Mongar

Drametse Lhakhang is one of Eastern Bhutan’s largest monasteries in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and was founded in 1511 by Ani Choten Zangmo, the granddaughter of Pema Lingpa, the prominent Nyingma saint of "Burning Lake" legend. Drametse is also the place of origin of the popular Bhutanese masked drum dance Nga Cham, which is performed in tsechus (festivals) nationwide and in 2005 was proclaimed by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”

Visit Khoma village, famous for its traditional woven textiles, and in particular, the kushethara, which is made from silk. Watch and learn from the women who so expertly weave various textiles into beautiful tapestries and garments.

Explore Lhuentse Dzong. This beautiful Buddhist monastery situated on the eastern side of the Kuri Chhu river is one of the most picturesque in all of Bhutan. The dzong was originally established in 1543 and restored twice between 1962 and 1974. Currently, 100 monks reside in the dzong’s five temples, and they are generally very friendly and happy to meet visitors.

Visit Lhuentse, one of Bhutan’s most isolated and least developed districts. The ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family, Lhuentse’s landscape is dominated by stark cliffs, beautiful gorges and dense coniferous forests. The region is especially known for its beautiful and intricate woven textiles, which visitors can buy in many of the weavers’ homes.

The lengthy drive from Bumthang to Mongar is spent in large part passing through Thrumshing National Park and is considered one of the most beautiful drives in all of Bhutan. Thrumshing La Pass (12,303 feet above sea level), is the unofficial threshold between eastern and western Bhutan.