Omba Ney Hike in Trashiyangtse

Starting/Ending Point: Tsangphuchen Primary School
Location: Trashiyangtse District
Road Diversion: Khamdang Gewog Road (5-minute drive after crossing Doksum)
Driving Time: Approx. 45 minutes from the main highway
Road Condition: Mostly farm feeder road
Hiking Duration: 6–7 hours (round trip)
Trail Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Sacred Significance of Omba Ney

Omba Ney is regarded as one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in eastern Bhutan, often referred to as the Taktsang of the East. Perched dramatically on the edge of a rocky cliff, the site overlooks an almost vertical drop of around 80 meters.

The name Omba Nye originates from the natural imprint of the sacred syllable “OM” found on a rock at the base of the cliff. This is one of the three sacred syllables of Guru Rinpoche’s mantra—OM AH HUNG.

OM is imprinted here at Omba Nye (Trashiyangtse)
AH is found at Aja Nye in Mongar
HUNG appears on a cliff at Hungrel Dzong in Paro

Omba Nye was blessed by Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) in 746 AD during his journey to subdue local spirits and bless the region.

Sacred Sites & Rock Imprints

The trail to Omba Nye is dotted with numerous sacred rock imprints attributed to Guru Rinpoche and Yeshe Tsogyal, including:

Sacred texts
Spiritual hats of Guru Rinpoche
Footprints of Guru Rinpoche
The most revered: The natural imprint of the syllable “OM”, carved miraculously into the rock at the base of the cliff

These sacred imprints make Omba Ney not just a hike but a spiritual experience.

Hiking Tips

Best Season to Visit: October to May
Recommended Gear: Long pants, walking stick, hat, sunglasses, snacks (preferably fruits), and plenty of water
Trail Conditions: Some sections are narrow and steep—caution is advised
Leeches: Fortunately, there are no leeches, even during the rainy season

Our Hiking Experience

We began our journey from Karmaling Hotel at 7:00 AM after an early breakfast. By 8:45 AM, we reached Tsangphuchen Primary School, the starting point of the hike. The actual trail begins just below the school, near a shop named Tashi Wangmo General Shop, located in Teotshe Gewog, Trashiyangtse.
- The first 15 minutes of the hike take you through serene rice and corn fields.
- The trail then gently descends to a stream, where we crossed a suspension bridge—its height seemingly over 90 meters, offering a thrilling view.
- After another 20 minutes, we encountered an old wooden bridge, following which the trail starts to ascend steadily.
After approximately 2 hours, we reached the KNOP Resting Point, a good spot to relax and enjoy views of Omba Village and the monastery perched above it.
From the resting point, it took us only about 30 minutes to reach Omba Nye.