Wangduephodrang Dzong was founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1638. It is located on top of a high ridge between the Puna Tsang Chu and the Dangchu, offering a spectacular view. This Dzongkhag is located in Western Bhutan and is bordered by Punakha in the north, Thimphu in the west, Trongsa in the east and Tsirang in the south. The dzong is the center of administration and all the sectors’ offices are located within its premises. However, the Thrimkhang and its offices were however moved to another location, about 100 meters from the dzong.
Wangduephodrang is about 4308 square kms with an elevation ranging from 800 to 5800 meters above sea level. The summers are moderately hot with cool winters. The areas in the north remain under snow during the winter and the district receives about 1000 mm of annual rainfall.
Wangdue is the second largest district in Bhutan, comprising of 15 vast and diverse geogs. They are Athang, Bjena , Daga, Dangchu, Gangtey, Gasetshog Gom, Gasetshog Wom, Kazhi, Nahi, Nyisho, Phangyul, Phobjikha, Rubeisa, Sephu & Thedtsho. Food security and rural access is the most obtainable in Thedtsho geog (were the present town and the developing Bajo town are located). They are the least accessible and found lacking in Athang (the most remote geog). Some of the Dzongkhag’s available infrastructures are as follows:
1. 11 Basic Health Units – 1 BHU Gr. I in Bajo, Thedtsho geog, 8 Gr. II BHUs (Bjena,Daga, Dangchu, Gasetshog Gom, Nyisho, Phobjikha, Rubeisa, Sephu), 1 Gr III BHU in Daga (Uma) and 1 military hospital.
2. 24 schools- 1 higher secondary school, 2 middle secondary schools, 2 lower secondary schools, 1 primary school and 18 community primary schools.
3. 48 Non Formal Education Centers.
4. 9 Gups’ offices- Athang, Daga, Gangtey, Gasetshog Gom, Gasetshog Wom, Nahi, Nyisho, Phobjikha and Thedtsho .
5. 7 RNR Centers – Athang, Bjena, Gangtey, Gasetshog Gom, Nahi, Nyisho, Sephu.
6. The Basochu Phase I and II projects are immensely beneficial to the Dzongkhag, as will be the soon to be commissioned Puna Tsang Chu Project.
Wangduephodrang has about 65 % of its total land under forest cover, which consists of both broadleaf and conifers. Phobjikha geog is famous as the winter resting place of the black necked cranes where one RSPN office has been established. The Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park extends into the northern part of the Dzongkhag and covers almost 4 geogs. The acclaimed monastery, Gangtey Goenpa, is located in Gangtey geog and the well known site of pilgrimage Boed Langdra is located in Kazhi geog.
The higher geogs of Phobjikha, Gangtey, Sephu and Dangchu provide rich pasture for livestock, with approximately 3.5 % of the total area of the Dzongkhag under Tsamdro (pasture). There are about 39,380 heads of livestock with approximately 27,760 cattle heads in the Dzongkhag and 7,847 heads of poultry, thereby earning some income from the sale of livestock products through farmers’ groups involved in production, processing & marketing.
Chuzhing (irrigated wetland) dominates the agricultural activity, followed by Kamzhing (dryland), mixed farming and few patches of Tseri (slash & burn) cultivation. Paddy fields are mostly along the Dangchu and Puna Tsang Chu, with double cropping of rice as an important agricultural feature. Potato is an important cahs crop for the geogs of Phobji, Gangtey and Sephu and there is increasing citrus production in the geogs of Daga, Bjena, Phangyul and Rubeisa and ginger production in Daga and Athang geogs as a source of generating income. The lower valley towards the southern belt is best suited for sub-tropical horticulture crops such as oranges, mangoes, pineapples, guavas etc.
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