In the valley of the gods, wild mushrooms await you. In what are some of the last remaining pristine temperate habitats, spruce and pine forests in Ura valley at more than 3000 meters above sea level are home to an incredible diversity of mushrooms. Amongst these, matsutake (tricholoma matsutake), popularly known in Bhutan as the sangay shamu are found in these forests. Favoured by soil, sun and moisture, these mushrooms grow in abundance and Bhutanese farmers have picked them for generations.

In addition to supplementing incomes and diets, these mushrooms continue to enrich and nourish the bonds between man and nature. In a rapidly changing world, getting in touch with nature helps to remind us of the preciousness of our fragile planet and acknowledge its bounties.

We welcome you to experience mushroom picking in these beautiful and pristine forests from early July till early September. To guide you, we provide local farmers who have an intimate knowledge of these mountains. They are the true guardians of our natural heritage. And like local people the world over, they hold the secrets of the land.

Every year, we will be organizing a three to five day mushroom festival in the month of August. In addition to showcasing mushrooms and associated delicacies, we will bring out the best in local culture through sacred dances and folk music. You can try mushrooms cooked either by professional Japanese chefs or in the Bhutanese way. All the while, noted musicians will make this festival not only a celebration of mushrooms but also a celebration of music and culture in the Himalayas.

At Ura, either during the festival, or before or after, we suggest that you spend a few nights in our farm houses. We believe that there is no better way to discover Bhutan and to get to know the Bhutanese. While the houses are built in traditional style, we have ensured that they are fitted with modern conveniences to ensure clean and safe drinking water and hot showers. And while you stay with our farmers, we suggest that you try their home cooked meals. And in the evenings, insist on a medicinal stone bath. It is only fitting to have one, given that Bhutan was once known as the land of the medicinal herbs.

To heighten your sense of discovery, we also arrange guides – either locals or the Thrumshingla National Park staff – and organize bird watching and mammal tracking activities. And if you are keen and fit enough, you can ask locals for a horse or yak riding experience.

The 2008 festival is sponsored by the

Royal Government of Bhutan.

Out of the total package price, a certain sum (specified in the package details) goes to the communities and the national park. It is envisaged that the community funds will be used for undertaking basic development works. Priority will be given to activities targeted at improving health, sustaining access to water and energy, and increasing general improvements in living standards. Park funds will be used to ensure that rare, threatened and endangered species such as the tigers, hornbills and red pandas will continue to survive in the wild.

2008 Tour Package:

The first matsutake festival will be held at Ura from the 14^th to the 16^th of August. We are offering a special five day discount package at Nu. 10,000/- per tourist for the whole five day package (shown in box below).

We are also open to providing tailor made programmes for those tourists who wish to spend more, or less than 5 nights at the following rates.

Discounts are offered for tourists staying more than 5 nights. Contact the member secretary of the Ura Mushroom Conservation and Tourism Group at 03-680001 or e-mail: jknwnp@yahoo.com.

We also offer tailor made tour packages before and after the festival period from early July till early September. Apart from the festival fee, the rest of the package would include all the other activities listed in the festival package.

Additionally, we also offer a leisurely two day trek across alpine landscapes on either horse or yak backs from Ura to Geyzamchu within the Thrumshingla National Park. A night of camping along ancient routes used by nomads offers a chance to live the nomad’s dream.

The Ura Mushroom Conservation and Tourism Group together with the Thrumshingla National Park organize the festival every year, and manage the matsutake tourism package.

Programmes for the Ura Matsutake Festival 2008

14^th – 16^th August

Whole Day Programmes:

§         Matsutake: Science and Cuisine

§         Mushrooms and Habitats

§         Matsutake and Friends: Mushroom Diversity in Ura

§         Of Tigers and Nomads: the Thrumshingla National Park

§         The Only Way to Cook It!: The Art of Cooking the Matsutake

§         The Sacred and the Profane: Ancient Dancers and Modern Clowns

§         Old Songs and Old Melodies: the Unseen Dances of Ura

Evenings and Entertainment:

§         Park documentary

§         Bhutanese movies

§         Open air musical performances

Meals and Beverages:

§         Matsutake encore

§         Local cuisines

§         Ara Hut (with Snacks)

§         The Red Panda Treat (with Bumthang Cheese)