The Serene Beauty of Choedrak: A Hidden Buddhist Gem
Discover the tranquility of Choedrak, a hidden Buddhist temple in Chumey Valley, where spirituality meets stunning natural beauty.
Tucked away in the enchanting Chumey Valley, Choedrak is a captivating Buddhist temple that stands as a testament to Bhutan's rich spiritual heritage. This serene sanctuary is not only an architectural marvel but also a peaceful retreat for those seeking solace in nature. The temple is adorned with intricate carvings and vibrant murals that depict Buddhist teachings and stories, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the profound beauty of the culture. As you approach the temple, the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys create a serene atmosphere that enhances the spiritual experience. Visitors to Choedrak can engage in quiet contemplation amidst the natural beauty that envelops the temple grounds. The sound of rustling leaves and distant bird songs creates a peaceful backdrop for meditation, making it an ideal spot for those looking to connect with their inner selves. The temple is often less crowded than other tourist attractions, allowing for a more intimate experience with the local culture and spirituality. The warm and welcoming demeanor of the monks adds to the charm, as they are often eager to share insights about their practices and beliefs. Whether you are a devoted follower of Buddhism or simply an admirer of cultural heritage, Choedrak offers a unique opportunity to explore the spiritual heart of Bhutan. Don't forget to take a moment to enjoy the stunning vistas that the temple overlooks, as they provide a perfect complement to the tranquility found within its walls.
Local tips
- Visit early in the morning for a peaceful experience and to witness the sunrise over the valley.
- Dress modestly out of respect for the culture and religious practices observed at the temple.
- Take time to engage with the monks; they are often willing to share their knowledge and experiences.
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning landscapes and intricate details of the temple.
- Consider bringing a small offering as a gesture of respect when visiting.
A brief summary to Choedrak ཆོས་བྲག།
- GMMP+HR8, Jakar, BT
Getting There
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Car
From Sarpang, drive north towards the town of Zhemgang. Follow the signs towards Jakar, which is approximately 70 km away. The drive will take about 2 hours. Upon reaching Jakar, follow local signs to GMMP+HR8. Once you arrive at Jakar, look for directions to Chumey Valley where Choedrak is located. The final stretch may require local roads, so be attentive to your navigation.
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Public Transportation
Take a local bus from Sarpang to Jakar. Buses may not run frequently, so check the local schedule in advance. The journey to Jakar will typically take around 3-4 hours. Once you reach Jakar, you can hire a local taxi or use a shared vehicle to reach GMMP+HR8 in Chumey Valley. Make sure to confirm the fare with the driver before starting your journey.
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Taxi
If you prefer a quicker option, you can hire a taxi directly from Sarpang to Jakar. This will provide a more comfortable and faster journey, taking approximately 1.5-2 hours. Upon reaching Jakar, you can arrange for the taxi driver to take you to Choedrak in Chumey Valley. Discuss the fare beforehand, and it might cost around 2000-3000 Ngultrum, depending on the negotiation.
Attractions Nearby to Choedrak ཆོས་བྲག།
- Tharpaling Monastery ཐར་པ་གླིང་ལྷ་ཁང་།
- Chumey Nature Resort
- Jakar Dzong བྱ་དཀར་རྫོང་།
- Jakar Nagtshang
- Chokhor Chorten
- Jakar Lhakhang
- Jamphel Lhakhang བྱམས་་པ་ལྷ་ཁང་།
- Airport Viewpoint A
- Airport viewpoint B
- Bumthang Valley
- Bumthang Brewery Red Panda Beer
- Kurjee Zangdopelri
- Chamkhar Bridge ལྕམ་མཁར་ཟམ་པ།
- Nyimalung Monastery
- Kurjey Lhakhang སྐུ་རྗེས་ལྷ་ཁང་།
Landmarks nearby to Choedrak ཆོས་བྲག།
- Domkhar Lhakhang
- Chudzong
- Dzongkhag Election Office
- Jakar Village Lodge
- Mountain Resort
- Hotel Ugyen Ling ཨོ་རྒྱན་གླིང་ཟ་ཁང་།
- Valley Cafe
- Rinchenling Lodge རིན་ཆེན་གླིང་སྐྱིད་གནས།
- Wangdicholing mortuary
- Amankora, Bumthang
- Yu-Gharling Resort & Spa
- White Bird Café
- Phuntsho Guest House
- River Lodge
- Samyae Resort