Back to cities
cities
Jakar
Overview
Located in central Bhutan, Jakar is renowned as a center of Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly the Nyingma tradition, and is home to numerous monasteries and sacred sites. Set in the picturesque Choekor Valley, often calle
Facts
Rank
—
Coordinates
27.55, 90.73
Source
WBP almanac
External sources
Media
From Wikipedia856 words
Introduction
Thromde in Bumthang, BhutanJakar བྱ་ཀར་ByakarThromdeJakar DzongJakarLocation in BhutanCoordinates: 27°33′0″N 90°44′0″E / 27.55000°N 90.73333°E / 27.55000; 90.73333Country BhutanDzongkhagBumthangGewogChhoekhorSettledca. 1549Elevation2,587 m (8,488 ft)Population (2017) • Total6,243Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BTT)ClimateCwb Jakar (Dzongkha: བྱ་ཀར་, romanized: Bya-kar) 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 signalled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549.: 168 
History
[edit] Further information: Bumthang Kingdom and Bumthang Province 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.: 34–5  The current building is said to have been constructed by Tertön 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 moniker Jakar, meaning "white bird.": 168  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 Tertön Padma Lingpa (1450–1521). In addition, one of the country's largest monastic colleges, Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery, overlooks Jakar.
