Unveil the Wonders of Bhutan

Located at an altitude of 3400m, the valley of Lunana is the most isolated in Gasa district. An unspoiled traditionally nomadic people surviving amongst glaciers, living in harmony with nature and gods, and thriving on the collection of the ‘summer grass, winter worm’ (cordyceps/yartsa goenbub), a rare fungal species much sought after in the global Chinese market for its aphrodisiac and clinical properties. The people of Lunana in general speaks Dzongkha with a distinctive accent and their local dialect. It is bordered by the gewogs of Laya in the west, Goen Shari Punakha in the southwest, Sephu Gewog in the southeast and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the extreme north. About half of Lunana falls under the Jigme Dorji National Park and the other half under Ugyen Wangchuk National Park providing protection of habitat for different species of birds and animals like the takin, musk deer, blues heep,snow leopard, red panda, raven, wild pheasant, snow pigeon, himalayan black bear, tiger, and black necked crane. Since diversification of agriculture production is not allowed by the harsh weather contidions, only dry land cropping like wheat, buckwheat, potato, radish and turnip are carried out on a small scale. But nowadays, with aid from the Royal Government of Bhutan, many people from Lunana and Laya are opting for greenhouse farming which has enabled them to harvest vegetables never heard of before. Normally, people of these gewogs entirely depend on cordyceps and livestock productions, which are bartered with neighbouring gewogs and dzongkhags. Home to numerous glacial lakes including the Thorthomi, Rapstreng and Lugge, Lunana is considered one of the most important watersheds; giving rise to some of the major rivers of the country. The renowned Lunana snowman trek, the most challenging trek in Bhutan, provides an in depth look into the unspoiled and the age old traditional lifestyle of the Bhutanese highlander with the spectacular highlands. With altitudes ranging between 3000-5000m with grandiose mountain views and alleys of the Himalaya region, this is the only trekking route with a mixture of snow capped Himalayas, alpine grasslands, quaint farmlands and numerous passes; including the highest pass of Bhutan.

When visitors first see the jagged white mountain teeth that line Gasa district's northern border with Tibetan China, so razor sharp in the distance, awe is the most common reaction. Seeing them for oneself puts the scale of it all in perspective. They were here long before us, and will be around long after we're gone. At the mountains' feet lie hundreds of glacial lakes that source Bhutan's mother and father rivers, the Mo Chhu and the Punatsang Chhu, which converge at Punakha Dzong to the south. Exemplifying the sort of wisdom that still sometimes eludes other countries, Bhutan has designated the entirety of this district, the country's largest, as environmentally sacrosanct land. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park is most of it, home to snow leopards, blue sheep, red pandas, and takins (the national animal), as well as many rare flora. Gasa's northeast is all Wangchuck Centennial National Park. Just 3,200 people or so live in Gasa's 3,082 square miles, giving it by far the lowest population density in a country where you can drive for hours off the main Lateral Road and pass only a car or two. It's also the least developed district in Bhutan. Motorable roads are few, winters are very long and cold, and only about one-third of households have electricity. The isolation has bred a remarkable self-sufficiency in the people. During the short but glorious high-altitude summers they grow rice, barley, wheat, potatoes, and chilies, get milk, butter, and cheese from yaks and sheep, and weave yak hair into tunics and tents. Remote Laya and Lunana gewogs (sub-districts) in the north are renowned for their medicinal herbs, and harvesting cordyceps — the much in-demand caterpillar fungus known as Himalayan Viagra — brings in millions of ngultrum annually. Tourism is still in its early stages here, with the primary draws being trekking — such as the Laya Gasa Trek and the famously arduous Snowman Trek — as well as the spectacularly situated dzong (fortress) and the tsachu (hot springs). Trekkers rave about how pristine the land is, and thrill at encounters with the semi-nomadic yak herder Layaps, who have preserved their own traditions, dialect (Layakha), and distinctive dress that includes conical bamboo hats with sharp spikes protruding from the tops. Gasa Dzong, also known as Gasa Tashi Tongmön Dzong (Tashi Tongmön is the region's protector deity), is perhaps the most dramatically situated dzong in the kingdom, dwarfed by towering Kangbum mountain. Gasa tsachu has been popular for centuries with locals and Bhutanese from around the country who swear by its curative powers, including the Zhabdrung, great unifier of Bhutan who bathed here in 1616 on his way down from Tibet. Community based eco-tourism has strong government backing in Gasa, and visitors are welcomed warmly. It's an excellent choice for travelers who appreciate seeing nature and culture in virtually unadulterated form. It's also more more easily accessible than east Bhutan, which similarly remains underdiscovered by foreigners.

Known as the land of the eastern people (Sharchogpas) and where the expression of happiness is a part of the daily life, Trashigang is the largest district in Bhutan consisting of three sub-districts and fifteen village blocks. Located in the easternmost part of the Kingdom and ranging in altitudes between 600 to 4000 meters, Trashigang is known as the ‘Jewel of the East’. The town is a central hub to connect to other regions of eastern Bhutan, including Trashiyangtse, Khaling, Radi and Phongme. The picturesque Trashigang Town is crafted perfectly on a limited sloping area at the foot of a steep wooded valley with the tiny Mithidang stream channeled through it. In the past, it was known for being a bustling trade center for merchants looking to barter their goods in Tibet. Today, it is the junction of the East-West highway with road connections to Samdrup Jongkhar and the Indian state of Assam. Trashigang town is also the principle market place for the surrounding villages of Radhi, Phongmey, Bikhar, Bidung, Bartsham, Shongphu, Galing and Changmey, along with the semi-nomadic people of Merak and Sakteng. Rangjung, Kanglung and Wamrong are some of the major towns in the district. Trashigang Dzong or ‘The Fortress of the Auspicious Hill’ was built in 1659 to defend against Tibetan invasions. This imposing fortress is strategically situated high atop a hill overlooking the Dangme Chhu River and has been the political stronghold of Eastern Bhutan for over 300 years. The three day annual Trashigang Tsechu is held in Trashigang Dzong during the 7th to 11th days of the tenth month of the Bhutanese calendar (December). The tsechu is attended by the Brokpas from the valleys of Merak and Sakteng, the Khengpa community and people from as far as Samdrup Jongkhar, Pemagatshel and Trashiyangtse. Trashigang is home to the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, one of ten protected areas of Bhutan, was created in part to protect the migoi, a type of yeti, in whose mythical existence most Bhutanese believe. The sanctuary covers the eastern third of the district (the gewogs of Merak and Sakteng), and is connected via a biological corridor to the Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary in Samdrup Jongkhar in the south. Trashigang is served by the Yonphula Domestic Airport. Just below the airport is Bhutan’s first accredited college, Sherubtse College. Sherubste College is the most renowned education institute in the Kingdom founded in 1966 by a group of Jesuits led by Father William Mackey, one of the most loved foreigners to have ever lived in Bhutan as a legal Bhutanese citizen.

Samtse is located on the fringes of an almost invisible international border between Bhutan and India, a testimony to the agreement that the two countries will live in peace and harmony together. The absence of a border wall is what gives rise to that unique experience of existing in two countries at the same time. Covering an area of 1,582 square kilometers with altitudes ranging between 600 to 3800 meters, Samtse dzongkhag is located in southern Bhutan and shares an international border with the Indian states Sikkim and West Bengal to the west and and with the Bhutanese districts of Haa and Chukha to the east. Geographically, Samtse district a transition spot where the hills of Bhutan slope away gradually to give way to the vast plains of India. The population of Samtse is divided into two main ethnic groups, the Lhotshampas and the Doyas. Smaller groups of Bumthaps, Tshanglas, Ngalongs, Khengpas and Kurtoeps have also started inhabiting the region in recent years. Samtse is a religiously diverse district where both Buddhism and Hinduism are widely practiced. Visitors will find temples belonging to both religions all over the beautifully forested district. The main festivals celebrated in the region include Losar (New Year), Thrue and Lomba by the Buddhists and Diwali and Dussehra by the Hindus. Samtse is also home to the Lhop (Doya) people, an under-studied ethnic group believed to be the aboriginals who predated the Tibetan migration from the north. The Lhops are noted for their animistic religious beliefs, their practice of marrying cross-cousins and their unique burial customs. The Lhops are one of the numerous communities in Bhutan benefitted by the Tarayana Foundation. The dominant language in Samtse District is Lhotshamkha, spoken by the Lhotsampa community. People in the district that speak Dzongkha, the national language, normally inhabit its eastern region. Other languages that exist in the district are Lepchakha (spoken by roughly 2,000 people in northeastern Samtse) and Lhokphukha (spoken by roughly 2,500 people along the border with Chukha). Samtse has an abundance of natural deposits exported daily; including talc and dolomite. The main crops grown in the region are oranges, cardamom, ginger and areca nuts. These crops are exported to the nearby Indian state of West Bengal and to Bangladesh. With its’ hot and humid climate, Samtse has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The local elephants are one of the district’s most exotic animals. The district also houses a number of industrial and manufacturing units and the Samtse College of Education which was started in 1968 and widely considered to be one of Bhutan’s premier educational institutions.

Bumthang is known as the spiritual heart of Bhutan, its magnificent natural beauty the backdrop for tales of spiritual masters performing miraculous feats and teaching the most exalted forms of Buddhism. Many of the oldest and most sacred sites in the kingdom are found within its four gewogs — Ura, Chumey, Tang, and Choekhor — each nestled in its own mountain valley, with unique traditions and dialects. Elevations range roughly between 2,600 and 4,500 meters (8,530 and 14,760 feet), soaring mountain peaks sending crystal-clear waters to the fertile valleys at their base. Bumthang translates as “beautiful field,” and the district's fertility mirrors its spiritual heritage. Farmers produce a rich bounty of apples, potatoes, rice, wheat, buckwheat, dairy products, honey, and woolen goods. Buckwheat is treasured as a local food staple, and Bumthang natives love the area specialties of buckwheat pancakes and spicy flat noodles. Jakar, with its mighty dzong overlooking Choekor valley, is the main administrative center for the district, but even Jakar has a rural, peaceful feel. Bumthang's captivating serenity is often said to come from its being blessed by masters over the centuries. Guru Rinpoche came here in the eighth century before traveling elsewhere in Bhutan to teach and subdue demons (most famously at Taktsang, or Tiger's Nest, in Paro valley). Pema Lingpa, the great 15th century revealer of treasure texts hidden by Guru Rinpoche, was born in Bumthang and taught at Tamshing Lhakhang near Jakar for most of his life. One of Kurjey Lhakhang's temples houses a monumental 10 meter (30 foot) statue of Guru Rinpoche that devotees believe has the power to liberate on sight those with the deepest faith. Much of the district's land is protected, its northern two-thirds contained within Wangchuck Centennial Park, and its southern portion part of Thrumshingla National Park. Just as flocks of the endangered black-necked crane find over-winter sanctuary within Bumthang's borders, visitors from foreign lands often come away from the district having found momentary sanctuary there as well. Be sure not to miss this sacred land.

Known for its weavers producing some of the best fabrics in Bhutan, Mongar district is draped in spectacular landscapes with sheer cliffs and deep gorges in dense conifer forests. The road approaching Mongar is in itself an experience of a lifetime as it meanders through overflowing lemon grass ridges (an essential oil production grass that Mongar is noted for), roadside sheds selling organic farm produces and the cheerful students walking to or from school who graciously bow down as you pass by and make you feel most welcome. Mongar, situated between Bumthang and Trashigang, is considered the fastest-developing dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan with its main town serving as the commercial hub for villagers of Lhuentse and Mongar. Mongar district covers an area of 1,954 square kilometers with elevations ranging from 400 meters to 4,000 meters and has a population of about 38,000. The western part of Mongar district contains part of the Thrumshingla National Park, and the northeastern part of Mongar district contains part of the Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the winter roost of the endangered black necked cranes. It is quite common for people here to speak three to four dialects since the district is home to Khengpa, Tsangla and Kurotep speaking groups. Located on a small gently sloping area just above the town, Mongar Dzong was rebuilt in 1953 and is a bit unusual for having its two main entrances. The original fortress of the region was in Zhongar before the present dzong replaced it in the 1930’s. Like most other dzongs, it is the administrative headquarters for Mongar district. The Mongar Tsechu is held in November and is famed for its numerous mask dances. Villagers from miles around come to view the celebrations on the terraces overlooking the festival ground and the valley below. There are many renowned religious attractions in Mongar including the ruins of the Zhongar Dzong (where one can still see traces of the building skills of the renowned master craftsman, Zowo Balip), the Dramitse Lhakhang (where the Dramitse Ngacham or rhe ‘dance of the drums of Dramitse’ was born. This sacred mask dance has been recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of the world), Aja Nye and Hungja Nye (sacred pilgrimage sites) and hundreds of lakes which are considered sacred and must-visit in this lifetime by the Bhutanese people. Mongar town is rather small compared to other major towns but the distinct fusion of modern and traditional architecture makes up for its small size. Traditionally painted and decorated shops line the main street exuding a sense of a town lost in time. Over the years, many weary travelers have either taken refuge in this nostalgic town for a night halt or simply stopped over for lunch.

With only a few hundred foreign tourists visiting annually, Lhuentse district in northeast Bhutan remains largely off the mental map of most outsiders. Yet this isolated region has a stark entrancing beauty, its deep-cut river gorges and steep cliff faces displaying nature at its most raw. Coniferous forests cover more than 87 percent of the land, much of it environmentally-protected parkland and wildlife sanctuaries connected by biological corridors. Its primary river system, the Kuri Chhu, originates in the Tibetan plateau to the north and bisects the district on the way to joining India's mighty Brahmaputra River. Lhuentse has just 7,400 households in its 1,944 sq km (751 sq miles) and is one of the least developed districts in the country. Electricity has yet to reach some remote villages and there are relatively few roads, the first gas station having arrived only in 2005. Most farming is subsistence level. But Lhuentse women — particularly the Kurtoeps of Khoma village — produce some of the most exquisite textiles found anywhere. Their distinctive style of weaving, known as kishutara, is famous throughout the country. Many of them spend months at a time on traditional back-strap looms weaving a single kira. Towering impressively over Tangmachu valley near Khoma is the world's largest statue of Guru Rinpoche, the saint who established Buddhism in Bhutan. At 169 feet high, it was constructed with the intention of bringing peace to the valley and the world at large. About a two-hour walk from Khoma village is Lhuentse Dzong, the district's administrative and the religious center built in 1654 on a spur overlooking the Kuri Chhu and the district capital Lhuentse. Forty kilometers up a dirt road from Lhuentse is Dungkhar Naktshang, the ancestral home of Jigme Namgyal, father of the first king and founder of the Wangchuck dynasty. Other attractions of interest include the annual three-day Lhuentse tshechu (festival), which is celebrated every November and draws hordes of villagers attired in their best kushitharas. The rugged beauty of Lhuentse also makes for excellent trekking like the Aja Nye Trek and the Rodungla Trek, which starts from Khini Lhakhang, a temple dating to the seventh century.

Thimphu dzongkhag (district) is the thriving political and economic heart of Bhutan. It contains the capital city of the same name, and comprises eight gewogs, or groupings of villages. Approximately half of the district, the northern part, lies within the environmentally protected boundaries of Jigme Dorji National Park. The city of Thimphu, being the largest in the kingdom, hosts a wide spectrum of Bhutanese languages, arts, and culture. Though recent population estimates vary, somewhere between 100,000 and 120,000 citizens reside in the city. Thimphu city contains several colleges, a large stadium that hosts sporting events and celebrations, and a variety of ancient monasteries and spiritual sites. Visitors can enjoy the vibrant weekend arts and farmers’ market, experience the local nightlife (live music and dance), or explore one of the local museums. If the timing is right, catch the yearly Thimphu Tsechu — a three day festival bursting with music, dance, and celebration — beginning on the 10th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The city of Thimphu also contains Tashichho Dzong, the majestic seat of Bhutan’s government and home to the local monastic body. There are many stores selling exquisite traditional Bhutanese crafts and textiles, and friendly faces fill the streets. Trails for biking and hiking crisscross the hillsides above town, offering myriad opportunities for exercise and exploration. In the warmer months, the forests through which these paths wind become delightfully green and lush, resounding with bird song. Despite the modern expansion here, many locals still wear the customary gho and kira in town, and rainbow-colored statues of goddesses, flowers, and auspicious signs adorn public areas. The magnificent Buddha Dordenma statue stands guard on a hilltop above the city, towering at 169 feet (51.5 meters) and radiating blessings to the valley below. This enormous Buddha exemplifies the beautifully spiritual and heart-centered way of life that continues here, untainted, to this day. Guests will be nourished by the life-affirming tradition that pervades even the capital city, and welcomed, for a time, into a modern Bhutan that still holds true to its ancient roots.

Located 196 km towards the south of Wangdue District, Gelephu town lies in the southern foothills of Bhutan. It is the only place in Bhutan where one would not see much slopes but only extensive plains. It is one of the gateways to Bhutan from India and is located close to India border. If one has enough time and does not know what to do in Gelephu, do not miss out the weekend market where one can smell the fresh vegetables and cannot ignore the sight of the variety of colorful spices. 1 km towards the northern side of the town is the Nyimalung Dratshang which is the winter residence for the monks of the Chummy valley in Bumthang.

- Trashiyangtse (the “r” is silent) is remote in a way few other places are. Some 550 kilometers and three days' drive east of Thimphu, it shares wild borderlands with Tibet in the north and India's Arunachal Pradesh state in the east. If you like exploring places few foreigners have even heard of, let alone visited, this district should be on your itinerary. It's the Wild East, a trove of Bhutan's early history. Guru Rinpoche, the saint who introduced Buddhism to the country, left his body imprints in rock in the late 740s at the sacred site of Omba Ney. Bhutan's first fortress, Tshenkharla Dzong — built by an exiled Tibetan prince in the ninth century — lies near the district capital in splendid ruin. An ancient trade route with Tibet is now the Rodungla Trek that draws only one or two foreigners a year. Trashiyangtse's 3,760 households are a remarkably diverse lot that includes indigenous Yangtseps, majority Tshanglas, Kurtoeps from Lhuentse district to the west, and tribes who that share a history and language with the Dakpa tribe just across the border in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district. Most district residents are farmers, but a smattering of artisans make their living by carving dapa (laquered wooden bowls and cups) and making desho (handmade paper), which are prized by Bhutanese across the country. Wildness pervades much of Trashiyangtse's 1,438 square kilometers. Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary comprises the entire northern half of the district, providing a winter nesting ground for black-necked cranes, its temperate fir forests sheltering tigers, snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, red pandas, and barking deer, as well as the rare Ludlow's Bhutan Swallowtail, the national butterfly that is native to this area. The sanctuary has several treks within its borders. Forests cover 71% of the district and elevations range widely, from subtropical forests at 760 meters through peaks in the north reaching 5,900 meters. District capital Trashiyangtse is an easy three-hour walk along the Kulong Chhu river from Bumdeling's southern border. Trashiyangtse town is home to the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students train in wood sculpture, wood-turning, lacquer work, painting, pottery, and embroidery — and visitors are welcome. A new dzong built in the 1990s overlooks the town and is the main administrative center for the district. The old Trashiyangtse Dzong (“Fortress of Auspicious Fortune”) five kilometers down valley was built by the famed 15th century treasure revealer Pema Lingpa and houses the monastic body. Across the Kulong Chhu below town is Chorten Kora, a large white stupa modeled on Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal. Gom Kora in the south is a sacred site of pilgrimage where Guru Rinpoche subdued a demon he had chased from Tibet; a temple marks the cave where he meditated and left body imprints (ney) in the rock. Trashiyangtse has many other such pilgrimage sites, including Dechenphodrang Ney, Kharchendra Nye, and Gongza Ney. Several tshechus, or religious festivals, are held annually in February and March. The new dzong hosts the major Trashiyangtse tshechu. Chorten Kora tshechu hosts Dakpa Kora (circumambulation for members of the Dakpa tribe from Arunachal Pradesh) and two weeks later Drukpa Kora (circumambulation for the Bhutanese). Gom Kora tshechu is held later in the spring for three days and is especially important for the Dakpas, who walk for days with their families across difficult terrain to attend the festival, as they have for hundreds of years. -

The steeply corrugated landscape surrounding Trongsa is among the most dramatic in Bhutan. To the town's southwest lie the thickly forested Black Mountains, home to clouded leopards and golden langurs. In the area directly around Trongsa, the Mangde Chhu river has carved a sheer-sided valley where travellers sight Trongsa and its white-walled dzong long before the winding road reaches the town. Energetic visitors can follow the traditional approach to Trongsa Dzong, a two-hour trail that descends to cross the Mangde Chhu over a traditional cantilevered bridge before making a steep ascent of the opposite bank to the dzong's western gate.

Known as the ‘Eastern Gateway to Bhutan’, Samdrup Jongkhar district is located at elevation ranges of 200 to 3500 meters and shares borders with the Indian state of Assam. The population of Samdrup Jongkhar is largely dominated by Sharchops in the upper regions and by Lhotshampas in the lower. The road from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar connects the eastern and southern regions of the country, a connection link that that has immensely benefitted the Bhutanese population through trade across the Indian border. Samdrup Jongkhar is one of the main trading centers for the Bhutanese and it is still a convenient exit town for tourists who have arranged to visit the neighboring Indian state of Assam or just flying in and out of Guwahati Airport in Assam. In the earlier past, many British Political Officers stationed in Sikkim took the route from Samdrup Jongkhar to enter into Bhutan. Samdrup Jongkhar Dzong is one of the newest dzongs to have been built in the country. Unlike other dzongs that are built on strategic locations atop mountains or between rivers, the Samdrup Jongkhar Dzong is built on a flat and fairly wide-open area. The Samdrup Jongkhar Dratshang, the residence of the monk body, the Zangdo Pelri, a beautiful three storied stupa in the heart of the town which serves the spiritual needs of the local residents, and Dewathang, a small town situated 18 kilometers from Samdrup Jongkhar along the highway where the last battle with the British was fought in 1884, are some of the other important places to visit. The district is well known for bird watching (especially the hornbills) and the Mithun Breeding Farm (a magnificent breed of cattle widely considered to be the best in Bhutan). Samdrup Jongkhar town holds the distinct honor of being the oldest town in the country. This bustling little town which is by far the largest urban center in eastern Bhutan developed as a result of the construction of the Samdrup Jongkhar-Tashigang national highway in the 1960’s. The town is a very clean and pleasant place with a diverse mixture of Bhutanese and Indian shops, restaurants and hotels and people from different cultural backgrounds. Just past the border gate is an Indian market called Mela Bazaar where one can buy goods and copies of Bhutanese textiles at cheaper rates than the capital.

One of the most disconnected districts of Bhutan, Pemagatshel lays on a steep slopes with narrow valleys between high mountain ranges. The name Pemagatshel roughly translates to the ‘blissful lotus garden’; a name derived from the shape of its landscape which resembles a blooming lotus. Most parts of the district are inaccessible from Bhutan and have to be accessed via the Indian border. With elevations ranging from 1,000 to 3,500 meters, Pemagatshel is situated in the extreme east Bhutan and spans over an area of 517.8 km2. It is a rural district with borders shared with Mongar in the northwest, Trashigang in the northeast and Samdrup Jongkhar in the southeast and southwest. The dzongkhag has elevengGewogs distributed across various ecological zones. Over half of the small dzongkhag is shaded by broadleaf and coniferous forests while the remainder is covered by farmland. Pemagatshel is famous for its artisans and weavers. The religious instruments produced here are highly prized and sought after throughout the country. The weavers of Pemagatshel produce fine kiras (traditional dress worn by women) from raw silk (with Lungsermo and Aiekapur considered to be some of the country’s best textiles). Pemagatshel is also the largest producer of cement in the country (with Dragon Cement company being the largest). The region has its own special tourist attractions including the Pemagatshel Dzong (also known as the ‘Blissful Lotus Fortress’ built in the 1980’s with its annual three day festival),Youngla Goenpa (a monastery believed to have been used as a base of operations by the father of the First King during the Duar Wars against the British), the 15th century Kheri Goemba and the Lektiri Goemba. The district is credited with one of the most noted and loved folk songs of Bhutan known as the Ausa; a song that is sung during the departure of family members, friends and relatives.

The beautiful and fertile Punakha Valley follows the course of the Puna Tsang Chhu south from its source at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu - the famed "Mother" and "Father" rivers - to the modern settlement of Wangdue Phodrang and beyond. At just 1250 meters (4,100ft) elevation, the climate of the lush Punakha Valley often feels hot and sultry in comparison to that of Thimphu, which sits at almost twice the altitude. This fact makes the valley a popular winter getaway for Thimphupas -- the warmer temperatures have long drawn visitors here from elsewhere in Bhutan. Most famously, the central dratshang or monastic community move here en masse from Thimphu's Cheri Monastery each winter. Punakha Dzong is the valley's foremost visitor attraction, but there are plenty of other spots to head to - visit Chimmi Lhakhang and participate in a centuries-old fertility ritual, float down the river on a gentle rafting trip or head uphill to peaceful Sangchhen Dorji Luendrup Nunnery for brilliant valley views.

Located in the south-central part of Bhutan, Zhemgang previously known as Shemgang is covered with 86% of its area under forest. Zhemgang is blessed with rich biodiversity as well as with the presence of a numerous number of endangered species such as Golden Langur, Gangetic Dolphins, and the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros. Due to its moderate climate in winter, one can see Yaks of Bumthang migrating to Zhemgang for their winter pasture. Zhemgang district has the majority of its area under the national parks of Bhutan. The dominant language of Zhemgang is khengkha which is spoken by the natives of the area who goes by the name Khengpa. Zhemgang is the only district in Bhutan where the ancient Bon religion is still practiced.

Tsirang town welcomes you with the gentle slopes, the mild climate, and the rich biodiversity. One can see one of the longest river of Bhutan “Punatsangchhu” flowing swiftly through its green and pristine valley. Located in the southern part of Bhutan, Tsirang is mostly populated by the Lhotshampas and one cannot ignore the colorful outfits and the jewelry worn by the natives. The dominant language of Tsirang is Nepali widely spoken by the Lhotshampas. Also, the northernmost part of Tsirang falls under the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park and is a protected area.