Jakar

Jakar (Dzongkha: བྱ་ཀར་; Wylie: Bya-kar), also officially referred to as Bumthang,[1] is a town in the central-eastern region of Bhutan. It is the district capital (dzongkhag thromde)[2] of Bumthang District and the location of Jakar Dzong, the regional dzong fortress. The name Jakar roughly translates as "white bird" in reference to its foundation myth, according to which a roosting white bird signalled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549.[3]:168

Jakar

Chakkar

Byakar
Thromde
Jakar
Location in Bhutan
Coordinates: 27°33′0″N 90°44′0″E
Country Bhutan
DzongkhagBumthang
GewogChhoekhor
Settledca. 1549
Elevation
2,587 m (8,488 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total6,243
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BTT)
ClimateCwb

History
Further information: Bumthang Kingdom and Bumthang Province

The town is the site of Chakhar Lhakhang, a small and unassuming temple which marks the site of the "Iron Palace" of Sindhu Raja, the Indian monarch who is believed to have first invited Guru Rinpoche to Bhutan in 746.[4][5][6]:34–5 The current building is said to have been constructed by Tertön Dorje Lingpa in the 14th century.

According to the Jakar foundation myth, a roosting white bird signaled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549. The settlement thus earned the moniker Jakar, meaning "white bird."[3]:168

There are many significant Buddhist sacred sites nearby the town, such as Kurjey Lhakhang, which holds a body print of Guru Rinpoche; Jambey Lhakhang, one of the 108 monasteries that in mythology were miraculously constructed by King Songten Gampo in one night; and Tamsshing Lhakhag established by Tertön Padma Lingpa (1450–1521).[7] In addition, one of the country's largest monastic colleges, Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery, overlooks Jakar.

Geography

Location

Jakar is located in Bumthang (Choekhor) Valley within Chhoekhor Gewog in central Bumthang.[3] Administratively, however, Jakar is a separate thromde (municipality) inside the gewog. The administrative office for the Choekhor Gewog is located in the northern suburbs of Jakar.[2][8] Just north of Jakar lies Wangchuck Centennial Park, a protected area of Bhutan.[9]

Climate

Jakar has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb).

Climate data for Jakar
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.7
(38.7)		 5.7
(42.3)		 8.9
(48.0)		 12.2
(54.0)		 15.0
(59.0)		 17.4
(63.3)		 17.9
(64.2)		 17.5
(63.5)		 16.4
(61.5)		 12.7
(54.9)		 8.0
(46.4)		 4.9
(40.8)		 11.7
(53.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 6
(0.2)		 11
(0.4)		 37
(1.5)		 69
(2.7)		 157
(6.2)		 294
(11.6)		 317
(12.5)		 252
(9.9)		 181
(7.1)		 66
(2.6)		 11
(0.4)		 3
(0.1)		 1,404
(55.2)
Source: Climate-Data.org[10]

Transport

Jakar is accessed via a north-south road that connects to the Lateral Road, the main highway of Bhutan.[8]

Jakar is also the site of Bathpalathang Airport. The airport formed part of the Royal Bhutanese Government's 10th Five Year Plan (2008). The airport was originally scheduled to open in October 2010,[11] but faced many delays due to soil stability,[12][13] river diversion,[14][15] funding,[16] and labour.[17][18][19][20] Labour and material shortages through early 2011 prompted a new target date of July 2011, however as of September 2011, the airport had not been opened for operations.[17][21] Further complications have arisen from legislated land and property compensation schemes for those who have been forced to move to accommodate the airport.[22] Both Drukair and Tashi Air conducted inaugural flights to Bathpalathang on 17 December 2011—coinciding with the national day of Bhutan.[23][24] The first commercial Drukair flight between Paro and Bathpalathang occurred on 23 December 2011; it failed to make a profit.[25]

Main sights

Jakar Dzong
Main article: Jakar Dzong

Constructed in 1667, Jakar Dzong sits atop a ridge above the town of Jakar. The dzong fortress is now an administrative center. It may be the largest dzong in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).[3]:168

Tourism

Being located in the spacious and tree covered Bumthang (Choekhor) Valley, the area is also a popular tourist destination, and consequently the town is served by several good quality hotels and craft shops. there are so many guest houses.

The bazaar is located on a street of single story buildings in an area of the town called Chamkhar. A new bazaar consisting of three story traditional buildings in the Dekiling area was planned to be completed in 2010.

Culture

Jakar, like the rest of Bumthang District and its neighbors, is culturally part of eastern Bhutan. While Dzongkha is the national language of administration and instruction, local languages include Bumthang and Brokkat. Jakar is famous throughout Bhutan for its distinctive and brightly colored woven wool items called yethra.

Schools

There are 19 schools in the dzongkhag. There are two higher secondary schools, three middle secondary schools and two lower secondary schools and the rest are community schools.

Post office of Bumthang town
  • Houses near Jakar
  • Jakar street

See also

References
  1. Approved Thromdes & Boundaries in 2 July 2010, Approved Class B Thromdes, Bumthang Thromde; Thromde List part 2 http://www.mowhs.gov.bt/publications/approved-thromde-and-boundaries/ Archived 28 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Pelden, Sonam (7 May 2010). "Cabinet Approves Thromdes". Bhutan Observer online. Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  3. Brown, Lindsay; Mayhew, Bradley; Armington, Stan; Whitecross, Richard W. (2007). Bhutan. Lonely Planet Country Guides (3 ed.). Lonely Planet. ISBN 1740595297. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  4. Hattaway, Paul (2004). Peoples of the Buddhist World: a Christian Prayer Diary. William Carey Library. p. 30. ISBN 0878083618. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  5. Worden, Robert L. (September 1991). Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.). Bhutan: A country study. Federal Research Division. Arrival of Buddhism. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. Dorji, C. T. (1994). History of Bhutan based on Buddhism. Sangay Xam, Prominent Publishers. ISBN 8186239014. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  7. Padel, Ruth (2006). Tigers in red weather: a quest for the last wild tigers. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 139–40. ISBN 0802715443. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  8. "Chiwogs in Bumthang" (PDF). Election Commission, Government of Bhutan. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  9. "Parks of Bhutan". Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation online. Bhutan Trust Fund. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  10. "Climate: Jakar". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  11. Wangchuk, Samten (1 June 2010). "Who'll Take Wing". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  12. "Bathpalathang Airport Will not Complete on Time". Bhutan Broadcasting Service. 14 August 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  13. Yeshi, Samten (18 August 2010). "Quality Outweighs Deadline". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  14. Saraswati (10 December 2010). "Despite River Training Works, Bathpalathang Airport Will Finish on Time". Business Bhutan online. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  15. Yeshi, Samten (2 June 2010). "River Diversion Work Begins". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  16. Dema, Kesang (21 September 2010). "Penalty Paid ... From One Pocket to Another". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  17. Yeshi, Samten (20 May 2011). "Second Deadline Likely to be Missed". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  18. Dorji, Gyalsten K (26 November 2009). "2 Domestic Airports by 2010". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  19. Pelden, Sonam (8 January 2010). "Groundwork Begins for Taking to the Air". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  20. Dorji, Gyaltsen K (9 February 2011). "An April Beginning?". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  21. Tenzin, Tashi (8 September 2011). "Picture Story – So Close Yet So Far". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  22. Yeshi, Samten (1 February 2011). "Unresolved Land Issues in Bumthang". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  23. Dorji, Gyalsten K (19 December 2011). "On Drukair's Historic Flight". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  24. "Aerial photo". 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  25. Dorji, Gyalsten K (23 December 2011). "Drukair's Maiden Flight Fails to Break Even". Kuensel online. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  • Jakar travel guide from Wikivoyage
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