The Bumthang valley is in fact a group of four interlinked valleys — Chumey, Choekhor, Tang, and Ura — at around 2,600 to 4,000 metres elevation in central Bhutan. Jakar lies in Choekhor, the most populated and the easiest to reach. The whole region is the religious heart of the country, with the densest concentration of ancient temples and an unusual number of sacred sites associated with Guru Rinpoche.
The landscape is more open than the steep western valleys: gentle slopes, apple orchards, buckwheat and wheat fields, and traditional farmhouses with timber balconies and slate roofs. Walking and short drives between temples are the obvious way to see it. Bumthang is also known for its cheese, honey, apples, and arra (a local spirit distilled from grains), all available in the markets in town.