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Wangduephodrang
is the last town on the central highway before central
Bhutan. The town is no more than an enlarged village
with a few well-provided shops. One hotel with basic
facilities is situated behind Wangduephodrang's square.
Sitting on top of the hill looking out over the junction
of the two rivers, Wangduephodrang
Dzong is the town's most visible feature.
In the 17th century Wangduephodrang played a critical
role in unifying the western, central and southern Bhutanese
districts.
Situated south of the road and east of Wanduephodrang,
Gantey
Gompa is an old
monastery dating back to the 17th century. The Gompa
itself is similar in style to the temples frond in many
Bhutanese Dzongs. Its situation, however, is remarkable.
After a difficult drive south through the muntains,
the road from the highway leads to a rare opening into
a golden field of maize and yaks. A few kilometers past
the Gompa on the valley floor is the village of Phobjika.
This is the winter home of black-
necked cranes that migrate from the arid plains in
the north to pass the winter in milder and lower climes.
The monastery is vacant during winter months as the
monk body retreats further into the valley.
Phobjika is a glacial
valley on the western slopes of the Black Mountains,
and is a designated conservation area nudging the borders
of the Black Mountain National Park. It is one of the
most important wildlife preserves in the country because
of the large flock of rare, endangered black-necked
cranes that winter there. These birds have a special
place in Bhutanese folklore and one of the most popular
folk songs laments the time when the cranes leave the
valley to return to Tibet. With permission from the
Nature Conservation Section in Thimphu, you can view
the roosting place of these birds. It's an awesome spectacle
at dusk when all the birds from the valley congregate
for the night.
Permanent residents of the valley include muntjaks (barking
deer), wild boars, sambars, Himalayan black bears, leopards
and red foxes. WWF has assisted in setting up the Khebethang
Nature Study Centre in Phobjikha village, near the foot
of the valley.
Nearby,
Black Mountain National Park
is a vast area still in its natural state. It has a
vast array of plant species, and animals found there
include tigers, Himalayan black bears, leopards, red
pandas, gorals, serows, sambars, wild pigs and golden
langurs.
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