Tourism Council of Bhutan (Official Website) » Trongsa http://www.tourism.gov.bt Tourism Council of Bhutan, Department of Tourism, Tour Operators and Travel agents of Bhutan, Hotels and Accommodations, Attractions and Destinations, Dzongs and Festivals... Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:51:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Kayaking and Rafting http://www.tourism.gov.bt/what-to-do/kayaking-and-rafting.html http://www.tourism.gov.bt/what-to-do/kayaking-and-rafting.html#comments Tue, 14 Dec 2010 04:56:44 +0000 admin http://www.tourism.gov.bt/?p=2883 The clean and clear rivers of Bhutan are one of the kingdom’s best kept open secrets. Fed by the Eastern Himalayas, the six rivers (Wang Chhu, Sunkosh, Puna Tsang Chhu, Mangde Chhu, Kuri Chhu and Dangme Chhu and their tributaries) have been scouted for kayaking and rafting. They cut through high valleys and low plains to meet up with the Brahmaputra River in India. The natural setting and the sheer variety of the rivers’ courses makes up for a unique opportunity to explore Bhutan’s beautiful wilderness. It is more than a teaser and an invitation to anyone interested in adventure travels. The rivers are plentiful with high currents and depths reaching a maximum of about five meters; at places it passes gently on and in others the rivers rage through loudly, dominating the environs. Although adventure sports and tourism are relatively recent introductions, it is gaining on in popularity.

Kayaking

The sport offers something for everyone: There is easy rafting for beginners and hair-raising runs for the veterans. Besides the rafts and the kayaks, Bhutanese agents also organize walking and trekking expeditions along the scenic river banks. The best time for rafting and kayaking is from March to April and November to December.

Safety

Bhutanese rafting and kayaking guides are well trained and will do everything to ensure that you enjoy the adventures minus the risks.

The rivers of Bhutan were first graded for water sports in 1997 by the experienced duo Gerry Mofatt and Peter Knowles at the invitation of the Royal Government, under the erstwhile Department of Tourism to survey potential routes.

They trained the first batch of Bhutanese river-guides and conducted surveys

Since then, other rivers have been surveyed including the Punatsang Chhu, Manas and Amo Chhu

TCB guidelines ensure that all operators use well maintained professional equipment and a reasonable guide-client ratio

Here are some of the Rafting and Kayaking Routes

Paro Chhu (Bondey – Isuna Bridge)

Location: Paro Valley, Western Bhutan

Length: Approximately 10 km (3 hours)

Difficulty: Class III-IV

Flow: About 500 cfs

Season: March – April

Craft: Kayaks recommended due to narrow and steep rapids

Upper Pho Chhu (Wangthangkha – Samdingkha)

Location: Punakha Valley, Western Bhutan

Length: Approximately 7 km (2 hours)

Difficulty: Class III-IV

Flow: 2000 -3000 cfs

Season: March – April, October – November

Craft: Kayaks and Rafts

Mo Chhu – Tashitang Devil’s Gorge Section (Tashithang- Below Punakha Dzong)

Location: Punakha Valley, Western Bhutan

Length: 12 km, 5 -7 hours with scouting

Difficulty: Class V

Flow: 1000 cfs

Season: February/December.

Craft: Kayaks only (too steep for rafts)

(Caution: higher than medium flows makes this run dangerous. High water runs not recommended for amateurs)

Mangde Chhu – Upper Section (Yundo Choling Palace- Langthel)

Location: Trongsa, Central Bhutan

Length: Approximately 5 km (2 hours with scouting)

Difficulty: Class IV

Flows: Approximately 3000 cfs

Season: March – April, November – December

Craft: Kayaks

For detail information on all of the Rafting and Kayaking routes please see our Rafting and Kayaking brochure which can be downloaded from ‘e-brochure’ page under ‘Bhutan’ page.

Paro Chhu (Bondey – Isuna Bridge)

Location:

Paro Valley, Western Bhutan

Length:

Approximately 10 km (3 hours)

Difficulty:

Class III-IV

Flow:

About 500 cfs

Season:

March – April

Craft:

Kayaks recommended due to narrow and steep rapids

Wang Chhu – Lower Run (Tam Chhu – 4 km Downstream)

Location:

Thimphu/Paro/Phuentsholing Highway, Western Bhutan

Length:

4 km (1 hour)

Difficulty:

Class III

Flow:

800 -1000 cfs

Season:

March – April, November – December (Tips: a high water run

is possible with good scouting)

Craft:

Kayaks, Rafts

Upper Pho Chhu (Wangthangkha – Samdingkha)

Location:

Punakha Valley, Western Bhutan

Length:

Approximately 7 km (2 hours)

Difficulty:

Class III-IV

Flow:

2000 -3000 cfs

Season:

March – April, October – November

Craft:

Kayaks and Rafts

Mo Chhu – Tashitang Devil’s Gorge Section (Tashithang

- Below Punakha Dzong)

Location:

Punakha Valley, Western Bhutan

Length:

12 km, 5 -7 hours with scouting

Difficulty:

Class V

Flow:

1000 cfs

Season:

Feb/Dec. (Caution: higher than medium flows makes this

run dangerous. High water runs not recommended for

amateurs)

Craft:

Kayaks only (too steep for rafts)

Upper Dang Chhu (Wangduephodrang Downstream -

Kichu Resort)

Location:

Wangduephodrang, Western/Central Bhutan

Length:

Approximately 3 km (2 hours with scouting)

Difficulty:

Class IV -V at medium flows, V -V at higher flows

Flow:

400-500 cfs

Season:

March – April, October – November (Caution: high water

makes this run dangerous. Not recommended for amateurs)

Craft:

Kayaks only (too small and steep for rafts)

Mangde Chhu – Upper Section (Yundo Choling Palace

- Langthel)

Location:

Trongsa, Central Bhutan

Length:

Approximately 5 km (2 hours with scouting)

Difficulty:

Class IV

Flows:

Approximately 3000 cfs

Season:

March – April, November – December

Craft:

Kayaks

Chamkar Chhu (Thangbi – Jakar)

Location:

Bumthang, Central Bhutan

Length:

5 km (1 hour)

Difficulty:

Class II -III

Flows:

1500 cfs

Season:

March – April, November – December

Craft:

Kayaks and Rafts

Kuri Chhu – Lower Run (Power House – Hydropower

Project Site)

Location:

Lhuentse, Central-Eastern Bhutan

Length:

Approximately 10 km (1 hour)

Difficulty:

Class III

Flows:

4000 -6000 cfs

Season:

March – April, November – December (Caution: high water

runs not recommended for amateurs)

Craft:

Rafts and Kayaks

Meandering

]]> http://www.tourism.gov.bt/what-to-do/kayaking-and-rafting.html/feed 0 Trongsa Festival http://www.tourism.gov.bt/what-to-do/trongsa-festival.html http://www.tourism.gov.bt/what-to-do/trongsa-festival.html#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 05:30:33 +0000 admin http://www.tourism.gov.bt/?p=2738 Trongsa, the sacred and the temporal heart of the country is a two days journey from Thimphu. Situated in central Bhutan and once the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan, both the first and second kings of Bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat.  All four kings were invested as Trongsa Penlop (“governor”) prior to ascending the throne.  The dzong built in 1648, is a massive structure with many levels, sloping down the contours of the ridge on which it is built.  Because of the dzong’s highly strategic position, on the only connecting route between east and west, the Trongsa Penlop was able to control effectively the whole of the central and eastern regions of the country from here.

Of the many festivals being held in various parts of Trongsa, the highlight is the four day annual tshechu being held annually where people from all walks of life congregate. The tshechu falls sometime in the month of December. Besides the mask dances, one can witness the unfurling of the sacred Thongdrol and receive blessings. People also receive blessings from the sacred Nangtens that is open during the last day of the tshechu.

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