Gangtey is located in the Phobjikha valley at 3,300 metres above sea level. This is the highest altitude we reached in bhutan.

The rare black-necked cranes from Tibet arrive in gangtey every winter. They circle the Gangtey monastery three times on arrival and repeat when returning to tibet.

Stay

Gangtey Lodge

Eat

Chilli peppers are more of a vegetable than a spice in Bhutan. There are the fresh green peppers and the dried red Szechuan variety. The national dish, ema datshi, consists of chillies and yak or cow cheese. Variants of this dish replace the chilli peppers with other vegetables such as mushrooms, carrots or potatoes. These are served alongside the local red rice and ezay, a spicy condiment of chillies, tomatoes, onion, garlic and cheese.

At the local shedra, we were able to meet with one of the teachers and learn more about Buddhism and the practice of meditation.

Docula Pass

Located on the mountain pass at 3,100 metres above sea level between Thimphu and Gangtey are 108 Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang chortens. These were built as a memorial for the soldiers killed in the 2003 battle against Assam rebels in Bhutan.