16 Days Nomad Tour

The Brokpa: Myth of Origin

This journey takes you to the far eastern reaches of Bhutan, where the Brokpa communities of Merak and Sakteng have preserved a unique semi-nomadic way of life. According to Brokpa oral history, their ancestors migrated from Tibet, carrying with them a distinct language, culture, and form of Mahayana Buddhism.

Their origin myth tells of a despotic king who ordered his Brokpa subjects to cut away a mountain peak that blocked the morning sun from reaching his palace. During this grueling task, a woman named Aum Jomo sang that it would be far easier to cut off the king’s head instead. Inspired by her words, the people rose up and killed the tyrant.

Forced into exile, the Brokpa fled their homeland under the leadership of Aum Jomo and the spiritual master Guru Lam Jarepa. They journeyed south into Bhutan, bringing with them sacred religious texts and preserving their cultural identity. To this day, Aum Jomo is revered as the protector deity of the Brokpa and is believed to reside on Jomo Kukhar Mountain.

Lifestyle of the Brokpa Communities

The Brokpa people are semi-nomadic yak herders who have lived largely in isolation since their arrival in Bhutan. Several of their villages—such as Sakteng, Tengma, and Borang Tse—only gained road access in recent years. This long-standing remoteness has allowed the Brokpa to preserve a language and set of customs that are distinct from other Bhutanese ethnic groups.

The Brokpa primarily raise yaks and sheep and follow a traditional system of transhumance, migrating seasonally to trade butter, cheese, wool, and meat with communities in the lower regions. In exchange, they obtain rice, maize, and other essential goods. Throughout the year, they move with their herds—descending to warmer valleys in winter and ascending to high mountain pastures in summer—maintaining a way of life that has endured for generations.