sea level.

Gom Kora is a small temple usually known as Gomphu Kora. "Gomphu" is a sacred meditation site and "Kora" means circumambulation. Guru meditated here and left body impression on a rock. Its a renowned pilgrimage in Bhutan.  Chorten Kora is a large stupa in style of Bodhnath.  Lam Ngawang Loday constructed it in 1740. It's believed that during the construction of stupa an eight years old girl from Arunachal Pradesh sacrificed her life by entering the stupa. In her memory, one day is granted as the kora for her people. The second Kora for Bhutanese, who come from all over the kingdom of Bhutan. Zorig Chusum Institute (thirteen arts and crafts) opened in 1997 where you will see various arts and crafts showcase and youths are training.

19     Pemagatsel Dzongkhag

 Pemagatshel means "blissful land of the Lotus" is located in the south east of Bhutan with an area of 517.8 sq km and has 2547 households. The Dzongkhag is characterized by highly dissected mountain ranges, steep slopes and narrow valleys with little flat land. The elevation in the Dzongkhag ranges from 1000 - 3500 meters above the sea level. Yongla Goenpa is one of the holiest shrines in eastern Bhutan few kilometres above the Dzong. Kheydrup Jigme Kuendrel founded the monastery in 18th century, who was instructed by the great Terton Rinzin Jigme Lingpa to set up a monastery on a mountain that looked like a "Phurba" (three bladed ritual dragger) and over looked the plain of India. It also used by Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel as a base for religious ceremonies and during the great Duar war with British in 1865.  Its a best place for visitors to acclimatize and meditation but lack of hotel and tourism facilities. 

 20      Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag

 Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag lies in the South Eastern part of Bhutan bordering the Indian State of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The Dzongkhag has a total area of approximately 2308 square kilometers and major portions of the Dzongkhag fall within the subtropical belt with elevations ranging from 200 - 3500 meters above sea level. Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag comprises of three Drungkhags (sub district).  Due to lack of adequate motorable road network, most places remain isolated and remote. Samdrup Jongkhar is the gateway to and commercial hub for five Eastern Dzongkhags and exit point of the visitors to onward destination i.e. Guwahati / Bagdogra, Indian Air Line.

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