Wangduephodrang
The Land of Ornamental Speech or lozeys
General Information
Other Name: -, , State: Wangdue , Bhutan
Area: 0
Languages Spoken: English, Bhutanese
Long Distance Code: -
Importance: -
Best Time to Visit: September to December and March - April
International Access: -
Description
A 45-minute drive from Punakha is Wangduephodrang or Wangdi, as it''s more familiarly known. The last town In the West before arriving at the Central region of Bhutan, Wangdi Is a typical small Bhutanese town, A bustling market with well-stocked shops and a pretty view over its own valley and Dzong. Wangdi is a good place to stretch your legs and wander around the shops before heading east. There are three paved roads in Wangdue Phodrang dzongkhag. The Lateral Road enters from the west at Dochu La Pass, crosses the Pana Tsang Chhu at Wangdue Phodrang dzong, and continues east to Tongsa.Location
Located at the altitude of 4,430 feet as Punakha, it is the last western town before entering the central part of Bhutan. The district is known for fine bamboo work and its slate stone carvings.Climate
Wangduephodrang is about 4308 square kms with an elevation ranging from 800 to 5800 meters above sea level. The summers are moderately hot with cool winters. The areas in the north remain under snow during the winter and the district receives about 1000 mm of annual rainfall.
450 year old Gantey Goempa, a monastery headed by a ninth reincarnates Lama. Located on top of a small hill, Gantey (gang-mountain & tey-summit) is the biggest Nyignmapa monastery in the kingdom. Situated amongst blue pines and the local village of the resident Gomchens (lay monks ), numbering over 100 they work and worship at this 16th century monastery. Founded by the grandson of Pema Lingpa (a famous Nyingmapa saint) - Pema Trinley; it is primarily the summer residence, in winter the monks and gomchen migrate south - a day’s walk away to lower altitude. With beautiful and ornate internal paintings of Mandala, the wheel of life and Zangdopelri ''paradise or the heaven of Guru Rinpoche'' and also includes a painting of the mystical land of Shambhala.
A viewing inside reveals massive hand carved pillars, eight in number built in the Tibetan style, making this one of the larger prayer halls in Bhutan.
Phobjikha Valley situated on the western slope of the Black Mountains, this conservation area is abundant with wildlife and a winter home to the migrating majestic black necked crane. The black necked crane is not only endangered but an inspiration for Bhutanese songs, folklores and dances. *Crane viewing mid Oct - mid March the Black necked crane is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions of the Himalaya to the south and Yunnan-Guizho plateau to the east. They breed in high altitude alpine wetlands in spring and summer, and migrate to lower altitudes in autumn. Bhutan is the winter home to approx. 500 of these vulnerable creatures annually. The Phobjikha Valley is Bhutan''s largest wetland not only is it the favored winter habitat of the black necked crane it is also favored by the globally threatened white bellied Heron. The local name for the crane is ''thrung-thrung karm'' and historically it is referred to as the ‘heavenly bird'' because of their beauty, elegance and symbolism of long life & longevity.
Wangduephodrang Dzong, following the contours of the hill this dramatic structure was the secondary capital of Bhutan. This ‘palace gathering all within its power'' - its name is derived from being built on a rocky spur where ravens fly off in all four directions (at the crossroads). The wooden shingled monastic fortress enabled the central and eastern regions to be brought into the fold of the new Bhutanese state between 1647 and 1655. With three courtyards of varying shapes and sizes at the southern end of this rustic structure is the monk’s assembly hall which houses 3 statues of Buddha; the past, present and future.
Bird Watching Tours in Bhutan / BUT-08 (14 Days / 13 Nights)
Paro-Thimphu-Punakha-Wangduephodrang-Trongsa-Bumthang-Ura-Limithang-Mongar-Bumthang-Thimphu-Paro
Despite its small size about 770 species of birds have been recorded in Bhutan and the kingdom is recognized as 221 global endemic birds areas. Within country's borders there are extraordinary range of habitats, from some of the Himalaya's most extensive and least disturbed tropical forests to cool broad leaved andbirds in bhutan towering evergreen forests of fir, hemlock and spruce. The entire country is bisected by well maintained paved road and birding especially in mid to late spring (late March to late May) is good virtually anywhere below 3,100 m. Unlike many part of Asia, one is not obliged to seek out a park or reserve or remnant patch of 'good looking' habitat, since at any stop even in the midst of farmland, exciting birds are visible. The mixed broadleaf forests are much richer, and therefore more exciting for birding, than the rather slow growing monotypic stands of blue pine and particularly chir pine.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Paro
Day 2 : Paro
Day 3 : Paro-Thimphu
Day 4 : Thimphu-Punakha
Day 5 : Punakha-Wangduephodrang
Day 6 : Wangduephodrang-Trongsa
Day 7 : Trongsa-Bumthang
Day 8 : Bumthang-Ura
Day 9 : Ura-Limithang
Day 10 : Limithang-Mongar
Day 11 : Mongar
Day 12 : Mongar-Bumthang
Day 13 : Bumthang-Thimphu
Day 14 : Thimphu-Paro
Paro-Thimphu-Punakha-Wangduephodrang-Trongsa-Bumthang-Ura-Limithang-Mongar-Bumthang-Thimphu-Paro
Despite its small size about 770 species of birds have been recorded in Bhutan and the kingdom is recognized as 221 global endemic birds areas. Within country's borders there are extraordinary range of habitats, from some of the Himalaya's most extensive and least disturbed tropical forests to cool broad leaved andbirds in bhutan towering evergreen forests of fir, hemlock and spruce. The entire country is bisected by well maintained paved road and birding especially in mid to late spring (late March to late May) is good virtually anywhere below 3,100 m. Unlike many part of Asia, one is not obliged to seek out a park or reserve or remnant patch of 'good looking' habitat, since at any stop even in the midst of farmland, exciting birds are visible. The mixed broadleaf forests are much richer, and therefore more exciting for birding, than the rather slow growing monotypic stands of blue pine and particularly chir pine.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Paro
Day 2 : Paro
Day 3 : Paro-Thimphu
Day 4 : Thimphu-Punakha
Day 5 : Punakha-Wangduephodrang
Day 6 : Wangduephodrang-Trongsa
Day 7 : Trongsa-Bumthang
Day 8 : Bumthang-Ura
Day 9 : Ura-Limithang
Day 10 : Limithang-Mongar
Day 11 : Mongar
Day 12 : Mongar-Bumthang
Day 13 : Bumthang-Thimphu
Day 14 : Thimphu-Paro
Bhutan Culture & Nature Tour / BUT-09 (13 Days / 12 Nights)
Paro-Thimphu-Punakha-Wangduephodrang-Trongsa-Bumthang-Wangduephodrang-Paro
A close encounter with mysticism, culture, history and the Nature
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Paro
Day 2 : Paro
Day 3 : Paro-Thimphu
Day 4 : Thimphu-Punakha
Day 5 : Punakha-Wangduephodrang
Day 6 : Wangduephodrang-Trongsa
Day 7 : Trongsa-Bumthang
Day 8 : Bumthang
Day 9 : Bumthang
Day 10 : Bumthang-Wangduephodrang
Day 11 : Wangduephodrang-Paro
Day 12 : Paro
Day 13 : Paro
Paro-Thimphu-Punakha-Wangduephodrang-Trongsa-Bumthang-Wangduephodrang-Paro
A close encounter with mysticism, culture, history and the Nature
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Paro
Day 2 : Paro
Day 3 : Paro-Thimphu
Day 4 : Thimphu-Punakha
Day 5 : Punakha-Wangduephodrang
Day 6 : Wangduephodrang-Trongsa
Day 7 : Trongsa-Bumthang
Day 8 : Bumthang
Day 9 : Bumthang
Day 10 : Bumthang-Wangduephodrang
Day 11 : Wangduephodrang-Paro
Day 12 : Paro
Day 13 : Paro
Week Tour in Bhutan / BUT-10 (7 Days / 6 Nights)
Paro-Punakha-Wangduephodrang-Thimphu-Phuentsholing
Week Tour in Bhutan
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Paro
Day 2 : Paro
Day 3 : Paro-Punakha
Day 4 : Punakha-Wangduephodrang
Day 5 : Wangduephodrang-Thimphu
Day 6 : Thimphu-Phuentsholing
Day 7 : Phuentsholing
Paro-Punakha-Wangduephodrang-Thimphu-Phuentsholing
Week Tour in Bhutan
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Paro
Day 2 : Paro
Day 3 : Paro-Punakha
Day 4 : Punakha-Wangduephodrang
Day 5 : Wangduephodrang-Thimphu
Day 6 : Thimphu-Phuentsholing
Day 7 : Phuentsholing
Wangduephodrang, Bhutan Tours