Exploring Trashigang: Top Places to Visit in Eastern Bhutan’s Cultural Hub

It boasts a beautiful landscape which is characterised with differences in altitude which vary from 600m to 4000m. You can read more about the Trashigang village . The region around Trashigang in Bhutan has a strong cultural heritage and its importance  as it is also a place where many groups of semi-nomadic people live. 

Trashigang Dzong in eastern Bhutan was built in 1659 by Trongsa PenlopMinjur Tenpa, to defend against Tibetan invasions. Trashigang served for centuries as an administrative headquarters and monastery, though government offices mostly relocated by 2011. There are so many hill stations in Bhutan which you can explore.

• Summer Season (April – June)

Summertime in Trashigang Bhutan is pleasant and warm. You can indulge in many outdoor activities like hiking and village exploring. A wide range of flowers blossom everywhere and a gentle breeze accompanies you all the time.

• Monsoon Season (July-September)

Trashigang in Bhutan experiences a wet season from July which lasts till early September. Despite the rainfall, the entire biodiversity radiates with freshness. It helps make your trip to Trashigang worth remembering.

Suggested Read: Bhutan in August

• Winter Season (November-March)

Wintertime in Trashigang Bhutan is cold and festive. Annual festivals are usually held during November and December. The temperature during the winter season drops to about 7 degree Celsius.

To explore the best of Trashigang travel, you can travel by below and plan your trip with our Trashigang travel guide :

• By Air

Paro International Airport is the sole international airport in Bhutan. It is located at a distance of about 50.8km from Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. After landing at the airport, you will get private taxis and vehicles which will take you to Thimphu, and from there to Trashigang. You should remember though, that this will be a very long drive of about 15 hours and will require you to make several stops along the way.

• By Road

The capital of Bhutan, Thimphu, enjoys a great road connectivity with Trashigang. Regular buses leave from Thimphu around 7 AM and reach 5:30 PM the next day, with a night halt at Bumthang. Although the ride is quite long, the entire experience is worth it. Buses are also available from the city of Phuentsholing, which is also referred to as the “Gateway of Bhutan”. If you enter Bhutan through the Indo-Bhutan border gate at Samdrup Jongkhar(a border crossing station in Assam), you can also use available bus services both in the morning and evening.

Places To Visit In Trashigang Bhutan

The place provides a religious and amazing travel experience to the tourists. Here is the list of some places are:

• Chorten Kora
• Merak Valley
• Samdrup Jongkhar Highway
• Trashiyangtse
• Gom Kora
• Rangjung
• Khardung Anim Dratshang
• Rangshikhar Lhakhang
• Khaling National Handloom
• Radhi Village

Trashigang Dzong Fortress

Trashigang Dzong Fortress is amongst the top places to visit in Trashigang. Situated on the steep cliffs, the fort is present with an extremely good location which is surrounded by the rivers Gamri Chhu and Drangme Chhu. 

This magnificent fort is the oldest monument of the town, which was built in the 17th century as a defence. One of the main attractions of Trashigang Dzong is the three-day annual festival- Trashigang Tshechu which takes place in December. A grand festival of Bhutan, where a large number of people attend the festival. It is recommended to experience this enchanting festival.

Chorten Kora

Another prominent place in the city, Chorten Kora is an renowned stupa which is situated just right to the Kulong river in Trashiyangtse.

It was built in the late 18th century by the descendants of Shabdrung Ngawang, who is a prominent historical figure in Bhutan. Building this amazing stupa structure took almost a dozen years. According to the beliefs and ancient Bhutanese culture, Stupa is regarded as highly sacred and locals believe that it guards them against demonic forces. 

Merak Valley

The peaceful Merak Valley is also known as the ‘land of broken people’ which is amongst the top places to visit in Trashigang. It is based in a hilly area which is around 3000m above sea level. 

Most of the people residing here are said to be nomadic people. The basic lifestyle of people here has remained unaltered for hundreds of years. Surrounded with beautifully charming plains at a height, the Merak Valley is embedded with extremely beautiful vegetation. It is recommended to experience this place and the peaceful and raw lifestyle of its people will surely be an amazing place. This is around 1.5 hours of drive away from the centre of Trashigang town

Samdrup Jongkhar Highway

It’s not just a place but a 180 km long road journey or trek from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar. The winding round takes around 5-6 hours to reach the other side of the national highway. You must also read Treks in Bhutan.

It lies on the outskirts of the town. This is one of the most exciting and amazing road journeys you can ever experience. The road then crosses over another valley. YOu will encounter the scenic beauty, flora, and fauna through this journey which will make your experience simply mind blowing.

Trashiyangtse

As you enter this area, you’ll get to see some extremely colourful flags fluttering on the top hilly area. The white colour flags by the locals stand for respect of ancestors. 

The other colours’ flags symbolise luck and prosperity. The road from Trashingang to Trashiyangtse is highly adventurous and is quite windy too. Although it may prove to be a difficult journey, the views are extremely enchanting.

Gom Kora

This is a beautiful ancient temple with a very strong cultural heritage. It is believed that this is the place where Guru Rinpoche, an 8th century Buddhist master from Bhutan, once meditated to fight away the demons. 

This is a magnificent temple which is surrounded by hordes of banana trees and rice fields. It is situated on a little plain adjacent to the river and hills, this temple is unique and splendid in its own way. The temple is one of the biggest tourist attractions here.

Rangjung

Rangjung, a small town located in Radhi Gewog of Trashigang district, is one of the things to do in Trashigang. This is a beautiful modern town which is built on hills.

People are amazingly warm and you will experience their warm hospitality. With multiple Buddhist monasteries and a large settlement of Buddhist monks, Rangjung has become a prominent cultural and religious town of Bhutan.

Khardung Anim Dratshang

Khardung Anim Dratshang is a beautiful and amazing monastery which is situated at Radhi village in Trashigang village. 

Built as a sister-monastery to the Rangjung Woesel Choeling Monastery, it has become a prominent tourist attraction due to its scenic location. 

Rangshikhar Lhakhang

Rangshikhar Lhakhang is one of the largest temples of Bhutan. It is situated 10 km North of Trashigang town, this temple is visited by locals and visitors. The temple’s location can ideally be used as a destination for trekking or hiking from Trashigang town. Rangshikhar Lhakhang is one of the best places to visit in Trashigang in summer. You can make one Trashigang travel tips and visit this place and you will surely won’t regret it after visiting the place.

Khaling National Handloom

Khaling National Handloom is among the most widely known handlooms and one of the best places to see in Trashigang, Bhutan. 

The Handloom is based near to Samdrup Jongkhar highway and is easily accessible. One of the most special things about this place is that it exhibits the traditional.

Radhi Village

Radhi village is famous for two things, which are its rice fields and the skill of its weavers. It is often known as the ‘Rice Bowl of the East’ because of its verdant rice fields that supply most of the grain to eastern parts of the country. 

The village has around 200 households, all of which the people make living from fine raw silk textiles during the off-agricultural seasons. All textiles produced in Radhi are made using the traditional back-strap loom and traditional dyes. Due to which, Radhi village produces some of the most authentic high quality raw silk textiles to be found anywhere in Bhutan.

What Cuisines Trashigang Offers ?

Your visit to Trashigang is incomplete without indulging in the local cuisine of Bhutan. Bhutanese food is known for its unique flavours and use of local ingredients. In Trashigang, you can savour traditional Bhutanese dishes such as ema datshi (chilli and cheese stew) and momo(steamed dumplings). The town is also famous for its organic produce, with many restaurants and cafes sourcing their ingredients directly from local farmers.

Shopping and Souvenirs in Trashigang

Trashigang is a treasure for souvenir hunters, with numerous shops and markets offering a wide range of handmade crafts and textiles. From complex woven fabrics to hand-carved wooden figures, you can find unique souvenirs that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Trashigang.

One of the best places to shop for souvenirs is the Trashigang Handicrafts Center, where you can browse through a vast collection of traditional Bhutanese crafts. By purchasing these from local artisans, you are not only taking home a piece of Trashigang but also supporting the local economy and preserving traditional craftsmanship.

Hotels in Trashigang

• Druk Deothjung

Location– 8GGV+FFH, Namseling,Tashigang-, Trashigang – Samdrup Jongkhar Highway, Trashigang, Bhutan

Rating– 4.3

• Bhutan Boutique Residency

Location– Norzin Lam -II, Thimphu, Bhutan

Rating– 4.3

• Hotel Khamsum

Location- Opposite to Karma workshop, Paro town Paro, 12001, Bhutan

Rating- 4.3

Suggested Read: Top hotels and restaurants in Bhutan. 

Conclusion 

Trashigang is one of the offbeat destinations in Bhutan and a must travel place too. The best time to visit this place is between early October to mid-November.  You can discover more of the valleys in Bhutan.

We know that you are excited to add this beautiful place to your holiday wishlist and explore more of this place ? Here we mentioned Trashigang travel guide to plan a trip to Bhutan and head to this amazing hill town to spend some days amidst mesmerising scenic landscapes and divine vibes. While making your trip more remarkable, you can also explore the temples in Bhutan.

So, as the journey begins, you will carry the lessons of Trashigang in your hearts, allowing its beauty to inspire you, its people to enrich us, and its timeless wisdom to guide you on your path.  So, pack your bags now and plan your trips today.