Wangdue Phodrang District
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Wangdue Phodrang (previously spelled Wangdi Phodrang) is a dzongkhag (district), of central Bhutan. This is also the name of the dzong (built in 1638) which dominates the district, and the name of the small market town outside the gates of the dzong. The name is said to have been given by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who was searching for the best location for a dzong to prevent incursions from the south. At the chosen spot the Shabdrung encountered a boy named Wangdi playing beside the river and hence named the dzong "Wangdi's Palace".
Wangdue Phodrang is bordered by Dagana and Tsirang dzongkhags to the south, Tongsa dzongkhag to the east, Thimphu and Punakha dzongkhag to the west, and Gasa dzongkhag and a small section of border with Tibet to the north.
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. One spur road heads north from Wangdue Phodrang to the dzong at Punakha and slightly beyond. This becomes the footpath to Gasa. A second spur departs the Lateral Road halfway between Wangdue and Tongsa, traveling south a short distance to Phobji monastery and the Gangtey valley where the rare Black-necked Cranes (grus nigricollis) may be found.
Wangdue Phodrang is divided into 15 gewogs:
- Athang Gewog
- Bjena Gewog
- Daga Gewog
- Dangchu Gewog
- Gangte Gewog
- Gasetsho Gom Gewog
- Gasetsho Om Gewog
- Kazhi Gewog
- Nahi Gewog
- Nyisho Gewog
- Phangyuel Gewog
- Phobji Gewog
- Ruepisa Gewog
- Sephu Gewog
- Thedtsho Gewog
See also: Districts of Bhutan
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