Jakar
Encyclopedia
Jakar is a town in the central-eastern region of Bhutan
. It is the district capital (dzongkhag
thromde
) 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 signaled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549.
(municipality) inside the gewog. The administrative office for the Choekhor Gewog is located in the northern suburbs of Jakar. Just north of Jakar lies Wangchuck Centennial Park
, a protected area of Bhutan.
, the main highway of Bhutan.
Jakar is also the site of Bathpalathang Airport
, a domestic airfield under construction. The airport has been slated since the Royal Bhutanese Government's 10th Five Year Plan
(2008). The airport was originally slated to open in October 2010, but faced a multitude of delays due to soil stability, river diversion, funding, and labor. Labor and material shortages through early 2011 prompted a new target date of July 2011, however as of September 2011, the airport has not been opened for operations. Further complications have arisen from legislated
land and property compensation schemes for those who have been forced to relocate to accommodate the airport.
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 monicker Jakar, meaning "white bird."
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 Terton Padma Lingpa
(1450–1521). In addition, one of the country's largest monastic colleges, Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery, overlooks Jakar.
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.
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 it distinctive and brightly colored woven wool items called yethra.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. It is the district capital (dzongkhag
Dzongkhag
A dzongkhag is an administrative and judicial district of Bhutan. The twenty dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewogs. Some larger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate judicial division, known as dungkhags , which themselves comprise two or more gewogs...
thromde
Thromde
A thromde is a third-level administrative division in Bhutan. The legal administrative status of thromdes was most recently codified under the Local Government Act of 2009, and the role of thromdes in elections in Bhutan was defined in the Election Act of 2008.-Thromde administration:Thromde...
) of Bumthang District
Bumthang District
Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
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 signaled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549.
Geography
Jakar is located in Bumthang (Choekhor) Valley within Chhoekhor Gewog in central Bumthang. Administratively, however, Jakar is a separate thromdeThromde
A thromde is a third-level administrative division in Bhutan. The legal administrative status of thromdes was most recently codified under the Local Government Act of 2009, and the role of thromdes in elections in Bhutan was defined in the Election Act of 2008.-Thromde administration:Thromde...
(municipality) inside the gewog. The administrative office for the Choekhor Gewog is located in the northern suburbs of Jakar. Just north of Jakar lies Wangchuck Centennial Park
Wangchuck Centennial Park
Wangchuck Centennial Park in northern Bhutan is the kingdom's largest national park, spanning over five districts, occupying significant portions of northern Bumthang, Lhuntse, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts. It borders Tibet to the north and is bound by tributaries of the Wong Chhu basin to the...
, a protected area of Bhutan.
Transport
Jakar is accessed via a north-south road that connects to the Lateral RoadLateral Road
Bhutan's Lateral Road is its primary east-west corridor, connecting Phuentsholing in the southwest to Trashigang in the east. In between, the Lateral Road runs directly through Wangdue Phodrang, Trongsa, and other population centers...
, the main highway of Bhutan.
Jakar is also the site of Bathpalathang Airport
Bathpalathang Airport
Bathpalathang Airport is a domestic Bhutanese airport in Jakar , Bumthang District. The airport has been slated since the Royal Bhutanese Government's 10th Five Year Plan . The airport was originally slated to open in October 2010,, and then delayed to November 2010. By December 2010, operations...
, a domestic airfield under construction. The airport has been slated since the Royal Bhutanese Government's 10th Five Year Plan
Five-Year Plans of Bhutan
The Five Year Plans of Bhutan are a series of national economic development plans created by the government of Bhutan since 1961.The government of Bhutan has played a pervasive role in its economy and development...
(2008). The airport was originally slated to open in October 2010, but faced a multitude of delays due to soil stability, river diversion, funding, and labor. Labor and material shortages through early 2011 prompted a new target date of July 2011, however as of September 2011, the airport has not been opened for operations. Further complications have arisen from legislated
Bhutanese legislation
Bhutanese legislation is created by the bicameral Parliament of Bhutan. Either the upper house National Council, the lower house National Assembly, or the Attorney General may author bills to be passed as acts, with the exception of money and financial bills, which are the sole purview of the...
land and property compensation schemes for those who have been forced to relocate to accommodate the airport.
History
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. The current building is said to have been constructed by TertonTertön
A tertön is a discoverer of ancient texts or "terma". Many tertöns are considered incarnations of the 25 main disciples of Padmasambhava. A vast system of transmission lineages developed...
Dorje Lingpa
Eight Lingpas
The Eight Great Lingpas were eight important tertons or revealers of hidden religious treasures in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.They are listed as:*Rinchen Lingpa *Sangye Lingpa *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 monicker Jakar, meaning "white bird."
There are many significant Buddhist sacred sites nearby the town, such as Kurjey Lhakhang
Kurjey Lhakhang
Kurjey Lhakang, also known as Kurjey Monastery, is located in the Bumthang valley in the Bumthang district of Bhutan. This is the final resting place of the remains of the first three kings of Bhutan. Also, a large tree behind one of the temple buildings is believed to be a terma that was left...
, 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 Terton Padma Lingpa
Pema Lingpa
Pema Lingpa or Padma Lingpa was a famous saint and siddha of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a preeminent terton , and is considered to be foremost of the Five Terton Kings...
(1450–1521). In addition, one of the country's largest monastic colleges, Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery, overlooks Jakar.
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 1500 metres (4,921.3 ft).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.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 DistrictBumthang District
Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
and its neighbors, is culturally part of eastern Bhutan. While Dzongkha is the national language of administration and instruction, local languages include Bumthang
Bumthang language
The Bumthang language is an East Bodish language spoken by about 36,500 people in Bumthang and surrounding districts in central Bhutan...
and Brokkat
Brokkat language
The Brokkat language is an endangered Southern Tibetan language spoken by about 300 people in the village of Dhur in Bumthang Valley of Bumthang District in central Bhutan. Brokkat is spoken by descendants of pastoral yakherd communities.- External links :*...
. Jakar is famous throughout Bhutan for it distinctive and brightly colored woven wool items called yethra.