BUMTHANG

In the heart of Bhutan, comprising of four smaller valleys, shrouded in legend, nestling in barley fields and apple orchards lies the spiritual place known as Bumthang. It is the home to the great Buddhist teacher Pema Lingpa the descendants of whom include the present royal dynasty. Hiking up the valley's gentle slopes to nearby medieval temples and to see Bhutan's rural people is simply a pleasure.

Places of Interest:

• Jambay Lhakhang: The incarnation of the Buddha of compassion, the Tibetan King Songsten Gembo built this monastery in the 7th Century. It is one of the 108 monasteries constructed by him to subdue the evil spirits in the Himalayan region.

• Kurje Lhakhang: One of the most sacred sites in Bhutan this monastery consists of three temples. The oldest dates back to 1652 and is situated on the rock face where Guru Rinpoche meditated in the 8th Century. The holiest temple is the second one located on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of Guru Rinpoche's body. The third temple was built by the present Queen Mother of Bhutan at this site. A 108 chorten wall, one for each joint of the human body, surrounds the three temples, the three temples that comprise the holiest of sites: the Kurje Lhakhang.

• Tamshing Lhakhang: On the other side of the river across the Kurje Lhakhang is this monastery founded in 1501 by the reincarnation of Guru Padmasambhava, Terton Pema Lingpa. The Lhakhang contains many fascinating religious paintings including the Thousand Buddhas and the Twenty One Taras (the female form of Boddhisatvas). The temple was restored in the 19th Century.

• Jakar Dzong: The great grand father of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal founded this monastery in 1549. After Shabdrung had firmly established his power in 1646 he rebuilt the Dzong. At present the Jakar Dzong is used as an administrative centre for Bumthang valley.