Valleys of Bhutan
Encyclopedia
The valleys of Bhutan are carved into the Himalaya by Bhutan
's rivers, fed by glacial melt and monsoon rains. As Bhutan
is landlocked in the mountainous eastern Himalaya
, much of its population is concentrated in valleys and lowlands, separated by rugged southward spurs of the Inner Himalaya. Despite modernization and development of transport in Bhutan
, including a national highway system, travel from one valley to the next remains difficult. Western valleys are bound to the east by the Black Mountains
in central Bhutan, which form a watershed between two major river systems, the Mo Chhu
(Sankosh River) and the Drangme Chhu. Central valleys are separated from the east by the Donga Range. The more isolated mountain valleys protect several tiny, distinct cultural and linguistic groups
. Reflecting this isolation, most valleys have their own local protector deities.
Throughout the history of Bhutan
, its valleys and lowlands were the object of political control. During the emergence of Bhutan as an independent state the 1600s, Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal
conquered the western valleys and constructed dzong fortresses to repel invasions from Tibet
. His lieutenant, Penlop of Trongsa Mingyur Tenpa, went on to conquer the valleys in central and eastern Bhutan for the new theocratic government
. As a result, each major valley contains a dzong fortress.
The dry, plain-like valleys of western and central Bhutan tend to be relatively densely populated and intensely cultivated. The wetter eastern valleys, however, tend to be steeper, narrower ravines, with isolated settlements dug directly into mountainsides. In the western regions, valleys produce barley, potatoes, and dairy in the north, while southern reaches produce bananas, oranges, and rice.
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Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
's rivers, fed by glacial melt and monsoon rains. As Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
is landlocked in the mountainous eastern Himalaya
Eastern Himalaya
Eastern Himalaya is situated between Central Nepal in the west to Myanmar in the east, occupying southeast Tibet in China, Sikkim, North Bengal, Bhutan and North-East India. The area has been declared a biodiversity hotspot by Conservation International....
, much of its population is concentrated in valleys and lowlands, separated by rugged southward spurs of the Inner Himalaya. Despite modernization and development of transport in Bhutan
Transport in Bhutan
Transport in Bhutan comprises approximately of roads and two airports, Yongphulla Airport and Paro Airport, the latter of which serves international flights...
, including a national highway system, travel from one valley to the next remains difficult. Western valleys are bound to the east by the Black Mountains
Black Mountains (Bhutan)
The Black Mountains is a mountain range located in Bhutan. The current Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park was previously the Black Mountains park. Elevations run up to 15145 ft or 4617 meters. -References:...
in central Bhutan, which form a watershed between two major river systems, the Mo Chhu
Mo Chhu
Mo Chhu is a major river in Bhutan. The word "Chhu" means "river" or "water" in Dzongkha, the official national language in Bhutan. The river rises in Gasa Dzongkhag near the border between Bhutan and Tibet. From there, the Mo Chhu flows generally southward to Punakha in central Bhutan, where it...
(Sankosh River) and the Drangme Chhu. Central valleys are separated from the east by the Donga Range. The more isolated mountain valleys protect several tiny, distinct cultural and linguistic groups
Languages of Bhutan
There are over nineteen languages of Bhutan, all members of the Tibeto-Burman language family, except for Nepali which is Indo-European. Dzongkha, the national language, is the only language with a native literary tradition in Bhutan, though Lepcha and Nepali are literary languages in other countries...
. Reflecting this isolation, most valleys have their own local protector deities.
Throughout the history of Bhutan
History of Bhutan
Bhutan's early history is steeped in mythology and remains obscure. It may have been inhabited as early as 2000 BC, but not much was known until the introduction of Tibetan Buddhism in the 9th century, when turmoil in Tibet forced many monks to flee to Bhutan. In the 12th century, the Drukpa...
, its valleys and lowlands were the object of political control. During the emergence of Bhutan as an independent state the 1600s, Shabdrung
Shabdrung
Shabdrung , was a title used when referring to or addressing great lamas in Tibet, particularly those who held a hereditary lineage...
Ngawang Namgyal
Ngawang Namgyal
Ngawang Namgyal was a Tibetan Buddhist lama and the unifier of Bhutan as a nation state...
conquered the western valleys and constructed dzong fortresses to repel invasions from Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. His lieutenant, Penlop of Trongsa Mingyur Tenpa, went on to conquer the valleys in central and eastern Bhutan for the new theocratic government
Dual system of government
The Dual System of Government or Cho-sid-nyi is the traditional diarchal political system of Tibetan peoples whereby the Desi coexists with the spiritual authority of the realm, usually unified under a third single ruler. The actual distribution of power between institutions varied over time and...
. As a result, each major valley contains a dzong fortress.
The dry, plain-like valleys of western and central Bhutan tend to be relatively densely populated and intensely cultivated. The wetter eastern valleys, however, tend to be steeper, narrower ravines, with isolated settlements dug directly into mountainsides. In the western regions, valleys produce barley, potatoes, and dairy in the north, while southern reaches produce bananas, oranges, and rice.
List of valleys of Bhutan
Below is a list of the valleys of Bhutan:B
- Bumdeling Valley, in Lhuntse, MongarMongar DistrictMongar District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. Mongar is the fastest-developing dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan. A regional hospital has been constructed and the region is bustling with many economic activities. Mongar is noted for its lemon grass, a plant that can be used to produce...
, and Trashiyangtse Districts - Bumthang Valley, in Bumthang DistrictBumthang DistrictBumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
C
- Choekhor Valley
- Chungdu Valley, in Haa DistrictHaa DistrictThis page is about the area Haa. For information about the airships, please see high-altitude airship.Haa District is one of the 20 dzongkhag or districts comprising Bhutan. Per the 2005 census, the population of Haa dzongkhag was 11,648, making it the second least populated dzongkhag in Bhutan...
G
- Gangtey Valley, in Samtse DistrictSamtse DistrictSamtse District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan.-History and culture:...
- Gayltsa Valley (Gyatsa), Bumthang DistrictBumthang DistrictBumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
H
- Haa Valley, in Haa DistrictHaa DistrictThis page is about the area Haa. For information about the airships, please see high-altitude airship.Haa District is one of the 20 dzongkhag or districts comprising Bhutan. Per the 2005 census, the population of Haa dzongkhag was 11,648, making it the second least populated dzongkhag in Bhutan...
J
- Jakar Valley (Byakar), in Bumthang DistrictBumthang DistrictBumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
L
- Lhuentse Valley, in Lhuntse District
M
- Mongar Valley (Shongar), in Mongar DistrictMongar DistrictMongar District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. Mongar is the fastest-developing dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan. A regional hospital has been constructed and the region is bustling with many economic activities. Mongar is noted for its lemon grass, a plant that can be used to produce...
P
- Paro Valley, in Paro DistrictParo DistrictParo District is the name of a district , valley, river and town in Bhutan. It is one of the most historic valleys in Bhutan. Both trade goods and invading Tibetans came over the pass at the head of the valley, giving Paro the closest cultural connection with Tibet of any Bhutanese district...
- Phobjika ValleyPhobjika ValleyThe Phobjika Valley is a vast U-shaped glacial valley, also known as Gangteng Valley named after the impressive Gangteng Monastery of the Nyingma sect in central Bhutan, where the graceful Black-necked Cranes in Bhutan from the Tibetan Plateau visit the valley during the winter season to roost...
(Gangteng), in Wangdue Phodrang District - Punakha Valley (Wangdi Punakha), in PunakhaPunakha DistrictPunakha District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. It is bordered by Thimphu, Gasa, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts...
and Wangdue Phodrang Districts
S
- Shingkhar Valley, in Zhemgang District
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- Tang Valley, in Bumthang DistrictBumthang DistrictBumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
- Thimphu Valley, in Thimphu DistrictThimphu DistrictThimphu District is a dzongkhag of Bhutan. Thimphu is also the capital of Bhutan and the largest city in the whole kingdom.-Languages:...
- Trashiyangtse Valley, in Trashiyangtse District
- Trongsa Valley (Choetse), in Trongsa DistrictTrongsa DistrictTrongsa District is one of the districts of Bhutan. It is the most central district of Bhutan and the geographic centre of Bhutan is located within it at Trongsa Dzong....
U
- Ura Valley, in Bumthang DistrictBumthang DistrictBumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
Z
- Zhemgang Valley, in Zhemgang District