Trashigang is the largest district in Bhutan and was once the center of a busy trade route with Tibet. It is warmer than western Bhutan, with a bustling market where you will see people from all walks of life—from college students to semi-nomadic highlanders. Trashigang town is famous for its verticality and bougainvillea-covered houses.

Town Elevation: ~1,150m (3,770 ft).

District Range: 600m to over 4,500m.

Top Things To See and Do

1. Trashigang Dzong (The “Sky Fortress”)

Image: Wikivoyage

Built in 1659, this fortress sits on a jagged ledge with steep cliffs on three sides. Legend says that when invading Tibetan armies first saw it, they retreated, claiming it was a “Sky Dzong” that wasn’t actually built on the ground.

2. Merak & Sakteng – The Land of the Brokpas

Image: Druk Asia

These two remote valleys are home to the Brokpa people, semi-nomadic yak herders with a culture unlike anywhere else in Bhutan.

  • Unique Fashion: They are famous for their black yak-hair hats with five long “tails” designed to shed rainwater.
  • The Yeti Legend: This region falls within the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which was famously created to protect the Migoi (the Bhutanese Yeti).

3. Radhi Village – The Rice Bowl & Silk Center

Image: BookMyTour

Just a short drive from Trashigang, Radhi is famous for two things: its cascading green rice paddies and its master weavers.

This is the best place to buy Bura (raw silk) textiles. In the winter, you can see young girls and grandmothers alike weaving in the sun outside their homes.

4. Rangjung Woesel Choeling Monastery

Image: Little Bhutan

Located in the beautiful Rangjung valley, this monastery follows the Nyingma school of Buddhism. It is a vibrant center for young monks and nuns and offers a more open, modern spiritual atmosphere compared to the ancient fortresses.

Getting There

  • By Air: You can fly into Yonphula Airport, which sits on a high ridge about an hour’s drive from Trashigang town. It is one of the most scenic (and windy) landings in the world.
  • By Road: It is roughly a 3-hour drive from Mongar or a 6-hour drive from the southern border town of Samdrup Jongkhar.

Special Event in Trashigang

1. Trashigang Tshechu

Image: Visit Bhutan

This is the primary festival held within the historic Trashigang Dzong. It is a grand social event for the people of the largest district in Bhutan.