Bhutan town by town · central Bhutan, 2,587 m
Bumthang (Jakar) weather
The short answer
Bumthang, centred on Jakar at 2,587 m, records the coldest January nights of Bhutan’s six reference towns — but its winter days are bright and sunny. Autumn is dry and clear, and carries the region’s festival cluster. The road in crosses high passes that can close briefly after winter snow.
- elevation
- 2,587 m
- warmest day · July
- 23°
- coldest night · January
- −4°
- rain per year
- 760 mm
The valley
What Bumthang (Jakar) is actually like
Bumthang is central Bhutan, and reaching it is part of its weather story: the drive east crosses a series of high passes, any of which can shut for a day or two after heavy winter snow. Getting there is more weather-dependent than being there.
The valley itself is broad and high, ringed by monasteries, and its January nights are the coldest of any town on this site. What surprises people is how pleasant the winter days are alongside those nights — the same big diurnal swing as Thimphu, shifted colder.
Month by month
Bumthang (Jakar) weather, month by month
Daily high °C Nightly low °C Rainfall mm
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.4 | -3.9 | 6 | 0.8 |
| February | 13 | -1.1 | 11 | 2.2 |
| March | 15.3 | 2.1 | 34 | 6.5 |
| April | 17.5 | 5.9 | 67 | 12.3 |
| May | 19.7 | 9.5 | 94 | 15.7 |
| June | 21.9 | 13 | 98 | 16.2 |
| July | 22.7 | 14.4 | 156 | 21.7 |
| August | 22.7 | 14.2 | 139 | 19.6 |
| September | 21.6 | 12.5 | 89 | 14.5 |
| October | 18.8 | 7 | 57 | 6.6 |
| November | 15.5 | 1.3 | 7 | 0.9 |
| December | 12.9 | -2.9 | 2 | 0.4 |
Station climate normals for Bumthang from the NCHM Climate Data Book of Bhutan 2018 (1996–2018 station normals). Rain-day counts are not published for every station — see sources & method. The wettest month here is July, at 156 mm.
The January row is the one to look at: the lowest overnight figure of the six towns — though Phobjikha’s December runs colder still. Set against that, the daytime highs stay well above freezing through the winter, and rainfall from November to February is minimal.
Summer follows the national pattern — a steep monsoon rise from June, peaking in July, then a fast clearing through September that opens the autumn window.
When to come
The best time to visit Bumthang (Jakar)
Late September through November is Bumthang at its best: dry, clear, and holding the autumn festival cluster including Jambay Lhakhang Drup and Jakar Tshechu. These are lunar dates that move every year, so reconfirm them before you build a trip around one.
In winter the valley is rewarding but the journey is the risk — allow a spare day either side of a pass crossing between December and February.
Live conditions for Bumthang and the other five towns are on the Bhutan forecast page, updated hourly. For the country-wide comparison see best time to visit Bhutan, or read Festivals & weather.
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