Bhutan - Districts and Cities

Districts

Bhutan is divided into four dzongdey (administrative zones). Each dzongdey is further divided into dzongkhag (districts). There are twenty dzongkhag in Bhutan. Large dzongkhags are further divided into subdistricts known as dungkhag. At the basic level, groups of villages form a constituency called gewog and are administered by a gup, who is elected by the people.

Dzongkhags (Districts) of Bhutan

1) Bumthang
2) Chukha
3) Dagana
4) Gasa
5) Haa
6) Lhuntse
7) Mongar
8) Paro
9) Pemagatshel (Pemagatsel)
10) Punakha
11) Samdrup Jongkhar
12) Samtse (Samchi)
13) Sarpang
14) Thimphu
15) Trashigang (Tashigang)
16) Trashiyangtse
17) Trongsa (Tongsa)
18) Tsirang (Chirang)
19) Wangdue Phodrang (Wangdi Phodrang)
20) Zhemgang (Shemgang)

Cities and towns

Jakar, the administrative head quarter of Bumthang District and the place where Buddhism entered Bhutan
Mongar, the easter commercial hub of the country.
Paro, site of the international airport
Phuentsholing, Bhutan's commercial hub.
Punakha, the old capital
Samdrup Jongkhar
Thimphu, the largest city and capital of Bhutan.
Trashigang, the most populous district in the country.
Trongsa, in central Bhutan which has the largest and the most magnificent of all the dzongs in Bhutan.

Few interesting places in Bhutan

Paro (7000 ft)

A trip to Bhutan normally begins and ends at Paro ..... and there can be few charming valleys in the kingdom. As you disembark your Druk aircraft and take your first breath of Bhutanese air, you will be struck by the clean air and peaceful atmosphere.

Rinpung Dzong

Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal , the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan , the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district.
The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called Nemi Zam. A walk through the bridge, over a stone inlaid path, offers a good view of the architectural wonder of the Dzong as well as life around it. It is also the venue of Paro Tshechu, held once a year in the spring.

THIMPU (7000 ft)

Thimphu is a small, charming capital city sandwiched in the heart of the Himalayas . It sits in its own valley fanning out from the river. The skyline hardly changes as new buildings are all constructed under zoning regulations. Thimphu 's development is strictly monitored and buildings cannot exceed a certain height, nor can they be designed in anything but the traditional Bhutanese style. In fact, Thimphu 's first and only traffic light was enshrined in a chorten ! (a small Buddhist temple). Not being suitable to the nature of Thimphu , the traffic light was removed on the King's orders.

Trashichhodzong

Also known as ‘fortress of the glorious religion', it was initially built in 1641 and later rebuilt in its present form by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in 1965.
The Dzong houses, main secretariat building which houses the throne room of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan.

The National Assembly Hall is housed in a modern building on the other side of the river from the Dzong. During the warmer summer months, the monk body headed by His Holiness, the Je Khenpo, makes its home in the Dzong.

Memorial Chorten

This stupa was built in 1974 in the memory of Bhutan ‘s third King, His Late Majesty, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is popularly regarded as Father of modern Bhutan . The paintings and statues inside the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.

National Library

The history of Bhutan lies imprinted in archaic texts, which are preserved at the National Library. Besides thousands of manuscripts and ancient texts, the library also has modern academic books and printing blocks for prayer flags.

PUNAKHA (4420 ft)

Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until and still it is the winter seat of Je Khnep (the chief abbot). Blessed with temperate climate and owing to its natural drainage from Pho Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female) rivers, the Punakha valley produces abundant crops and fruits. There are splendid views of the distant Himalayas at Dochula pas (alt. 3,050m) on Thimphu – Punakha road.