The Gangtey Nature Trail starts near Gangtey Goenpa if you are traveling from Punakha/Wangdue/Thimphu. You can start either way depending upon your time and itinerary. The Gangtey Nature allows you to catch hold of the beauty of the Phobjikha Valley. The two-hour trail will take you beautiful rural village and the deep forest of Pines. Hikers will make their way from the Gangtey Monastery through dense pine forests, flower meadows, and grasslands to reach the bottom of the Phubjikha Glacial valley.
While on trek you will get a chance to check out the smell of pine in the air and the picturesque Valley of Phubjikha. The Gangtey nature trail offers nature lovers a chance to admire the vast green meadows. It is a good opportunity for bird watchers and enthusiasts to spot the Black-necked Cranes. The endangered birds migrate from the Tibetan plateau and Siberia to the valley of Phubjikha during the winter months. A visit to the Crane Information Centre is highly recommended for bird lovers.
Gangtey nature trail map will show from Gangtey Monastery on the top of the hill and leading you towards the glacial valley of Phubjikha. It will end up at the Monastery. Both the ways you can do the trial. It is an easy 2 hours trek.
The total distance of 4 km and from an elevation of 2900m. Hikers will come across schools, monasteries, and the small village where they can engage with the locals if the client love to do.
Crane information center is in Phubjikha Valley. The information center will provide you complete information on endangered bird spices Black-necked Crane. The bird migrates from Siberia and Tibet to Phubjikha valley for roasting during the winter months.
Gangtey Goenpa Monastery is very near to the start or finishes point of the Gangtey Nature Trail. The Monastery is Oldest in Bhutan.
The Monastery’s history traces to the early 17th century and back to the prophecies made by the well-known Terton (treasure finder) Pema Lingpa in the late 15th century.
Pema Lingpa got his first religious revelation when he was running 25 years old. He was directed through his vision to assemble at a place called Naring Rock on the night of the full moon. He was with his five friends. When they reached the spot, He dove naked into the waters near Naring Rock alone. He found out Buddhist scriptures below the water.
His grandson Pema Thinley fulfilled the prophecy by establishing a monastery at the site located by Pema Linga. He named the site “Gangteng Sangngak Chöling”, which literally means “Summit for teaching the dharma”. According to Pema Thinley, when the pine trees of the monastery were planted, each seed was as good as a minor relic of the Buddha. Anyone who dared disturb the trees would accrue a vast measure of negative karma.