Dewathang Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

The main bazaar in the village is one long tree lined street, giving the village an appearance more similar to an Indian hill station than a traditional Bhutanese settlement. The entrance to the village is dominated by army barracks of the Royal Bhutan Army, while on the hill beyond the town is a technical college, a large hospital and Deothang Middle Secondary School. Due to the large population of army families and students, the village is relatively prosperous and enjoys a more pleasant climate than Sandrup Jongkhar, 18 km down the mountain on the plains. On a hill overlooking the village is the Chyoki Gyatso Institute of Buddhist Studies, a college in the Nyingma tradition of Buddhism, founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, a well known Buddhist master and movie director.

During the Duar War (1864-65), the town, which was known at the time as Dewangiri, was taken by the British and a small garrison was based there. The Bhutanese regained control in 1865.

The nearest domestic airport is Yongphula in Trashigang - 6-7 hours, while the nearest international airport is in Guwahati, in the neighbouring Indian state of Assam - 3 and a half hours.

From Thimphu: via India - 14 hours (terminates in Samdrup Jongkhar)

From Phuentsholing: via India - 9 hours (terminates in Samdrup Jonkhar)

Deothang is on the main Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar highway.

As the area between the highway and the village is under army command, vehicles coming from Chyoki Gyatso Institute and the direction of Trashigang cannot enter the village directly, but need to drive around the army controlled area and enter from the road below.

By taxi

It is a thirty minute drive from Samdrup Jongkhsr to Dewathang and costs between Nu500-600. (Updated 0ct 2024)

This small village is easily covered on foot.

• Chokyi Gyatso Institute of Buddhist Studies. An elegant monastery. A mix of traditional Himalayan monastery and Indian ashram architecture among Lush forests.
• Views over the Himalayan foothills, as they spill out onto the Assam plain below.

• Chokyi Gyatso Institute of Buddhist Studies - An institute founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Many of the monks speak English and would be happy to field questions on Buddhist philosophy.

• Yosal Enterprise, Main Street. +975 17970700. (Take a left at the stupa that marks the entrance to the village. Yosal is a one minute drive on the left). A small, but well-stocked supermarket. Toiletries. Snacks. Vegetables and fruit.

• Himalaya Restaurant, Main Street (take a left at the stupa at the entrance to the town. The restaurant is a two minute drive on the left). 17781645. Fast food. Pizza, Real coffee. Acceptable standard. Uninspired decor. Friendly service.
• Yang Yang's Corner (right side of the bazaar when entering from the main highway) offers good, simple meals - the cheese momos are especially delicious.

• NT Restaurant, 2F. row of buildings behind the Main Street (turn right at the stupa at the entrance to the town. Cafe is immediately on the right behind the BOB bank) +975 7733125 . A quirky little cafe with lots of bamboo and wood. Full range of coffees. Tasty finger food, pizza, and light meals. View over mountains. Fast and friendly service.

There are a number of small guesthouses in the town.

• Yezhin Wangyel Toh Zakhang, Directly opposite the entrance to the Chokyi Gyatso Institute on the main highway. +975 17621370. A simple guesthouse. Clean. Friendly service. Restaurant. Convenient for visiting Chokyi Gyatso Institute.

• Assam
• Samdrup Jongkhar