Gasa, and Jigme Dorji National Park within it, is the most spectacular place I have visited so far in Bhutan. This National Park reaches all the way to the border with Tibet, encompassing the headwaters of all four major rivers in Bhutan. Jagged peaks, bright glaciers, abundant wildlife and only about 6,000 residents. We went at just the right time – in another month or so, the town of Gasa in this area will be cut off from the rest of Bhutan for months because the monsoon makes the road-in-progress impassable.
As the jagged Himalayan peaks come into view from far away, you notice a speck of white at their base – the Gasa Dzong. The unpaved road now nearly reaches the town of Gasa. We parked the car and hiked up for about one hour to the village.
Jholmohari looms, peaking in and out of clouds.
Mountains are considered sacred in Bhutan, so summiting by trekking groups is prohibited.
Getting close to the dzong…
The village of Gasa.
Morning in Gasa after several hard downpours the night before.
From the outside of the Gasa Dzong.
Monks head to their classes into the dzong (pictures are allowed in the courtyards of dzongs only).
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