SIMANACHARIYA TOURS AND TRAVELS
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(iii) SAMDRUP JONKHAR SECTOR:-
Samdrup Jongkhar is a town and seat of Samdrup JongkharDistrict in Bhutan.Samdrup Jongkhar is one of the 20 dzongkhag (districts) comprising Bhutan. It is located at the south-eastern part of Bhutan and borders the Indian state of Assam. Though there are no proper documentation of the development of the town, It is saidto have developed as a result of the construction of the Samdrup Jongkhar- tashigang national Highway in the 1960s. In the pas] the Sharchops of Tashigang, Dundsan, Orong and yangtse used to trade in a small town called Gudama (current day mela bazaar). Todayit is one of the most important trading town for eastern districts of Bhutan. Post 2003 militant flush out in the district and the ULFA and BODO militant problem, much of the business was at halt, causing ripple effect on the developmental and socio-economic life of the people of most of the eastern Bhutan people.The Dzongkhag has a total area of approximately 2,308 square kilometers and major portions of the Dzongkhag fall within the subtropical belt with elevations ranging from 200-3,500 metres above sea level.
Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag comprises of three Drungkhags (sub divisons) viz Bhangtar, Daifam and Nganglam and ten gewogs i.e. village blocks namely Orong, Gomdar, Martshala, Bakuli, Dechhenling, Norbugang, Dalim and Samrang, Lauri, Serthi and Hastinapur. Samdrup Jonkhar Dzongkhag has a mix of population largely dominated by the Sharchops and by Lhotshampas in Bangtar.
The road from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar,completed in 1960s, enables the eastern half of the country to access and benefit from trade with the south as well as across the Indian border. There is little to see in this area, other than the busy market which straddles the border. Samdrup Jongkhar is a convenient exit town for tourists who have arranged to visit the neighboring Indian state of Assam.
It is by far the largest urban centre in eastern Bhutan. It lies at elevations ranging from 200m to 3,500m. In the earlier past, many British Political Officers stationed in Sikkim took the rote from Samdrup Jongkhar to enter into Bhutan. Historically it was administered by the Gyadrung stationed at Dewangiri. Today the road from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar, completed in the 1960s, enables the eastern half of the country to access and benefit from trade with the south as well as across the Indian border as in the past where it was the main trading centre for the Bhutanese. Samdrup Jongkhar is a convenient exit town for tourists who have arranged to visit the neighboring Indian state of Assam.
Often referred to as Phuentsholing's little sister due to the similarity in architectural style and the fact that both towns are on the border with India, Samdrup Jongkhar has, in fact, little of interest to tourists. Even the dzong is new and lacks the charm and artistic treasures of the traditional dzongs. However, the town is a very clean and pleasant place with an eclectic mixture of Bhutanese and Indian shops, restaurants and hotels, so it is worth a look around if visiting the area.
As mentioned this in this sector there are not that much tourist attraction but still it is considered as an upcoming tourist attraction of this “land of dragon”. The main tourist attractions of this sector are:-
Samdrup Jongkhar Dzong:
The Dzongkhag has eight Community Schools, seven Primary Schools, six Junior High Schools and one High School with a total of students of 6,995 as of December 2001.
Samdrup Jongkhar is the gateway to and commercial hub for five Eastern dzongkhags. The potential is further enhanced by the commissioning of Kurichu hydropower. Availability of reliable hydropower combined with modern Telecom facilities will change the development landscape of the dzongkhag by offering tremendous opportunities for household, business and industries. Lack of adequate road network also has direct impact on socio-economic development and quality of lives of the people in the dzongkhag. The Dzong that serves as the administrative centre of the district is one of the newest dzongs to have been built in the country. Unlike other dzongs that are built on strategic locations, the dzong in Samdrup Jongkhar is built on a sprawling ground.dzongkhag’s
The Dratshang:
The newly built Dratshang that is next to the Dzong houses the monk body. It has many new novices looked after by the religious functionaries.
The Zangdopelri:
The three storied Zangdopelri in the heart of the town serves the spiritual needs of the locals. One may come across intricate frescos and statutes, work of the Bhutanese master craftsmen.
Dewathang:
The small town situated 18 kilometers from Samdrup Jongkhar along the highway used to have the office of the Gyadrung, the administrator in the earlier times. It was also the site where, in 1884, the last battle with the British was fought. Jigme Namgyal, the father of the first King, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck, who led the Bhutanese troops, put up a strong resistance against the British though he ultimately signed the treaty of Sinchula with the British in 1865.
Mithun breeding farm:
Along the highway enroute to Samdrup Jongkhar, above the town of Dewathang, in Orong one will come across the only Mithun breeding farm in the east. The Mithuns are considered the best breed in Bhutan and it will be worthwhile to stop for a while and take photographs of these magnificent animals. The Mithuns raised here are supplied to the farmers of the six eastern districts.
Zangtopelri Lhakhang
Zangtopelri Lhakhangis a new monastery located across from the entrance to the dzong. Even though made of cement and lacking the character of older monasteries, Zangtopelri is perhaps S/Jongkhar's only tourist site.
The Town:
The town in Samdrup Jongkhar is one of the oldest in Eastern Bhutan and has seen gradual development over the years. It is a bustling small town with shopkeepers and hawkers from the nearby border of Assam. It also houses the oldest cinema theatre in the country that is frequented by Assamese from across the border especially to view the Hindi films.
Deothang
Deothangis a hill station like town about 18 km from Samdrup Jongkhar.
Bhangtar,
Bhangtar is an area inhibited by many Bhutanese of Nepalese descent. The clean river and wide valley offer a good place for a picnic and swimming (though not in the rainy season).
Samdrup Jongkhar is a town and seat of Samdrup JongkharDistrict in Bhutan.Samdrup Jongkhar is one of the 20 dzongkhag (districts) comprising Bhutan. It is located at the south-eastern part of Bhutan and borders the Indian state of Assam. Though there are no proper documentation of the development of the town, It is saidto have developed as a result of the construction of the Samdrup Jongkhar- tashigang national Highway in the 1960s. In the pas] the Sharchops of Tashigang, Dundsan, Orong and yangtse used to trade in a small town called Gudama (current day mela bazaar). Todayit is one of the most important trading town for eastern districts of Bhutan. Post 2003 militant flush out in the district and the ULFA and BODO militant problem, much of the business was at halt, causing ripple effect on the developmental and socio-economic life of the people of most of the eastern Bhutan people.The Dzongkhag has a total area of approximately 2,308 square kilometers and major portions of the Dzongkhag fall within the subtropical belt with elevations ranging from 200-3,500 metres above sea level.
Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag comprises of three Drungkhags (sub divisons) viz Bhangtar, Daifam and Nganglam and ten gewogs i.e. village blocks namely Orong, Gomdar, Martshala, Bakuli, Dechhenling, Norbugang, Dalim and Samrang, Lauri, Serthi and Hastinapur. Samdrup Jonkhar Dzongkhag has a mix of population largely dominated by the Sharchops and by Lhotshampas in Bangtar.
The road from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar,completed in 1960s, enables the eastern half of the country to access and benefit from trade with the south as well as across the Indian border. There is little to see in this area, other than the busy market which straddles the border. Samdrup Jongkhar is a convenient exit town for tourists who have arranged to visit the neighboring Indian state of Assam.
It is by far the largest urban centre in eastern Bhutan. It lies at elevations ranging from 200m to 3,500m. In the earlier past, many British Political Officers stationed in Sikkim took the rote from Samdrup Jongkhar to enter into Bhutan. Historically it was administered by the Gyadrung stationed at Dewangiri. Today the road from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar, completed in the 1960s, enables the eastern half of the country to access and benefit from trade with the south as well as across the Indian border as in the past where it was the main trading centre for the Bhutanese. Samdrup Jongkhar is a convenient exit town for tourists who have arranged to visit the neighboring Indian state of Assam.
Often referred to as Phuentsholing's little sister due to the similarity in architectural style and the fact that both towns are on the border with India, Samdrup Jongkhar has, in fact, little of interest to tourists. Even the dzong is new and lacks the charm and artistic treasures of the traditional dzongs. However, the town is a very clean and pleasant place with an eclectic mixture of Bhutanese and Indian shops, restaurants and hotels, so it is worth a look around if visiting the area.
As mentioned this in this sector there are not that much tourist attraction but still it is considered as an upcoming tourist attraction of this “land of dragon”. The main tourist attractions of this sector are:-
Samdrup Jongkhar Dzong:
The Dzongkhag has eight Community Schools, seven Primary Schools, six Junior High Schools and one High School with a total of students of 6,995 as of December 2001.
Samdrup Jongkhar is the gateway to and commercial hub for five Eastern dzongkhags. The potential is further enhanced by the commissioning of Kurichu hydropower. Availability of reliable hydropower combined with modern Telecom facilities will change the development landscape of the dzongkhag by offering tremendous opportunities for household, business and industries. Lack of adequate road network also has direct impact on socio-economic development and quality of lives of the people in the dzongkhag. The Dzong that serves as the administrative centre of the district is one of the newest dzongs to have been built in the country. Unlike other dzongs that are built on strategic locations, the dzong in Samdrup Jongkhar is built on a sprawling ground.dzongkhag’s
The Dratshang:
The newly built Dratshang that is next to the Dzong houses the monk body. It has many new novices looked after by the religious functionaries.
The Zangdopelri:
The three storied Zangdopelri in the heart of the town serves the spiritual needs of the locals. One may come across intricate frescos and statutes, work of the Bhutanese master craftsmen.
Dewathang:
The small town situated 18 kilometers from Samdrup Jongkhar along the highway used to have the office of the Gyadrung, the administrator in the earlier times. It was also the site where, in 1884, the last battle with the British was fought. Jigme Namgyal, the father of the first King, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck, who led the Bhutanese troops, put up a strong resistance against the British though he ultimately signed the treaty of Sinchula with the British in 1865.
Mithun breeding farm:
Along the highway enroute to Samdrup Jongkhar, above the town of Dewathang, in Orong one will come across the only Mithun breeding farm in the east. The Mithuns are considered the best breed in Bhutan and it will be worthwhile to stop for a while and take photographs of these magnificent animals. The Mithuns raised here are supplied to the farmers of the six eastern districts.
Zangtopelri Lhakhang
Zangtopelri Lhakhangis a new monastery located across from the entrance to the dzong. Even though made of cement and lacking the character of older monasteries, Zangtopelri is perhaps S/Jongkhar's only tourist site.
The Town:
The town in Samdrup Jongkhar is one of the oldest in Eastern Bhutan and has seen gradual development over the years. It is a bustling small town with shopkeepers and hawkers from the nearby border of Assam. It also houses the oldest cinema theatre in the country that is frequented by Assamese from across the border especially to view the Hindi films.
Deothang
Deothangis a hill station like town about 18 km from Samdrup Jongkhar.
Bhangtar,
Bhangtar is an area inhibited by many Bhutanese of Nepalese descent. The clean river and wide valley offer a good place for a picnic and swimming (though not in the rainy season).