Wangduephodrang is one of the largest Dzongkhag (districts) in the country. As the district covers 4,308 sq. km and ranges from 800-5800 m in altitude it has extremely varied climatic conditions ranging from Sub-Tropical forests in the south to cool and snowy regions in the north. Wangdue Phodrang is an important gateway to the far-flung districts of Eastern Bhutan. The dzong perched on a ridge overlooking the Punatsangchu and Dangchu rivers was built in 1639. As the name speaks the dzong of Wangdue held a powerful position during pre-monarchy days. Apart from the great dzong, its cultural wonders lie in the villages.
Detour the villages of Gaselo and Nahee towards the west of the dzong. Likewise, enjoy the tales of shaman culture in the Shaa regions of Wangdue and listen to the ornamental speeches or Lozeys of Shaa and visit the ancestral home of Pema Tshewang Tashi, the knight whose Lozey remains a favorite amongst the Bhutanese.
