THE ABODE OF THE GODS
JHOMOLHARI TREK

Mt.Jhomolhari is known as ‘the abode of the Goddess Jhomo", one of the manifestations of the Goddess Tara. The route to the base-camp is the most popular trek in Bhutan. This trek offers you exhilarating walking but is not overly strenuous, so it provides the chance for an adventure in the eastern Himalaya for any reasonably fit trekker. The lonely Planet guidebook has rightly mentioned that the base camp is the most beautiful campsite in the world. On this trek, you will discover the unspoiled beauty of nature and see solitary farmhouses and small villages fitting against the backdrop of Bhutan’s rugged terrain.
Following the Pa-chu river that originates from the glaciers of mt. Jhomolhari, you will cross passes reaching up to 22,100ft. On the way, you will come across various species of flora and fauna, depending on the season and you will be treated with various colourful flowers and birds that are rare in other parts of the Himalaya. The best way to see Bhutan is through trekking. Still today the number of trekkers is small, so you can expect to meet very few other groups along the route.
The trekking route starts with a gentle uphill climb passing through the villages and terraces of rice fields that are situated along the banks of the crystal clear river. This is a unique opportunity to see the farmers' life at the lower altitudes (relatively speaking since the trek starts as 2,500m). The river gradually narrows to a gorge as you make your way towards the Jomolhari base camp.
The scent of the Himalayan blue pines and the majesty of the broad-leaved oak trees growing on the mountainsides offers you a dreamlike scene. Not many places like this exist today in the world. As you climb higher, following the side of a steep gorge, the scenery and the way of life change in step wth each other. The farmhouses give way to the semi-nomadic settlements in the higher altitude. Now, as in olden times, the nomads barter with the rice--growing farmers a variety of products derived from yaks, mainly butter, cheese and woven yak-fur blankets.
The base camp is set at an altitude of 4000 mts, at the foot of a ruined fortress, surrounded by scented dwarf rhododendrons.
If time permits, we recommend combining this trek with the Essence of Bhutan tour in order to to experience both the Bhutanese culture and country. The mountains, the crystal clear rivers and fresh air, colourful people, ancient Dzongs and fluttering prayer flags ..... your adventure awaits you.
SLIDE SHOW: AERIAL VIEWS OF THIS TREK |