Phobjikha Valley Bhutan Tour and Travel Guide
Situated south of the main highway, and about 80 km (50 mi) southeast of Wangdue Phodrang, is Gangtey Gompa, a 17th-century monastery. To reach it, you travel through dense forests and rich pas-tures dotted with grazing yaks. The monastery is perched on a ridge overlooking the beautiful Phobjikha Valley and is the only Nyingmapa monastery west of the Black Mountains. On his visit to Phobjika, the famous Nyingmapa saint Pema Lingpa, the reincarnation of Guru Rimpoche and the philosopher Longchen Rabjampa, looked up from the valley floor at the spur of land where the Gangtey Gompa now sits and predicted that one day a monastery would rest upon the site.
In fact,
his grandson, Gyalse Pema Thinley, founded the monastery in 1613. The religious
traditions of Pema Lingpa are still taught here today. The current abbot,
Kunzang Pema Namgyal, is the ninth reincarnation of the saint. Gangtey is
affiliated with other Nyingmapa gompas in, Bhutan, including the home of Pema
Lingpa the Tamshing Gompa in the Bumthang Valley. The complex consists of the
gompa itself, the monastic quarters, a small school, and up the hill, retreat
and mediation center for the monks that was founded b the Je Khenpo in 1990.
Directly opposite the main entrance is a 'small guest house, where visitors can
stay. Also Visit – Bhutan tour packages
Just past the gompa, on the valley floor, is the village of
Phobjikha. The beautiful, pristine valley and village are reached by a short
detour from the main east-west highway. There are no telephones or electricity
in the valley. The region, which borders the Black Mountain National Park, has
been designated a conservation area by the Royal Society for the Protection of
Nature and is considered of e of the most important wildlife preserves in
Bhutan. Every year in late October, rare black-necked cranes migrate here from
the Tibetan plateau. The birds spend several months in Phobjikha before flying
back across the mountains in mid-February.
In 1998, Bhutan's first Crane Festival took place in
Phobjikha. Although the festival was originally for the Bhutanese, there has
been talk about opening it to tourists. The festival coincides with His
Majesty's birth-day,November 11, so there are celebrations all over the
country.
Arriving and Departing
The only way to get to Western Bhutan is by car or bus. Your
tour operator will make all the necessary transportation arrangements for you.
Getting Around
As in the rest of Bhutan, you will be traveling with a guide
and driver. Depending on your itinerary, the drive through the area will take
approximately 2-4 days.
Contacts and Resources
The Bank of Bhutan has branches in Punakha and Wangdue
Phodrang. Both branches can change traveler's checks, but not without a lot of
time and paperwork. Some hotels may be able to exchange currency for you, but
it is strongly recommended that you change money in Thimphu before heading
east.
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