Introduction
Thromde in Bumthang, BhutanJakar
བྱ་ཀར་ByakarThromdeJakar DzongJakarLocation in BhutanCoordinates: 27°33′0″N 90°44′0″E / 27.55000°N 90.73333°E / 27.55000; 90.73333Country BhutanDzongkhagBumthangGewogChhoekhorSettledca. 1549Elevation2,587 m (8,488 ft)Population (2017) • Total6,243Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BTT)ClimateCwb
Jakar (Dzongkha: བྱ་ཀར་, romanized: Bya-kar) is a town in the central-eastern region of Bhutan. It is the district capital (dzongkhag thromde) of Bumthang District and the location of Jakar Dzong, the regional dzong fortress. The name Jakar roughly translates as "white bird" in reference to its foundation myth, according to which a roosting white bird signalled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549.: 168 
History
[edit]
Further information: Bumthang Kingdom and Bumthang Province
The town is the site of Chakhar Lhakhang, a small and unassuming temple which marks the site of the "Iron Palace" of Sindhu Raja, the Indian monarch who is believed to have first invited Guru Rinpoche to Bhutan in 746.: 34–5  The current building is said to have been constructed by Tertön Dorje Lingpa in the 14th century.
According to the Jakar foundation myth, a roosting white bird signaled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549. The settlement thus earned the moniker Jakar, meaning "white bird.": 168 
There are many significant Buddhist sacred sites nearby the town, such as Kurjey Lhakhang, which holds a body print of Guru Rinpoche; Jambey Lhakhang, one of the 108 monasteries that in mythology were miraculously constructed by King Songten Gampo in one night; and Tamsshing Lhakhag established by Tertön Padma Lingpa (1450–1521). In addition, one of the country's largest monastic colleges, Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery, overlooks Jakar.
Geography
[edit]
Location[edit]
Jakar is located in Bumthang (Choekhor) Valley within Chhoekhor Gewog in central Bumthang. Administratively, however, Jakar is a separate thromde (municipality) inside the gewog. The administrative office for the Choekhor Gewog is located in the northern suburbs of Jakar. Just north of Jakar lies Wangchuck Centennial Park, a protected area of Bhutan.
Climate[edit]
Jakar has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb).
Climate data for Jakar, elevation 2,470 m (8,100 ft), (1996–2017 normals)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
18.5(65.3)
20.0(68.0)
23.0(73.4)
24.0(75.2)
25.5(77.9)
28.0(82.4)
27.0(80.6)
27.0(80.6)
26.5(79.7)
24.0(75.2)
22.0(71.6)
19.0(66.2)
28.0(82.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
11.4(52.5)
13.0(55.4)
15.3(59.5)
17.5(63.5)
19.7(67.5)
21.9(71.4)
22.7(72.9)
22.7(72.9)
21.6(70.9)
18.8(65.8)
15.5(59.9)
12.9(55.2)
17.8(63.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)
3.8(38.8)
6.0(42.8)
8.7(47.7)
11.7(53.1)
14.6(58.3)
17.5(63.5)
18.6(65.5)
18.5(65.3)
17.1(62.8)
12.9(55.2)
8.4(47.1)
5.0(41.0)
11.9(53.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
−3.9(25.0)
−1.1(30.0)
2.1(35.8)
5.9(42.6)
9.5(49.1)
13.0(55.4)
14.4(57.9)
14.2(57.6)
12.5(54.5)
7.0(44.6)
1.3(34.3)
−2.9(26.8)
6.0(42.8)
Record low °C (°F)
−13.0(8.6)
−11.0(12.2)
−7.0(19.4)
−2.5(27.5)
0.0(32.0)
3.0(37.4)
10.0(50.0)
9.5(49.1)
4.5(40.1)
−5.0(23.0)
−10.0(14.0)
−13.5(7.7)
−13.5(7.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches)
5.9(0.23)
10.6(0.42)
34.2(1.35)
66.6(2.62)
94.4(3.72)
97.6(3.84)
155.9(6.14)
138.7(5.46)
89.1(3.51)
57.3(2.26)
6.9(0.27)
1.9(0.07)
759.1(29.89)
Average rainy days
0.8
2.2
6.5
12.3
15.7
16.2
21.7
19.6
14.5
6.6
0.9
0.4
117.4
Average relative humidity (%)
72.3
70.5
68.7
69.6
70.7
73.4
77.6
78.0
75.5
72.0
68.5
73.1
72.5
Source 1: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology
Source 2: World Meteorological Organization (rainy days 1996–2018)
