Western Bhutan

Western Bhutan is a region in Bhutan.

The predominant ethnic group in Western Bhutan are Ngalops, who are generally followers of the Kagyu tradition of Buddhism and tend to be taller than people in other parts of the country. Another characteristic of Western Bhutan is that the cities and towns are built besides rivers in wide valleys.

• Chukha
• Gedu
• Kuruthang
• Paro
• Phuentsholing
• Punakha
• Thimphu
• Tsimasham — the small administrative headquarters of Chukha district
• Wangdue Phodrang

• Jigme Dorji National Park
• Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve

Dzonghka is the predominant language of the area, though English is common in Thimphu and Phuentsholing.

• Paro Taktshang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the country, and Guru Rinpoche visited here on his second visit to Bhutan. The temple is built on a 1,200 meter cliff in the Paro valley and is Bhutan's most well known sacred site.