Getting Bhutan
Trashiyangtse
Bordering Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India, Trashiyangtse was established as a district in 1992. Spanning 1,437.8 sq. km with elevations from 500 to 5,400 meters, it features diverse climates and rich biodiversity. Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary hosts the endangered black-necked crane, while the region is known for traditional crafts like wooden bowls and Daphne paper.
Places of interest in and around Gangtey
1. Chorten Kora
Chorten Kora is a striking white stupa on the banks near Trashiyangtse town, built around 1740 by Lama Ngawang Loday. Inspired by Nepal’s Boudhanath, it is a major pilgrimage site where devotees circumambulate during the annual festival, believed to bring blessings and spiritual merit.
2. National Institute of Zorig Chusum
Established in 1997, this institute preserves Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts. Students are trained in painting, sculpture, embroidery, woodturning, metalwork, and more, helping sustain Bhutan’s cultural heritage through vocational education.
3. Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary
Spanning 1,520 sq. km in northeast Bhutan, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary features diverse ecosystems from forests to alpine meadows. It is a key winter habitat for black-necked cranes and home to rare species like Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory butterfly, making it a biodiversity hotspot.