| Land
of the Dragon |
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| Bhutan,
the land of the peaceful
thunder dragon is known to the world by several names
such as the ‘the Last Shangri-La’ or ‘the
Last Place on the Roof of the World.’ Though the
original name from the time of Marco Polo was ‘Bootan,’
the natives prefer to call their country ‘Druk Yul,’
or the Land of the Peaceful Thunder Dragon. Nestled in
the lap of the Himalayas, Bhutan offers spectacular mountain
views, immense scenic beauty and a unique culture and
lifestyle. You can see beautiful Buddhist monasteries,
carved wooden houses and the fine crafts of Bhutan. |
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| Paro
Valley This beautiful valley, where nature and
man conjured to create their dearest image, is home to
some of Bhutan's oldest temples & monasteries - as
well as its only airport. Paro is one of the most fertile
valleys in the Kingdom, producing a bulk of the famous
red rice from its terraced fields. |
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Thimphu
Valley Thimphu, the modern capital of Bhutan,
lies at an elevation of 2,300 meters in a valley traversed
by the Wang - chu, also called as Thimphu River. Taschichho
dzong, the main secretariat building, houses the throne
rooms of the King and is the summer residence of central
monk body. |
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| Punakha Blessed
with temperate climate and fed by Pho-cchu ( male ) and
Mo-chu ( female ) rivers Punakha is the most fertile valley
in the country. Until 1955, Punakha served as the capital
and is even today the winter seat of the Je Khenpo and
the central monk body. The dzong was built at the junction
of the two rivers in the 17th century by Shabdrung Ngawang
Namgyal. |
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| Wangdiphodrang
To the south of Punakha, located at the altitude of 1,350
metres, is the Wangdi dzong, built again in the 17th century.
The dzong stands at the confluence of Punakhachu and the
Tang-chu river. The highest reaches of the valley provides
rich pastureland for cattle. Phubjikha valley in Wangdiphodrang
is the winter habitat for the rare black necked cranes. |
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Tongsa
forms the central hub of the nation and is historically
the place from where attempts at unifying the country
were launched. The landscape around Tongsa is spectacular,
and for miles on end, the dzong seems to tease you,
wondering if you will ever reach there. |
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| Bumthang Valley To
the east of Tongsa lies Bumthang valley, at the altitude
of 2,600 meters. This valley is the religious heartland
of the nation and home to some of the oldest Buddhist
temples. |
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| Mongar
is the site of one of Bhutan's newest dzongs, built in
the 1930s. Yet the dzong is built in the same method and
traditions of all the other dzongs. No drawings and nails
have been used. A visit to the dzong gives visitors an
impression of how traditional Bhutanese architecture has
continued to thrive through the centuries. |
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Tashigang
In the far east of Bhutan, on the bank of the Gamri
river, lies Tashigang, the country's largest district.
Tashigang dzong stands astride a hill slope below the
main street. The dzong, built in the mid 17th century,
serves as the administrative seat for the district,
as well as the home of the monk body.
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