Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag (districts) comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted. Bumthang Dzongkhag consists of four main valleys, Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor. Choekhor is the largest of the four and is widely considered as ‘Bumthang Valley’. The valleys are broad and gentle carved by the ancient glaciers. The wide and scenic valleys draw a large number of tourists each year.

This region that spans from 2,600-4,500 m is the religious heartland of the nation and home to the tales of Guru Padmasambhava and the tertons (“religious treasure-discoverers”) still linger in this sacred region.

Some of Bhutan’s oldest and most venerated temples are found in Bumthang, including Jambey Lhakhang. According to legend this ancient temple was built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in 659 A.D. as part of a chain of 108 simultaneously constructed temples in order to subdue an evil demoness that lay over the Himalayan region. It is the oldest lhakhang in Bhutan. There are numerous other temples and shrines worth visiting in Bumthang and many of them are linked to Guru Rinpoche’s visit in 746 A.D.

Bumthang Valley

The fertile valleys of Bumthang are covered in fields of buckwheat, rice and potatoes. Apple orchards and dairy farms are also common sights here. This serene region is one of the most peaceful places in the kingdom. It is well worth the long drive and extra time. The hikes, monasteries and villages are very interesting in this area, which has several different valleys.

In October the whole valley blooms with white and purple rhododendrons and a wide variety of birds found chirping. The blue poppy blooms everywhere with bright colored roses. Woodpeckers and ravens can easily be seen. Bumthang directly translates as "beautiful field" – thang means field or flat place, and bum is said be an abbreviation of bumpa means a vessel for holy water, thus describing the shape and nature of the valley.