Bhutan At A Glance – Zone 2

The Central Bhutan:                   

7     Trongsa Dzongkhag

Trongsa Dzongkhag consist over 1700 households. It covers an area of about 1807 sq. km with elevation ranging from 800 to 4800 meters above sea level. People derive livelihood and income from farming. The Trongsa Dzong was the ancestral home of the ruling dynasty. Chogyel Minjur Tempa built it in 1644. The landscape around Trongsa is spectacular, and for miles on end, the Dzong seems to tease you so that you wonder if you will ever reach it. Backing on to the mountain and built on several levels, the Dzong fits narrowly on a spur that sticks out into the gorge of the Mangde River and overlooks the routes south and west. The view from the Dzong extends for many kilometers and in former times, nothing could escape the vigilance of its guards. Furthermore, the Dzong is built in such a way that in the old days, no matter what direction a traveler came from, he was obliged to pass by the Dzong. This helped to augment its importance as it thus had complete control over all east-west traffic. The Ta-Dzong , an ancient Watch Tower of the Trongsa Dzong is located on top of a steep hill overlooking Trongsa Dzong. The watchtower displays many interesting armors used by the Bhutanese soldiers during the olden days. Kuenga Rabten the winter palace of the second king, Jigme Wangchuck, is 23 km south from Trongsa. Currently the palace is under National Commission for Cultural Affair and turn up into National Library and Temple . A large Nunnery is near palace and further down the valley is Eundu Chholing , the winter palace of the first king, Ugyen Wangchuck.

8     Bumthang Dzongkhag

Bumthang Dzongkhag is the spiritual heartland of Bhutan and home to its most ancient and precious Buddhist sites.  Despite altitude constraints (2400 – 6000 m above sea level), Bumthang is today one of the prosperous Dzongkhags in the country known as "Switzerland of Bhutan". Favourable terrain conditions coupled with high motor road access had brought manifold changes in the socio-economic lives of the Bumthang people. Income from potatoes, livestock farms and more recently tourist lodges are gradually changing the economic landscape of the people in the Dzongkhag.

The important pilgrims / places for visitor are Buli lhakhang in Chhumey Gyetsa built by Thuksey Chhoying, the son of Dorje Lingpa in early 14th century and Tharpaling Monastery founded by Longchen Rabjampa in 13th century. Domkhar Tashi Chholing , the summer palace of the second king built in 1937. Prakar lhakhang built by Dawa Gyeltshen, the son of the Terton Pema Lingpa (Bhutanese famous saint). Jakar Dzong built by Chogyel Minjur Tenpa, the third Druk Desi (Temporal ruler) in 1646 and expanded by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay, the fourth Desi of Bhutan in 1683. Wangdi Chholing Palace founded by Trongsa Penlop, Jigme Namgyal (father of first monarch) in 1857 and later it was used as principal palace of the First King. Jambay Lhakhang built 659 by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo on the same day as Kyichu lhakhang in Paro to nail down the ogress. Kurje lhakhang, the famous monastery blessed by Guru Rimpoche in 746. Tamshing Monastery, also known as Tamshing Lhuendrup Chholing, means "Temple of the Good Message" founded by Teton Pema Lingpa in 1501.   Kuenchogsum lhakhang & Pema Sambhava lhakhang also founded by Pema Ling in 1490s. Lodrakharchu Monastery founded by Lam Namkhey Nyingpo in 1970 and its housed for more than 300 monks.  Mebar Tso (flaming lake) is a pool where Terton Pema Lingpa discovered several treasures from the Tang valley.  Ugyen Choling Palace built 17th century by Deb Tsokey Dorji, a descendant of Dorje Lingpa and presently housed of the traditional museum.  Ura Valley is believed by some to have been the home of the earliest inhabitants of Bhutan.

11     Zhamgang Dzongkhag (Kheng Region)

Zhemgang is considered one of the most inaccessible Dzongkhags in the country to an elevation of 1400 meters with most of its Gewogs still situated far from road heads. Recognizing the situation, the Royal Government launched the Integrated Sustainable Development Program in Zhemgang in 1993. Since then, the Dzongkhag has caught up with many other Dzongkhags in terms of development infrastructures. Zhemgang can now boast of educational as well as health facilities and acquires higher living standards and the capacity of the people to plan, determined and implementation of development activities.

Zhemgang Dzong was built in 1963s where there is a small temple built by Tibetan Drukpa lama, Drongon Shangkyeme in 1163.  Zhemgang also known as Kheng regions and famous in bamboo works.  The village of Nabje , two days walk from Zhemgang is a best place for visitors especially "Those Seeking a Journey Back into Time". Here stands a stone pillar , which commemorates a peace treaty between King Sindaka (Sindu Raja) and King Naoche in the eight century. This makes its one of the most ancient historical monument of Bhutan. However, there is lack of hotel facilities and visitors have to be camp overnight or stay at farmhouse.

12      Sarbang Dzongkhag

The Sarpang Dzongkhag is situated in the central southern foothills bordering India. The area of the Dzongkhag stretches from Lhamoy Zingkha in the west to Manas National Park in the east. Cash crops such as orange, areca nut, cardamom, ginger, guava, lemon, banana and mango are grown extensively. Sarpang is one of the oldest towns in the country, with access to motorable roads as far as early 1950s. Due to its close proximity to the Indian markets, Sarpang has been the commercial center for the central Dzongkhags. Favourable terrain and climatic conditions combined with fertile agriculture land offer tremendous opportunity for farm mechanization and commercial horticultural development. Unfortunately, visitors are restricted in southern border side as routes involve passing through Indian Territories. 

13         Dagana Dzongkhag

Dagana Dzongkhag is one of the remotest regions in the country with elevation ranges from 600 – 3800 meters above sea level. Dagana Dzongkhag comprises of Daga Lingsum and Daga Lungsum. The Dzongkhag falls within the Temperate Zone in the north and sub-tropical in south with hot and wet summers and cool and dry winters. People in Dagana are simply deriving their daily sustenance from farming activities. Settlements in the Dzongkhag are fairly dispersed and remote compared to other Dzongkhags.

It is generally believed that people of 17th century were lawless and out control and Zhabdrung sent Doyner (protocol) Druk Namgyal with soldiers to control the region and setup the administrative. He built the Dzong in 1655 and named as Daga Tashi Yangtse Dzong . Remember, visitor can acclimatize in this region but there is lack of infrastructures. One has to make special arrangement.

14       Tsirang Dzongkhag

Tsirang Dzongkhag is located in the south-central part of the country with the altitude ranges from 400 to 2,000 meters above sea level. The Dzongkhag has good development potential. Favorable as well as diverse agro-ecological features provide the Dzongkhag with a high potential for the cultivation of many different types of cereal grains
as well as horticulture crops. The major cereal crops grown while orange, cardamom and vegetables are the principal cash crops. There are six schools – one middle secondary, one lower secondary and four elementary schools and health facilities adequate in the Dzongkhag. Malaria is one of the common diseases especially in the hotter areas during summer followed by typhoid. The major town is Dramphu reached by road leading south from Wangdiphodrang along the banks of Sankosh. However, lack of infrastructures for the visitors.