A quick guide to Shingkhar. A remote village in Ura Valley captures the essence of Bhutan.
Shingkhar literally means a wooden cabin/house. Legend has it that a follower of master Longchen built a cabin to invite him to preach in the valley. Shingkhar referred to the cabin.
The Bumthang-Ura Highway circuits Shingkhar onward to Mongar. The 10 km unpaved and bumpy road takes up to 40 minutes’ drive. We stayed in Ura valley. We left for Shingkhar after having buckwheat pancakes for breakfast. Read my post on Ura Valley.
Kharphu is a Bon festival celebrated in central and eastern Bhutan at different times of the year. Bon is an ancient religion practiced in Tibet before Buddhism’s arrival. Shingkhar and a few other villages celebrate the Kharphu festival in the 9th month in the Bhutanese religion (November).
Explore Shingkhar Village
Walk around the village and discover every corner. We were approached with friendly smiles from the villagers. Shingkhar is home to 300 residents. On the day I visited, villagers were busy with uploading sacks of potatoes to the truck.
One can easily spot Magpies here as they come to eat the orange berries that are found in almost every household garden. Magpies and cattle outnumber crows in Shinghkar.
The village is divided by a small stream that is connected by this bridge. Water flows through the prayer wheel then underpass the bridge. Here is a place where women gather, do laundry and socialize.
Houses
The houses are constructed on the slopes. They are built in the traditional architectural style by using wood and stone pallets. They use what they source locally. Except for few new houses that has corrugated roof sheets. The traditional houses are in wooden shingle roofs, and stones to put weight on them.
Based on the height of weeds growing in this garden, this house is sadly abandoned for a long period. Window frames show signs of deteriorating.
Not far from it, a new house is under construction. A red-painted phallus carved in wood placed above the doorway to ward off evil spirits. Phallus traces its origin from Chimi Lakhang in Punakha. This symbol also means to bring good luck and fertility.
Potatoes are the main ingredient in Bhutanese cuisine besides chilly and cheese. Suitable for high altitudes, potatoes have become a cash crop for many farmers in the highlands. Transporting crops to capital or district capital, Jakar, is not easy for the rural areas. So they sold them in bulk to wholesalers.
Nyingmapa, Oldest School of Tibetan Buddhism
Shingkhar Dechenling Temple was one of the ‘Eight Pleasant Places’ found by the great Nyingmapa master Longchen Rabjam in the mid-14th century. Nyingmapa is the oldest of four Tibetan Buddhism schools that have preserved in Bhutan. The lineage carries down to his great-grandson, Tsezang Thaye Dragpa who became the first Shingkhar Lama. The temple is being looked after by the descendants. The
Droki Rinchen Juney was master Longchen’s residence, built on a hillock. He meditated at the temple in Shamzur, below a cliff.
Duration: Half – 1 days
Best Time to Visit
Late spring to autumn is the perfect time for trekking and walking around Shingkhar. Winter snows in Shingkhar.
What to see around?
- Hike to Sinmela pass and Shamsur
- 2 Days Hike from Jakar to Shingkhar
- Ura Valley
Homestay in Shingkhar
Shingkhar Naktshang Heritage Farmstay is the only homestay in this small village. If you come during summertime, camping is a great option. Otherwise, Ura is another place could spend a night.
How to Get to Shingkhar?
Ura is about 90 minutes drive from Jakar. The closest airport is in Jakar. One flight per week from Paro to Jakar is operated by Drukair.
