Trashi Yangtse Town

Trashi Yangtse Town (also spelled Trashiyangtse) is the administrative capital of Trashi Yangtse District in the far northeast of Bhutan. The town sits at approximately 1,800 metres (5,900 feet) elevation in a broad valley at the confluence of the Kulong Chhu and Dongdi Chhu rivers. Trashi Yangtse District was established in 1992, carved out of the larger Trashigang District, making it one of the newest dzongkhags in Bhutan. The district has a population of approximately 18,000 people, with the town serving as the small but growing administrative and commercial center.^[1]

The town is best known for the magnificent Chorten Kora, an eighteenth-century Nepali-style stupa modeled after the great Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu. Trashi Yangtse is also celebrated as the center of Bhutan's traditional wood-turning craft (shagzo) and handmade paper-making (deh-zo), both recognized among the thirteen traditional arts (zorig chusum) of Bhutan. The nearby Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary provides winter habitat for the endangered black-necked crane, making the area one of Bhutan's most important destinations for both cultural and ecological tourism.^[2]

Reaching Trashi Yangtse requires traveling through Trashigang and then continuing north along the Kulong Chhu valley, a journey that takes most visitors beyond the usual tourist routes into some of the most pristine landscapes in eastern Bhutan.

History

The Trashi Yangtse area has a long history of human settlement, with archaeological evidence suggesting habitation extending back many centuries. The region was historically part of the Trashigang administrative zone and fell within the broader Sharchop cultural sphere of eastern Bhutan. The most significant historical monument is Chorten Kora, built in 1740 by Lama Ngawang Lodro, who had traveled to Nepal and was inspired by the design of Boudhanath stupa. The construction was intended to bring merit and to serve as a center for Buddhist worship in the eastern valleys. A poignant legend associated with the chorten tells of a young Arunachali girl named Ashey Drubje Tse who was entombed alive within the stupa as a voluntary sacrifice to consecrate the structure, a story that still draws pilgrims from across the border in Arunachal Pradesh.^[3]

In 1992, the Bhutanese government carved Trashi Yangtse out of Trashigang District and established it as an independent dzongkhag. Trashi Yangtse Dzong, which now houses the district administration and monastic body, was constructed to serve the new administrative unit. The establishment of the separate district was part of a broader government effort to improve governance and service delivery in Bhutan's more remote eastern regions.

Chorten Kora

Chorten Kora is the town's defining landmark and one of the most important religious monuments in eastern Bhutan. The large whitewashed stupa, modeled after Boudhanath in Kathmandu, sits at the base of a small hillock at the edge of town. The structure features a square base, a dome, a tapering spire with thirteen rings symbolizing the steps to enlightenment, and an umbrella crown. The chorten is a major pilgrimage site, particularly during two annual festivals held in February and March according to the lunar calendar. The first festival follows the Bhutanese lunar calendar and draws Bhutanese pilgrims who circumambulate the chorten by moonlight. The second festival, held fifteen days later, attracts pilgrims from Arunachal Pradesh and other Monpa communities from across the border, creating a remarkable cross-border cultural event.^[3]

Traditional Crafts

Trashi Yangtse is renowned as the center of two of Bhutan's thirteen traditional arts. The wood-turning craft (shagzo) is practiced by master artisans known as Shagzopa, who use water-driven and treadle lathes to produce exquisitely turned bowls, cups, plates, and decorative containers from maple, avocado, and other local hardwoods. The dapa (turned wooden bowl) is a ubiquitous Bhutanese household item, and the finest examples from Trashi Yangtse are treasured possessions. Many artisans work in small workshops along the road near the town, and visitors can observe the turning process and purchase directly from craftspeople.^[2]

The district is also known for handmade paper production (deh-zo), using the bark of the daphne plant. This paper, called deh-sho, has been used for centuries for religious texts, official documents, and prayer flags. The paper-making process involves soaking, boiling, and pulping the bark before forming sheets on bamboo screens. The tradition continues in several villages around Trashi Yangtse, supported by government programs to preserve traditional crafts.

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary

The Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 1,520.61 square kilometres, lies adjacent to the town and encompasses parts of Trashi Yangtse, Lhuentse, and Mongar districts. The sanctuary is most famous as a wintering ground for the endangered black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), which migrates south from the Tibetan Plateau each November and remains until early March. Approximately 150 cranes winter in the Bumdeling valley, and the annual Black-Necked Crane Farewell Festival, held in February, celebrates their departure with traditional dances, songs, and conservation awareness activities.^[4]

Beyond cranes, the sanctuary harbors approximately 100 mammal species including snow leopard, Royal Bengal tiger, and red panda, along with over 130 species of butterflies and a rich avifauna. The sanctuary has been included on Bhutan's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, recognizing its outstanding universal value as a biodiversity hotspot at the convergence of the Palearctic and Indo-Malayan biogeographic realms.^[4]

How to Get There

Trashi Yangtse is reached by road from Trashigang, approximately 55 kilometres to the south (about two hours' drive). From Thimphu, the journey takes roughly two days via the east-west lateral highway. The nearest airport is Yongphula Domestic Airport near Trashigang, though flights are intermittent due to difficult terrain. Public buses run between Trashigang and Trashi Yangtse, but services are limited. Most visitors travel by private vehicle or with tour operators.^[5]

References

1. Trashiyangtse — Wikipedia
2. Trashi Yangtse — Little Bhutan
3. Chorten Kora — Druk Trails
4. Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary — UNESCO
5. Trashi Yangtse — Druk Asia
6. Trashiyangtse — Tashi Delek Magazine