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Voykit pocket guide · Bhutan
Mongar
One night covers the dzong and the bazaar; two nights only if you add a day trip toward Trashigang or Lhuentse.
Mongar is the administrative head of Mongar district in eastern Bhutan and one of the region's largest settlements, built on a hill with an expanded bazaar below the old core. It has a working dzong, shops selling lemon grass oil and Mongar-style woven cloth, and a tshechu held 28–30 Nov 2025. Most travellers stop one night on the road between Bumthang and Trashigang.
- Country
- Bhutan
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon), Dec–Feb (cold)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BTN
- Money
- Ngultrum (BTN) is pegged 1:1 to the Indian rupee; rupees are widely accepted but check which notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget Nu 2,000–3,000 excl. bed · Mid Nu 3,500–5,000 excl. bed · High Nu 5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- B-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom) and TashiCell sell tourist SIMs in Paro and Thimphu with your passport; your guide can help.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types D, F, G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Indian-style D sockets are common; a universal adapter is best.
- Tipping
- Guide: About US$10–20 per day per group, at the end.; Driver: About US$8–15 per day per group.; Hotel staff: Nu 100–200.; Restaurant: Not expected; round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; hotels provide bottled or filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in certified hotels and restaurants; squat toilets at some roadside stops. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at Sherab Cafe | Nu 80–150 |
| Meal at a hotel restaurant | Nu 300–600 |
| Lemon grass essential oil (small bottle) | Nu 200–400 |
| Mongar-style woven cloth (small piece) | Nu 500–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PBH · Paro International
- Bhutan's only international airport; to Mongar by road is a two-day drive with a night stop in Bumthang.
- GLU · Gelephu Airport
- Domestic airport in southern Bhutan; the road from Gelephu to Mongar is a long mountain drive — confirm schedules and road time with your operator.
Typical fares
- Bus Thimphu → Mongar
- about Nu 1,000–1,500, two days with a night in Bumthang (check)
- Private vehicle Mongar → Trashigang
- about Nu 2,000–3,000, about 1.5 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is compact and covered on foot. Day trips need a private vehicle with a driver, arranged through your tour operator.
See and do
Known for
- Mongar Dzong
- Mongar Tshechu (28–30 Nov 2025)
- Lemon grass essential oil
- Mongar-style woven cloth
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Trashigang | Private vehicle, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| Tashiyangtse | Private vehicle, about 3 h | About 3.5 h |
| Lhuentse | Private vehicle, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
| Wamrong | Private vehicle, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Main street area; walking distance to the dzong and bazaar.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Kuzu zangpoKOO-zoo ZANG-poh |
| Thank you | KadincheyKAH-din-chay |
| How much? | Gadem chi mo?GAH-dem chee moh |
| Yes | Inin |
| No | Menmen |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Kuzuzangpo la' with a slight bow; avoid: Loud greetings in temples
- Dzongs and temples: Formal dress, clockwise circuits, remove hats; avoid: Pointing feet at altars; photos inside
- Offers: Refuse politely once or twice, then accept; avoid: Grabbing the first offer
- Religious objects: Pass chortens and mani walls on the left, keeping them on your right; avoid: Touching or climbing on them
- The King: Speak respectfully; portraits are everywhere; avoid: Jokes about the royal family
- Scarves: Bhutanese wear kabney (men) or rachu (women) in dzongs; visitors do not need them; avoid: Wearing one as a costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Mongar sits at about 1,600 m; altitude is not a problem but the hill is steep.
- The tshechu needs a ticket from the dzong office; confirm dates with your operator.
- ATMs are limited; carry enough ngultrum cash.
Mongar is safe for tourists. The main risks are steep roads and limited medical facilities; carry a basic first-aid kit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mongar yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mongar Dzong
- Mongar Tshechu (28–30 Nov 2025)
- Lemon grass essential oil
- Mongar-style woven cloth
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Mongar, revision 5088352 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5088352
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mongar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.