Bhutan - Tamzhing Monastery

Guru Padmasambhava, the master of Tantric Buddhism, also known as the second Buddha who introduced Buddhism in Bhutan in the 8th century, prophesied that there will be five Terton (treasure discoverer) kings and one hundred great Tertons, who would later discover treasures hidden by Guru Padmasambhava. Terton Pema Lingpa, born in the mid 15th century (1450-1521) in Chel Baridrang ofTang valley under Bumthang district in Bhutan is one of the five Terton kings.

Bhutan - Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the eastern most part of the country in Trashigang Dzongkhag. It encompasses a total area of 740.60 square kilometer covering almost three fourth of Merak and Sakteng geogs under Trashigang Dzongkhag and part of Lauri geog under Samdrupjonkhar Dzongkhag. To retain floral and faunal diversity, the Sanctuary is well connected by Biological Corridor to the southern part of the country which is a part of the Bhutan Biological Conservation Complex (B2C2). The Sanctuary is situated in the remotest part of the country where only limited developmental programmes have been implemented in the two geogs so far. Highlanders living in the park area are semi-nomadic and use large areas as grazing land for their cattle. Livestock rearing is the main socio-economy of Merak and Sakteng where 83% of the household income is generated from livestock husbandry. Very few people living in the lower areas depend on subsistence farming.

Bhutan - Royal Manas National Park

Royal Manas National Park (RMNP) is located in the eastern Himalayas and forms part of the ten global biodiversity "Hot Spot". The Park constitutes an integral part of the protected areas in Bhutan due to its strategic location. Towards the north it is bordered by Jigme SingyeWangchuk National Park and to the south it forms a trans-frontier reserve with Indian Manas Tiger Reserve, a world heritage site and connects Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary from west, Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary in the east and Thrumshingla National Park in the north-east through biological corridors. RMNP located in south central part of Bhutan and covers jurisdiction of three districts namely Pemagatshel, Zhemgang and Sarpang.

Bhutan - Dzongs: the centre of temporal and religious authorities (Punakha Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Paro Dzong, Trongsa Dzong and Dagana Dzong)

1) Punakha Dzong: N27 35 28 E89 52 38 2) Wangdue Phodrang Dzong: N27 30 00 E90 10 00 3) Paro Dzong: N27 26 00 E89 25 00 4) Trongsa Dzong: N27 29 58 E90 30 17 5) Dagana Dzong: N27 4 12 E89 52 47 Dzong in Bhutan is a complex of fortified building which served as a principal seat of Buddhist school. Most of the Dzongs were built to be strategic footholds for gaining influence of particular Buddhist schools and controlling over the region under the power of the schools. It is said to be the medieval period in the 12th century when Dzongs were started to be built in "the southern land (Bhutan)" by clergies of different Buddhist schools established in Tibet.

Bhutan - Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is located in the North Eastern part of Bhutan. The revision of Protected Area System in 1993, merged Kulong Chhu Wildlife Sanctuary and the Bumdeling conservation area and gazetted in 1994 to be called as Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. It has an area of 1520.61 km2 . It encompasses three Geogs in three different Dzongkhag viz. Bumdeling in Trashi Yangtse, Shermuhung in Mongar and Khoma in Lhuntse. In the North it shares international boundary with China (Tibetan Province) and in the Northeast with India (Arunachal Pradesh). It forms an Eastern Himalayan Eco-region with wide range of ecosystems ranging from warm cool broadleaved forest to Alpine meadows. The vegetation types in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary are Alpine scree slopes , Alpine pastures and meadows, Fir forest, Hemlock forest, Mixed and other conifer forests, Pine forests, Evergreen oak forest, Cool broad-leaved forest, Bamboo thickets, Alder forest, Warm broad-leaved forest and Temperate pastures and meadows.

Bhutan - Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong

The ancient ruin of Drukgyel Dzong, considered as the most beautiful and famous archaeological sites in Bhutan, is situated on a ridge in the upper Paro valley. Since its construction in 1649, Drukgyel Dzong had been served as an important base for defense in the region until 1951 when it was destroyed by fire. Even after the destruction, the ruins of the Dzong continued to be protected as an important monument linking people of Bhutan with the great events that contributed in maintaining sovereignty of the country.