HAA AN UN-EXPLORED VALLEY, UNCOMMON MYTHS Traveler’s Guide Welcome to Haa! The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) is pleased to bring out this publication on tourism attractions of Haa Dzongkhag. The Chamber be- lieves that there is a potential to package and promote each Dzongkhag as an exclusive tourists destination. As a step towards heading to this endeavor, it is essential to profile the attractions and document it, which will guide the visitors as well as the tour service providers. To this end, the Chamber has undertaken profiling of tourists attractions of Haa Dzongkhag to organize in the form of information booklet. This publication attempts to put together all the information essential for the visitors coming to Haa and those facilitating to manage tours within the Dzongkhag. This information booklet which is expected to serve as a guide for the travelers and to those packaging the tours carry profiles of historical sites in the Dzongkhag and its significance. It also has information on various community-based ethnic festivals, its significance and when these festivals are held. What tour activities one could undertake while in Haa is also detailed out in this information booklet. I hope this booklet gives the readers with adequate first-hand information that would enable planning of activities while visiting Haa. UGEN TSECHUP DORJI PRESIDENT Contents HAA Historical ... at your Sites of Fingertips Bji Gewog When to visit Yangthang Gonpa How to get into Haa Valley Tsenge Gonpa Haa Weather Jadu Trashidingkha Gonpa Accommodation Geychu Lhakhang Getting around Haa Tenchung Gonpa Essential Historical Infomation Sites of Esu Gewog Currency Foreign Exchange Facility Banks and Automated Teller Ma- Lhakhang Karpo chines (ATM) Lhakhang Nagpo Mobile Services Pagyal Lhakhang Internet Access Tsunthang Lhakhang Postal Services Takchu Gonpa Shelkardra Historical Gonsakha Haa Gonpa Sites of Sacred Place of Guru Yibri Katsho Gewog Lungtshokha Lhakhang Katsho Gonpa Bjungnedra Lhakhang Karma Sharsa’s Sacred sites Drana Tashiding Monastery Contents Historical Sites of HAA Samar Gewog Festivals Purdung Lhakhang Ap Chundu Soelkha Lhakhangchen Bonku Chuzar Lhakhang - Yangthang Bongku Dorikha Gonpa - Kibri Bongku Phurdrak - Dumchu Bongku - Tshaphel Bongku - Kana Bongku and Historical - Bali Bongku Lomba Sites of Haa Summer Festival Haa Tsechu Sombaykha Geto Jabjur Gewog Wangtsa Goencham Lungkha Lhakhang Goencham Sangbey Dzong Khando Soel Temples of Sombaykha Trekkings Historical In Sites of Haa Valley Gakiling Gewog Haa Valley Ancient Route Trek Sagala Trek Rangtse Dorji Phagmoi Nye Nub Tshona Patta Trek Rangtse Nye Lake Botsho Contents HAA Other Day Entertainment Hikes Activities Fishing (Haa Chu) Photography Tour Yangthang Glimpse of Education Artifacts in - Hatey Day Hike Sherig Museum Bjungnedra - Katsho Gonpa Day Hike Jyenkhakha - Jamtey Gonpa - Yangthang Gonpa Day Hike Bagena - Shekardrang - Tagchu Gonpa Day Hike Wangtsa - Katsho Gonpa Day Hike Day Excursion to Drana Trashidhinkha Gonpa Cycling Tours Chelela - Haa Cycling Haa - Damthang Cycling Haa - Chunzom Cycling Biking around Meri Puensum Brief Background of Haa Valley Haa Dzongkhag is situated at an elevation of 2,670m (8,758 ft) above the sea level that encompasses a total area of 1,899.02 Sq. It is surrounded by Tibet to the north, and bordered by the districts of Samtse, Chukha and Paro to the southwest, southeast and east respectively. Haa is one of the least populated Dzongkhags after Gasa. The Dzongkhag has a total of 1,137 households. The dominant language of the district is Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan. Until 1960, Haa was a Drungkhag (sub-district), which was later upgraded to a Dzongkhag in the 1960s by His Majesty the Third King of Bhutan. In the past, Haa was also referred to as “Ha Jue Zhi” which included Katsho, Esu, Samar and Bji. Today, the Dzongkhag is administratively divided into one Dungkhag and six Gewogs namely, Bji, Eusu, Katsho, Samar, Sombaykha and Gakiling. Topographically, Haa Dzongkhag is characterized by a rugged and mountain- ous terrain. The vegetation ranges from broad leafed forest in the southern Gewogs to coniferous and sub alpine in the central, and pure alpine vegetation in the high lands of the northern Gewogs. The Dzongkhag is endowed with very rich flora and fauna and about 60% of the Dzongkhag is under forest cov- er. In terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, the uppers valley of Haa alone has over 250 species of flowering plants including the Blue Poppy (national flower) and White Poppy (Mecopnopsis Superba) which is endemic to Haa. Wheat is the main cereal crop grown in the Dzongkhag. Other crop varieties include barley and buckwheat. Potato constitutes the principal cash crop for the Dzongkhag, while apples and vegetables are also cultivated on a moder- ate scale. Livestock rearing constitutes an important economic activity in the Dzongkhag, with a majority of the northern Gewogs depending on livestock products such as butter, cheese and yak meat for their livelihood. The Cultural Mirror of Haa MERI PUNSUM - As you put your first step into Haa, you will be greeted by the towering Meri Punsum - Three Brother Hills of alike shape and magnificance. These three identical hills standing majestically in Haa valley symbiolizes Rigsum Gonpo - Jampleyang (Manjushiri), Chana Dorjee (Vajrapani) and Chenrezid (Avalok- istesvara). Meri Punsum is considered very sacred and worshipped by the people of Haa with high veneration. HAA at your Fingertips When to visit How to get into Haa Valley Haa Weather Accommodation Getting Around Haa Haa at Your Fingertips When to visit Haa How to get into Haa valley Bhutan with its busy festival calen- There are different routes to get into dar spread throughout the year is Haa velley. After landing at Paro In- considered to be a destination one ternational Airport, one could decide could visit any time of the year to on the route, probably after discuss- explore and enjoy its attractions. ing with the agent. One option would However, spring and autumn are be to drive directly to Haa from Paro considered to be the best time to vis- passing Chelela pass (3,988 me- it Bhutan. Spring and autumn sea- tre above the sea level), the highest sons in Bhutan are considered to be road pass in Bhutan. Chelela pass the most ideal time for touring and has amazing views of the himalayan hiking. Autumn is also the time for mountains and most signifcantly, popular festivals of Bhutan. the Mt. Jhomolhari. The drive on this route could be combined with With its pristine forest and rugged cycling. hills, Haa valley offers an excel- lent location for some of the best One can also take the alternate route day hikes and trekkings. Like any from Paro through Chunzom to Haa. other places in the country, spring The journey on this route could also and autumn is the best time to visit be combined with cycling and sight- Haa. One could also visit Haa dur- seeing. ing summer and winter to witness the distinctive Haa Summer Festival Adventurous travellers could also and other unique ethnic festivals. enter Haa valley by trekking on the Most of the rare and unique tradi- existing trek routes. Trekking dura- tional festivals of Haa also happens tion could range from 3 - 4 days de- during winter. One could also visit pending on the route chosen. Haa valley during winter for explor- ing its attraction and experiencing cold winter season of Bhutan. Haa Weather Haa valley has cold and dry winters and wet and warm summers. In winter, the temperature drops down to minus 7 degree Celsius at the extreme mini- mum. The Dzongkhag receives snowfall several times in a year from late No- vember till early March. One could plan trippacking considering the average temperatures for different seasons. Month Temperature Average Tem- Average Rain- (Degree Cel- perature fall (Millim- sius) eter) January Max 10.2 1.8 0 Min -6.6 February Max 12.9 4.1 17.4 Min -4.7 March Max 14.7 6.5 12.2 Min -1.7 April Max 16.6 9.75 60.9 Min 2.9 May Max 19.2 13.85 54.7 min 8.5 June Max 20.8 16.6 148.1 Min 12.4 July Max 20.5 17.65 110.9 Min 14.8 August Max 21.4 17.4 189.3 Min 13.4 September Max 20 15.35 162.7 Min 10.7 October Max 18.2 10.95 23.2 Min 3.7 November Max 14.4 7.3 5.3 Min 0.2 December Max 11.8 4.15 0 Min -3.8 Annual Average 10.5 785 Accommodation Like other places in the country, Haa valley does not have many ho- tels with modern amenities. Yet, one would not be left without one! Ac- commodation experience in Haa will be one of the exciting memories of the visit that should make the tour a complete one. One could choose to stay in the ho- tels with modern amenities or opt for homestay. Haa is popular for homestay programs and it has one of the best homestays in the country. Haa valley has different homestay programs to suit the visitors. One could choose to go for “Bed & Break- fast” style accommodation as well. One could also get involved with the host-family in sharing meals and at- tending family events for the first- hand experience of customs, cuisine and the way of life. Accommodation in the homestay would provide op- portunities to see the very basic ways of living and managing a normal family set-up. Getting around Haa Haa Town per se is not very big and crowded like other towns of Bhutan. Traf- fic is not busy like in Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Paro and other bigger towns.