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Bumdra Trek
‘The Trek of the Thousand Dakinis’
While on this trek, you will be visiting the two most revered Buddhist Pilgrimage spot in Bhutan, Bumdra and Tiger nest Monastery, besides the scenic beauty of Himalayan ranges. Bumdra means ‘Rock of One Hundred Thousand Foot Prints’. The legends say that a hundred thousand Dakinis (angels) descended here and left their footprints on the rock 800 years ago. Bumdra is about 3800m above sea level and the Taktshang Monastery is above 3100m above sea level.
Check for the following Essential Trekking Gears:
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Trekking Boots
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Waterproof 3/4 season jacket and trousers
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Camp Footwear (i.e. sneakers or booties)
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Several pairs of good quality socks
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T-Shirts - Highly recommended are synthetic T shirt styles that wick away moisture
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Thermal Underwear / layers
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Down jacket
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Warm mid layers (fleece/micro fibre)
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Trousers - Lightweight, loose fitting, trekking trousers.
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Shorts
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Tracksuit or fleece pants for evenings.
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Sleeveless fleece and extra layers for winter departures
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Warm Hat and sun Hat
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Scarf/neck warmer
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Gloves and Mitts - waterproof and warm.
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Sunglasses with UV protection
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Head Torch (spare batteries)
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Sunscreen and Lip Balm
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Light weight towel
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Hand sanitizer gel
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Trail mix / nuts/ muesli bars
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Daypack - The daypack you select must have the capacity for the items you may be carrying on a day's walk: rain jacket, trousers, warm clothing, water bottle, camera equipment, washing items and other personal effects. A hip/waist strap provides additional comfort. You should consider daypacks of at least a 30 to 40-litre capacity.
Bumdrak Trek - Trip Facts
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1 night 2 days Trek
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Paro valley
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Altitude ranges from 2,300 meters to 4,000 meters above sea level
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Difficulty: Moderate
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Accommodations: Fully furnished Camping Tents
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Best Seasons: February, March, April, May, September, October & November & December
ITINERARY
The 2 Day Bumdra Trek:
Day 1: Sang Choekor Monastery – Bumdra Monastery
3-4 hours to camp 2-3 hours optional return trek to peak (3800 meters)
Hike from Sang Choekor Buddhist College (2,800m) to Yak Pasture below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m). The adventure begins with an early morning drive up to the Sang Choekor to meet our ponies and while they are being loaded we may pay our respects at the College. The initial 1–2 hour ascent of a ridge can be steep at times but in cool shade. We will reach a clearing with prayer flags and enjoy a spectacular view of both Paro and Do Chhu valleys.
About 1-2 hours walk away is the Chhoe Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple); which nestles at the side of the mountain. The trail continues and when we reach the last steep elevation we will see a temple overlooking the views of Paro airport and the snow-capped Himalaya. After another 20 minutes of climbing through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, we hike into the ancient forest for about 40 minutes before we reach a wide meadow with sacred chortens and prayer flags. We will spend a night at Bumdra Monastery (the cave of a thousand prayers).
After lunch we can visit the monastery (if it is unoccupied) and climb towards the north of the peak (about 4000m) for a better view of the Himalayan before returning for dinner.
Day 2: Bumdra Monastery – Tiger’s Nest
2-3 hours hike to Tiger’s Nest
After a hearty breakfast in the jaw dropping landscape, it is time to either head straight back into the valley or linger awhile soaking up the view and perhaps hang some prayer flags of our own. Eventually we have to drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the monks’ zig zagging trail. After 1-2 hours of descent we catch glimpses of the golden roofs of temples below and soon come upon the first of many on our way back from the wilds.
The path snakes across the mountainside between the monasteries and temples before reaching the gardens of Sangtopelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can bravely peer over edge and straight down onto the ornate roofs Taktsang in the cliff far below. An hour later and we are at the gates of Taktsang looking across the gorge a steep descent to a waterfall then ascent on steps and you are passing into the Tiger’s Nest itself.
