Kuzuzangpo La - Bhutan Airlines Inflight Magazine, Business Bhutan Private Limited (2026)

24/06/2025

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Norbu Bhutan Travel

24/06/2025

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐙𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠: 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐢𝐥

In a move to take tourism into the interiors of Bhutan, the Department of Tourism in the second week of January 2023, declared Bhutan’s remote district of Zhemgang as Bhutan’s birding capital. While time will tell if this would attract tourists to the district, Zhemgang is not just about birds. It has a very vibrant culture and is considered one of the last bastions of ancient Bon religious practice. It is one of the richest Dzongkhags in Bhutan in terms of natural resources, culture and wildlife. With a population of more than 17,000 in its eight gewogs and a Drungkhag, the Dzongkhag forms part of three national parks - Royal Manas National Park, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, and Phrumshingla National Park – with a wildlife corridor cutting right through it.

Historically, the district is known as Khengrig-Nam-Sum or the three agro-ecological zones - Upper Kheng covering Bardo and Shingkhar with high altitude areas, Middle Kheng covering Nangkhor and Trong with middle altitude areas and Lower Kheng covering Phangkhar, Goshing, Nangla and Bjoka with mid-low altitude areas.

The people of Zhemgang chiefly cultivate maize followed by rice, buckwheat, millet, barley, wheat, foxtail millet, potato, etc. Oranges and cardamom are the main source of cash income for the southern and central regions while the northern regions depend mainly on livestock products.

The district is considered to be one of the last bastions of ancient Bon (Animist) religious practices. The communities here are also well known for their rich culture, particularly folk songs and dances, while their skill in bamboo and cane craft is second to none with products such as Bangchungs (matted bamboo bowls), Palangs (alcohol containers), Balaks (hats), mats and boxes sold all over Bhutan and beyond. They are also adept potters and their earthenware products were highly prized throughout the country in the past.

Zhemgang is also dotted with religious monuments, both ancient and modern. The famous ones such as Buli Lhakhang and Tharpa Choeling Lhakhang were built by Terton Pema Lingpa, a famous revealer of the religious treasures of Guru Rinpoche. The Manas National Park is considered a conservation showpiece with biodiversity that includes hundreds of rare animal and plant species such as Golden Langurs and the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros. It is the only nature park in the world where six species of wild felids – golden cat, marbled cat, leopard cat, clouded leopard and others.

𝐼𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑤𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑒𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑍ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑔

𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑵𝑮 𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑬 𝑽𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑨𝑮𝑬
The origin of the name Trong is attributed to a Buddhist master, Lama Zhang, who founded Zhemgang Dzong. He was assassinated in the location of this village. Due to this incident, the place came to be known as Trong (an honorific term for assassination). The houses have retained their original architecture but many are no more than dilapidated ruins. Some concrete structures have also come up over the years, threatening the village’s unique identity. In 2014, the King of Bhutan inspected the houses of this village. Amazed by the remarkable masonry skills of its builders, he instructed that the village is to be preserved as a heritage and should retain its traditional beauty.

Trong village is located on a hill that overlooks the majestic Zhemgang Dzong and a cobblestone footpath runs horizontally through the 27-house - hold village. The houses are built of two-storey traditional stone structure with wooden windows and shutters. Each house is uniquely built out of stones, wood and mud. Another striking feature of the houses is their resistance to earthquakes despite having been built on rocks without proper foundation. It is said that the depth of foundation does not exceed 30 cm (a forearm’s length). The elders attribute this to the lack of digging tools in olden days. It is believed that the trees and grass in the village have stabilized the structures.

𝑩𝑼𝑳𝑰 𝑻𝑺𝑯𝑶
Buli Tsho is a lake situated in the heart of a thick
forest covering an area of 4.4 acres south of
Kheng Buli. It is believed that there is a deity named Tshomen Kuntu Zangmo commonly known as Buli Menmo, within the Tsho. Tshomen Kuntu Zangmo is a precious jewel of the people of Kheng Buli. She is believed to protect and safeguard the people of that community from misfortune, illness, plague, and famine. She blesses them with fortune, wealth, peace and prosperity. Tshomen Kuntu Zangmo is believed to have arrived at Kheng Buli from the northern Shambala region of Tibet. Today, visitors from all over Bhutan visit the Tshomen Kuntu Zangmo lake. Terton Pema Lingpa and Terton Dorji Lingpa are believed to have visited the lake.

𝑩𝑱𝑶𝑲𝑨 𝑳𝑯𝑨𝑲𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑮
Bjoka Lhakhang is believed to have been built at around the same time as Punakha Dzong (1637-38) by Sumthrang Choeje Gyelsey Nyodrup Gyeltshen, also known as Nyodrup Gyatso (1610-1666). The Lower Kheng region was then under the religious patronage of the Sumthrang Choeje. Today, the temple is being looked after by Gangteng Trulku of the Nyingma Peling Buddhist tradition. A three-day Bon ritual called Ahoi Lhasol to appease the local deity is performed at the temple besides annual four-day Chodpa or festival of the community. Among relics, an old mural of Phurpa (Vajrakila) covers the left wall inside the main altar.

𝑫𝑼𝑬𝑵𝑴𝑨𝑵𝑮 𝑻𝑺𝑯𝑨𝑪𝑯𝑼
Duenmang Tshachu, is a place of hot springs, that traces its origin back to the 8th century A.D. It is believed by local people that the hot springs were sanctified by Guru Rinpoche. Located on a sheer cliff at Kamjong in Nangkor gewog, people visit the hot springs to cure joint pain, sinusitis, headache, tuberculosis, among other diseases. The hot springs contain ingredients, which according to traditional medicine, are beneficial to one’s health and wellbeing. These ingredients are a combination of rdo-sol (coal), mu-zi (sulphur) and rdo-sho (lime stone).There are four main dipping ponds, each with their own benefits: The first hot spring is believed to cure ailments such as indigestion, dyspepsia, bone tuberculosis, chickenpox, urinary tract infection (UTI) and other non-communicable diseases. The second hot spring, that has the highest temperature, helps cure stomachache, headache, skin diseases and arthritis. The third hot spring protects against jaundice, migraine and headache. And the fourth hot spring cures skin diseases, rashes, chickenpox, UTI and sexually transmitted infections. It is also believed that the hot springs help improve blood circulation, treat skin infections and make skin smooth and soft, reduce stress, boost body immune system and detoxifying the body through sweating. At the base of the cliff flows the Mangdechhu river.

𝑻𝑺𝑯𝑨𝑹𝒁𝑶
Tsharzo is a cane and bamboo craft among the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. It thrives in Zhemgang because cane and bamboo grows widely across the region, and the products have supplemented rural income for generations. Among the eight gewogs of Zhemgang, particularly with their skills in basketry, the people of Bjoka stand out as pioneers. To revitalize the craft, initiatives are underway to promote the artisans by introducing new skills and ideas to foster creativity and innovation. The craftsmen are encouraged to make items of utilitarian value. The village communities have also started cane and bamboo nurseries and plantations to meet the growing demand.

𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬

𝑨𝑺𝑰𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑪 𝑾𝑰𝑳𝑫 𝑫𝑶𝑮
Also called Dhole, this animal is threatened by habitat loss, depletion of its prey base and competition from other predators. Livestock predation by Dhole has been a problem in Bhutan since the late 1990s.

𝑨𝑺𝑰𝑨𝑵 𝑮𝑶𝑳𝑫𝑬𝑵 𝑪𝑨𝑻

It lives in rocky woodlands of deciduous and tropical rain forests. In Bhutan, it is protected within the boundaries of Bhutan’s protected areas. In Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, it has been recorded by camera traps at an altitude of 3,738m.

𝐁𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐣𝐢

Zhemgang Dzongkhag
Phrumsengla National Park

24/06/2025

𝐀 𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

Scattered like sacred jewels across Bhutan’s majestic landscapes are its timeless treasures—Dzongs that rise like fortresses of faith, Lhakhangs and Goenpas that echo with centuries of devotion, Zangdog Pelris that shimmer with spiritual symbolism, and ancient Stupas that stand as sentinels of enlightenment.

These are not mere structures of stone and wood—they are living testaments to Bhutan’s soul, where architecture meets artistry, and faith becomes form. They breathe history, whispering the stories of saints and sages, of kings and commoners, of battles fought and blessings bestowed.

We invite you on a journey beyond the surface—into the heart of these architectural marvels.

𝐴𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐿𝑎𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝐷𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑔

The layout of a Dzong was typically designed as a simple square or a rectangle based on the terrain and space available on site. The central towering structures in the centre of a Dzong known as Utse are usually built up to three or more floor levels in the centre of courtyards enclosed by rooms spread on all sides to form a secure enclosed structure. Deviations from this pattern were generally due to differences in terrain. The structure of a Dzong consists usually of heavy load-bearing walls of stone masonry, gradually tapering up from the foundations to the roof. Timber was the main material used in all other architectural elements including the windows, doors, flooring, railing, stairs, ceilings, and roofing structure.

The Utse, located in the centre of the courtyard, forms the core of a Dzong and is where the main temples are usually located. Along the sides of the courtyard, the outer structure of the Dzong is usually two or three storied with decorated arcades facing the courtyard. These structures house the living quarters and other spaces for the monks in one part of the Dzong and the administrative offices of the local government in the other side. As there is a clear division between the monastic and administrative parts of the Dzong, there is sometimes one courtyard for each part.

𝐿ℎ𝑎𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐺𝑜𝑒𝑛𝑝𝑎

With over two thousand Lhakhangs (Temples) and Goenpa (Monasteries) in Bhutan, they can be found in almost every village and on almost every mountaintop in the country. Although they do not match the soaring proportions of the Dzongs, many Lhakhang and Goenpa are older than Dzongs, with some dating as far back as the 7th century.

Usually, within a village, the Lhakhang is the most prominent building. Besides being religious centres, they also have important social and cultural functions as almost all village cultural events are held there. The Buddhist Lhakhang is usually a simple hall with an entrance foyer and a main hall holding the main altar of the temple.

Besides the main temple building, simple buildings with rooms for the monks are constructed. Often the layout of a Goenpa monastery consist of a one or multiple storey temple building in the centre of a simple courtyard flanked by structures used for the living quarters of the monks.

𝑍𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑑𝑜𝑘 𝑃𝑒𝑙𝑟𝑖

The Zangdok Pelri temple is a special type of temple design that looks like an amalgamation of a Lhakhang and a Choeten (Stupa). The design of the temple is representative of the celestial palace of Guru Padma Sambhava. Zangdok means copper coloured and Pelri means mountain or palace.
The Zangdok Pelri building consists of the following:
1. Ground Level
The Ground Floor of a Zangdok Pelri represents the “Outer level” of celestial palace called the Nirmanakaya. In this hall is usually where the main statue of Guru Padma Sambhava seated on a lotus throne is surrounded by his eight manifestations is installed in the centre of the room
2. Middle Floor
The Middle Floor of a Zangdok Pelri represents the “Inner level” of the celestial palace known as the Sambhogakaya Mansion. The space here usually houses the statue of the Avalokiteshvara (Chenrigzig) surrounded by the Eight Noble Bodhisattvas.
3. Upper Level
The topmost floor of a Zangdok Pelri represents the “Inner most” of the celestial palace, which is the “Secret” level known as the Dharmakaya Mansion. The upper level is where the statue of Lord Vairocana surrounded by the Family of Five Primordial Buddhas is installed.

𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛 (𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑝𝑎)

With over ten thousand Choeten, these traditional structures are the most common spiritual heritage structures found in Bhutan. Choetens were built to represent receptacles of the relics of the Buddha and important saints and monks. They were also built in places where negative energies and spirits needed to be turned into positive forces.

Choetens are found practically everywhere in Bhutan. They are found located mainly on high mountain passes, on roads, on approaches to important locations and buildings, and even on bridges. Choetens range from as small as 2 metres to over 10 metres in height. Choeten are sometimes linked by long thick walls called Mani (prayer) walls, which are inscribed with religious paintings and prayers.

Choetens are built mainly of stone and mud mortar. The inner part of the structure of a Choeten is usually kept hollow and filled with important and sacred elements including a square post called Sokshing (post or tree of life) which is made of timber that is inscribed with prayers and religious illustrations.

Choetens can be designed in a very basic way without any embellishment or decorations. They are also designed in very elaborate ways with slate carvings, carved cornices, and embossed gold frames and pinnacles. Although there are many different types of Choeten in Bhutan, the typical Bhutanese Choeten is known as Khangzha and is square in shape with a hip roof of stone. The Square Bhutanese Choeten is always marked with a red band called Keymar around the upper level of its walls to signify its spiritual status.

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔 (𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒)

The architecture of Phodrang is very similar to the architecture of Dzongs. The most famous palaces that stand today were built during the time of the first and second Kings of Bhutan. These include the Wangduecholing and Lami Goenpa Palaces in Bumthang, Ugyen Pelri palace in Paro, Kuenga Rabten and Samdrupcholing palaces in Trongsa. The Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu, which was built during the time of the third King of Bhutan, is also known for its beauty and graceful serenity.

The layout of a typical Phodrang included a main temple within the central Utse in the centre of a courtyard with chambers for the King, the royal family and main officers and attendants around the courtyard. The quarters for the servants and stables were usually built outside the main palace building. The palaces of Bhutan are known for their graceful beauty and have some of the finest and unique designs, paintings and carvings.

𝐁𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐩 𝐋𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐨