Trashigang

Trashigang is the administrative and trading centre of eastern Bhutan, set on a hilltop above the Drangme Chhu valley. Known as the Jewel of the East, it is the main town of Bhutan's east and a natural stop for travellers crossing the country's mountainous eastern districts.

The town's landmark is Trashigang Dzong, built in 1659 on a ridge with steep cliffs on three sides and used for centuries as both fortress and monastery. Nearby Gom Kora, beside the Drangme Chhu river, is a revered Buddhist pilgrimage site that draws visitors from eastern Bhutan and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.

The compact old bazaar clusters around a prayer wheel and remains the district's main trading point, with painted shopfronts, small cafés and a crossroads atmosphere shaped by old trade routes. Around Kanglung, Sherubtse College is one of Bhutan's best-known institutions of higher learning and gives the area a youthful, academic character.

Beyond the town, the district stretches toward Merak and Sakteng, home to semi-nomadic Brokpa communities with distinctive dress and yak-based livelihoods. Seasonal tsechu festivals, including those at Trashigang and Gom Kora, bring masked dances and large local gatherings.

For travellers, Trashigang offers a quieter and more traditional eastern Bhutanese experience, useful as a base between Mongar, Trashi Yangtse and Samdrup Jongkhar. It also matters for regional administration, education and commerce, giving both leisure and business visitors a clear reason to stop.