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Bumthang is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted. Bumthang consists of the four mountain valleys of Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor (also known as Bumthang valley), although occasionally the entire district is referred to as Bumthang valley.
"Bumthang" directly translates as "beautiful field". "Thang" means field or flat place, and "Bum" is said be an appreviation of either "bumpa" (a vessel for holy water, thus describing the shape and nature of the valley), or "bum" ("girl", indicating this is the valley of beautiful girls).
The language spoken in the Bumthang district is known as Bumthangkha. It is a Tibeto-Burman language, closely related to Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan. Bumthangkha is partially comprehensible to speakers of Dzongkha, which originated in valleys to the west of Bumthang. Each of the four valleys of Bumthang has its own dialect, and the remnants of the Kheng kingdom to the south in Zhemgang speak Khengkha which may be classified as a dialect of Bumthangka.
Places to Interest
Jakar Dzong
Jakar literally translates to White Bird. According to legend, a white bird is said to have risen in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. Interpreting this as a good omen, this hill was chosen as the site to build the Jakar Dzong. The site is a picturesque location overlooking the Choekhor valley. The current structure was built in 1667.
Jambay Lhakhang
The lhakhang is believed to have been built in 659 A.D on the same day as Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro. The central figure in the lhakhang is Jampa, the Buddha of the future. The temple was visited by Guru Rinpochoe during his visit to Bumthang and was renovated by the Sidhu Raja after the Guru restored his life force.
Kurjey Lhakhang
Kurjey Lhakhang is named after the body print of Guru Rinpochoe which is preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the three buildings that make up the temple complex. The first temple is the oldest and was built in 1652. Ugyen Wangchuck, the first monarch of Bhutan, built the second temple in 1900 when he was still Trongsa Penlop. The third building is a new lhakhang built by the queen mother, Ashi Kesang Wangchuck, in 1990.
Tamshing Monastery
This temple is otherwise known as the Temple of the good message and was established in 1501 by Pema Lingpa. It is the most important Nyingma goemba in the kingdom. It is believed that the structure was built by Pema Lingpa with the help of female celestial deities. On the inner walls are what are believed to be original images painted by Pema Lingpa.
Mebar Tsho
According to the legend, Pema Lingpa is believed to have retrieved several of Guru Rinpochoe’s hidden treasure from the lake. Mebar Tsho derives its name from the fact that Pema Lingpa submerged himself into the lake holding a butter lamp and on emerging from the lake, the lamp was said to be still burning.
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