Mongar District

Mongar district is one of the 20 districts in Bhutan. Mongar, previously known as Zhongar, is one of the five districts that make up Eastern Bhutan. It borders Bumthang, Lhuentse, Pema Gatshel, and Trashigang.

The journey from Bumthang to Mongar offers one of the most spectacular views of Himalayas crossing the 3800m high Thrimshingla pass. The elevation of the valley is about 1600m. Mongar is the second largest town next to Trashigang in the east. The valley also marks the beginning of eastern Bhutan and the villages are scattered every where. Mongar is the first developing district in eastern Bhutan.

Poeple of Mongar are known as Mongarpas and they speak Eatsern Language call Sharchopa-kha.

Yakgang Lhakhang

This temple is at about 20mintues walk from Mongar town. This privately owned temple was founded by Lama Sangdag, the 16th son of Terton Pema Lingpa. It is of great cultural significance and a repository of a wide range of spiritual treasures and other sacred objects known to have been revealed by Terton Pema Lingpa.

Drametse Lhakhang

Drametse Lhakhang means the “peak without enemy”, is one of the largest and most important monastery in eastern Bhutan. The temple was founded by a highly accomplished Ani Choten Zango in 16th century, the grand daughter of the famous religious master Terton Pema Lingpa. It houses the wide range of spiritual treasures and other sacred objects and is the source of spiritual inspiration to the people of Drmetse and neighbouring communities. The Drametse Ngachham or the dance of Drums of drametse was founded in this monastery in the 16th century, and is today one of the most popular religious dances in the country, performed at all major festivals.

Mongar Dzong

The Monger Dzong was established in 1930 to replace the original Zhongar Dzong although the original Utse (central tower) dates from and earlier age. The present dzong was rebuilt in the year 1953. It has two entrances and the monk and administrative bodies share the same courtyard. There are four temples in the Utse including a Goenkhang and Sangay Lhakhang. There are statutes of the Buddha of long life, Tsheppamey, Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung in the lhakhang. The Mongar festival is held here in the courtyard of the Dzong usually in the month of November.