Trashigang

Trashigang is an administrative town of 4,500 people in Eastern Bhutan. The traditional architecture and narrow streets give the town a quaint and snug feel, not unlike an Italian or Cornish fishing village.

Trashigang Dzong.

Understand

Trashigang serves as the largest town in the eastern region, and a base for tourists venturing into the surrounding villages and mountains. It was once the centre of an important trade route with Tibet.

Get in

By plane

Yongphulla Airport was officially opened to domestic flights in December 2011. Flights are operated by Drukair and Tashi Air to Paro, although due to regulatory requirements of the runway and poor financial results, most flights have been suspended. Check the individual airlines for current information.

By road transportation

From Thimphu there are two routes, both requiring two days:

• On the northern route, there are direct buses that make a night stop at Jakar and pass through Mongar.
• The southern route passes through Phuentsholing, where you'll need to arrange private transportation to Samdrup Jongkhar, as there are no buses on this route. This leg of the journey passes through the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam. From Samdrup Jongkhar, there are direct buses to Trashigang.

Get around

As the town is nothing more than a few streets, everything can be visited on foot.

See

• Trashigang Dzong was built in 1659 by an ancient ruler, as an administrative headquarters and monastery. There have been reports it is on the verge of collapse, despite constant renovation.
• The town's old bazaar area around the prayer wheel.

Do

Street scene

• Tashigang Tsechu is a colorful religious festival usually held for a few days during November and December. The date changes each year.

Eat

• Druk Denjung Hotel (see entry under sleep) offers simple but tasty dishes.

Sleep

Budget

• Druk Denjung Hotel. In the absence of tourist class hotels, this small hotel tucked in the corner next to the prayer wheel is the town's best choice to spend the night. Single: attached bathroom (cold water) 350Nu, attached bathroom (hot water) 400Nu, shared bathroom (cold water) 300Nu. The hotel has a restaurant with a small garden and also offers an internet service.

Go next

• Rangjung Woesel Chokling monastery, 16 km north of Trashigang
• Radi, 8 km north of Rangjung - known as the "rice basket in the east" - also Radi Lhakhang (temple).
• Sakten, in the northern most part of Tashigang district - a great area for trekking. Yak and dzo (female yak) are common in this area.
• Khaling - a small town famous for its weaving center operated the National Women's Association of Bhutan.
• Pasaphu Village in Thrimshing district - famous for its handmade cane baskets and other cane products (ringshu).