Wangdue Phodrang Travel Guide - Sightseeing, Hotels, Transportation
Wangdue Phodrang, covering 4,308 sq. km and ranging from 800-5800 m in altitude, is in western Bhutan. It occupies an important position in the history of Bhutan. Besides being the second capital of Bhutan in the early days, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong on the hill top was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the founder of Bhutan. After Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel came to Bhutan from Tibet, he spent decades unifying the various tribes of Bhutan and defending the foreign enemies. Then he established the national system, built dzongs (combining the function of temples, government agencies and defense fortresses) all over Bhutan, formulated Bhutan customs and traditional culture, and laid the unique cultural foundation of Bhutan today. It is no exaggeration to say that Wangdue Phodrang is of fundamental significance in the unity of Bhutan.
Wangdue Phodrang - Authentic Rural Life and Unparalleled Nature
Compared with the capital Thimphu, Wangdue Phodrang shows more of the authentic country life. You can see the farmhouses dotted in the vast valley and local people do the routine farmwork. It is like you have entered a peaceful world where people are self-sufficient and feel rather content. Most part of Wangdue Phodrang is covered by parks and valleys, among which Phobjikha Valley is the most beautiful. Taking a hike there is much recommended and you can visit the exquisitely built Gangtey Monastery.
Top Places to Visit in Wangdue Phodrang
Wangdue Phodrang is one of the largest dzongkhags in Bhutan with attractive nature and time-honored history. Wangdue Phodrang Dzong lying on the river bank witnesses the ups and downs of Bhutan. And only about 60 km away, Phobjikha Valley will show you how well environmentally protected this place is. Don’t miss Gangtey Monastery where you can have a full view of the valley.
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Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
Type: Sacred & Religious Sites, Architectural Buildings
Recommended Length of Visit: 1~2 hours
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong was built in 1638 atop a high ridge between Puna Tsang Chu and Dang Chu. You can reach there through a hanging bridge. It is said that when selecting the site location, 4 crows were seen flying away in four directions, which is considered as an auspicious sign, representing the spread of Buddhism. After it was completed, the annual Tshechu Festival was held here. In 2012, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong was heavily damaged in a fire and it’s under reconstruction now. Hopefully the reconstruction will finish in 2021.
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Phobjikha Valley
Type: Nature & Wildlife Areas, Valleys
Recommended Length of Visit: half day
Phobjikha Valley is a vast bowl-shaped valley formed by glacial erosion. The central stream winds through the open grassland and low bushes, forming a natural wetland in the plain and becoming a natural bird reserve. Taking a hike in this valley, encountering the friendly local people, walking through the forests and wildflowers would be a pleasant experience. What’s more, from the end of October to January of the next year, the rare black-necked crane from the Tibetan Plateau will fly here to pass the winter. So you will have a chance to see this graceful endangered species.
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Gangtey Monastery
Type: Sacred & Religious Sites, Monastery
Recommended Length of Visit: 1~2 hours
Gangtey Monastery was built in 1613 by Kuenga Gyaltshen on a hill at an altitude of 2800 m in Phobjikha Valley. It is reputed as the most beautiful monastery in Bhutan not only because you can have a stunning view of Phobjikha Valley but also for its complicated and exquisite colorful painting on the wooden building. The architecture complex is more than a monastery, but includes Nyingmapa school, living quarters of the monks, meditation center, etc. Tourists can take a leisure Gangtey Nature Walk (about 2h) around here and grand celebrations will be held here on festivals.
Top Featured Activities in Wangdue Phodrang
Wangdue Phodrang is a place that can meet your needs of a natural and cultural trip. If you come in ordinary days, you can visit Wangdue Phodrang Dzong and Gangtey Monastery to know the history and religious tradition here, and take a hiking in Phobjikha Valley to appreciate the mind-refreshing view. If you come in autumn, you can celebrate Wangdue Tshechu with local people to witness this most important festival and in winter, you are obliged with the privilege to have a look at the divine and rare black-necked cranes.
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Wangdue Tshechu
Date: Late September or Early October
Location: Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
Tshechu is an important festival in Bhutan and varies in different districts. Wangdue Tshechu is usually held in late September or early October and lasts 3 days. All local people will dress up and put on their most beautiful traditional clothes. There will be religious mask dances called cham. People gather in the open land, bringing food and picnic mat, playing and watching the performances. Sometimes there will be a large-scale market with hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of snacks and small items and providing interesting games.
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Phobjikha Valley Hiking
Recommended Date: Mar~May/Sep ~ Nov
Hiking Length: 2 hours or half day
Phobjikha Valley has one of the most beautiful hiking trails and is on the top of hiking choices listed by Lonely Planet. A most popular trekking route is near Gangtey Monastery called Gangtey Nature Walk which only takes about 2 hours. If you have more time and want to have an in-depth hiking, you can take Longtey Hiking Trail. You will go deep into the forests and get to the hill top, and then get an open view of Phobjikha valley. This option is more physical demanding and will need about half day.
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Bird Watching
Recommended Date: Nov.~Jan.
Location: Phobjikha Valley
Wangdue Phodrang covers a wide area of about 4,308 sq. km and provides a perfect reserve for black-necked cranes to roost there during their annual migration from Tibet Plateau. Every year from November to January, they will fly here in flocks to pass the winter. At that time, here will become a paradise for both the birds and birdwatchers. Local people consider black-necked cranes as divine birds that can bring peace and prosperity and think highly of them. Every year on November 11th, Black Necked Cranes Festival is held here.
How to Get to Wangdue Phodrang
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Wangdue Phodrang is about 115 km, 3 hours’ drive from Paro, where the only international airport locates, 70 km, 2 hours’ drive from the capital city Thimphu and 20 km, 30 minutes’ drive from Punakha. There is no airport or train station in Wangdue, so the most recommended way to get to Wangdue is fly to Paro first and then drive to Wangdue.
Paro to Wangdue - Paro is about 115km, 3 hours’ drive to the west of Wangdue. On the way you will pass Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. You can make a stop here to visit the National Memorial Chortenor and Buddha Dordenma Statue or drive directly to Wangdue. Or you can make a little detour to Punakha to see the beautiful Punakha Dzong first and then drive about half an hour to Wangdue.
Best Time to Visit Wangdue Phodrang
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Wangdue Phodrang ranges from 800-5800 m in altitude, thus has diverse climatic conditions with subtropical forests in the south and cool and snowy regions in the north. Major sites in Wangdue such as Wangdue Phodrang Dzong and Phobjikha Valley are in the south.
The temperature in Wangdue is usually between 40°F (4.4 ℃) and 84°F (28.9 ℃) and sometimes it will drop to 34°F (1.1 ℃) or reach 88°F (31.1 ℃). Generally speaking, spring (especially late April to May) and autumn (especially late September to late October) is the best time to visit Wangdue with clear days, gentle breeze and blooming flowers. What’s more, you can feel the local festive atmosphere during Wangdue Tshechu (usually in late September or early October). If you are bird lovers, November to January is also a good time to visit Wangdue because you can see the rare black-necked cranes. Summer (June to August) is the rainy season and sometimes the roads may be blocked by heavy rain, so it is not recommended. It may snow in winter and can be chilly, so please remember to dress warm if you go there in winter.
Where to Stay - Hotels in Wangdue Phodrang
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Hotels in Bhutan that receive foreign tourists all need to get an approval from the government. Wangdue Phodrang has both 5-star hotels and 3-star homestays. Generally speaking, tourists do not need to worry too much about the accommodation. The hotels may provide different facilities but a warm welcome and hospitality will be ensured. The friendly Bhutanese will try to make sure that you have a pleasant stay there.
Amankora Resort, Gangtey Lodge and Six Senses are the 5-star hotels in Wangdue. They all locate near Phobjikha Valley and provide a perfect view. Apart from the basic facilities such as wifi, hot water, room service, they will exceed your expectation by the spas, swimming pools, fitness rooms, restaurants and superb living environment.
3-star hotels and homestays are usually decorated in a traditional Bhutanese style and will give you a more “local” experience. Though not as fancy as the 5-star hotels, your basic needs will be met. Some recommended 3-star hotels are Dragon Nest Resort, Pema Karpo, Wangdue Eco Lodge, Punatsangchu Cottages, etc.
Useful Bhutan Travel Notes
- 1. How to Get a Bhutan Visa
- Except Indians, Bangladeshis and Maldivians, all foreign tourists wishing to travel to Bhutan are required to obtain Bhutan Visa Clearance Letter prior to departure. It is a single-entry visa that can only be applied by licensed Bhutanese tour operator and their international partners. If you travel with us, you only need to send us a clear scanned copy of your passport for a minimum one week visa processing. Once issued, a Visa Clearance Letter will be emailed to you for taking flights to Bhutan. After arrival in Paro Airport, the immigration officer will stamp the Bhutan Visa on your passport after checking the Visa Clearance Letter. Then you can start the dream trip in the kingdom of Bhutan.
- 2. How to Plan a Bhutan Tour
- A classic Bhutan tour usually takes about 6 days involving Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. Apart from the arrival and departure days, you get 4 full days to explore the landmarks in Bhutan - three days in the towns of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, and another day in Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). If you want an in-depth tour to central Bhutan, you are suggested to spend extra 4 days to Bumthang via Wangdu Phodrang and Trongsa. Many travelers prefer an overland tour in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan to discover the Himalaya Kingdoms. If time permits, you can take a one-hour flight from Bhutan to Nepal, where you can admire the medieval architectural wonders and marvelous landscape of Himalayan Peaks. After that, take an overland driving journey to the holy city Lhasa via Mount Everest, Tibet.
- 3. How to Get to Bhutan
- There are two choices to get to Bhutan – by international flights from connected Asian countries (Nepal, India, Thailand, Singapore and Bangladesh) and by overland driving from India. Since Paro is the only international airport, all the flights to Bhutan lands on Paro. Meanwhile, there are three accessible land ports connected Bhutan and India, including Phuentsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu. Phuentsholing is the primary one which connects Chhukha of Bhutan and West Bengal of India. From Phuentsholing, it takes about 6 hours to drive to Paro or Thimphu. The other two ports are located in central and eastern remote area of Bhutan.
- 4. Other Destinations in Bhutan
- Apart from Wangdue Phodrang, there are many other destinations worthy of your visit, including Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha, Trongsa, Bumthang etc. Paro has the iconic site of Bhutan - Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest Monastery) . Punakha has the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan – Punakha Dzong. As the capital city with natural and cultural glamour, Thimphu is a must-be-visited city in Bhutan. Its National Memorial Chorten is an important holy site. Besides, there are many interesting and significant museums and institutes to catch a view of Bhutan’s rich history and culture.Extending your trip to central Bhutan, you will get amazed by the valleys with distinguished scenery and historical sites.
Most Recommended Bhutan Wangdue Phodrang Tour Packages
Following are some recommended Bhutan tour packages that you may be interested in. All tour packages are customizable to meet your personal requirements. You can also contact us to customize a trip if you want.
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9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour
Paro / Thimphu / Punakha / Phobjikha / Trongsa / Bumthang / Wangue Phodrang / Paro
