Wangdiphodrang Valley

Wangdiphodrang which is 75 km drive from Capital City Thimphu is popularly known as the home of SHAR,The valley is situated at the junction of the Mo Chu and the Tang Chu. due to the amount of wind blowing throughout the year it is also called ‘Windy’ Phodrang by the locality. In the near proximity of the town lies the majestic Wangdiphodrang Dzong on a steep ridge overlooking the high way that forks to the east and south of the country.

The Wangdue Phodrang Dzong lies at the confluence of the Puna Chu and the Dang Chu. It is said that Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal came across a small boy named Wangdue who was playing on the riverbank. The Shabdrung was so touched by his innocence that he named the dzong in the valley Wangdue Phodrang (meaning Wangdue’s palace.). This Dzong was established in 1638 by the Shabdrung and completed in 1683 by Tenzin Rabgye. The location of this Dzong was determined as it was the site at which four ravens were seen flying in four different directions. This was considered an auspicious omen, as it indicated the spread of Buddhism in these four directions.

Radak Naktshang is the town temple and was built sometime in the 17th century. There was supposedly a mermaid in the river nearby that hindered the construction of this temple. She had to be subdued to enable the establishment of the temple and it now contains a statue of this very mermaid.

Wangdue Phodrang a district known for it’s fine bamboo work and slate and stone carving, also houses a yak diary research station and it’s higher plains provide rich cattle pastures.

The place has its historical significance and annually religious festival is held in the Dzong. Apart from this the beautiful Phobjikha valley harbors the winter place of black-Necked Cranes, (endangered bird species), which flies all the way from Tibet and Siberia.

The Government Recent town planning for the wangdue phodrang district was allocated in the Bajothang where there are good amount of flat land and the town lying in the broad valley where phunatsangchu flows swiftly down. The Main crops grown in the region are rice, wheat, potato and other cash crops.