Wangchuck Centennial National Park is located in northern Bhutan at 27°48′43″N 90°39′28″E (27.81194°N 90.65778°E). It is Bhutan's largest national park, covering an area of 4,914 square kilometers across five districts. The park includes large parts of northern Bumthang, Lhuntse, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts. To the north, it borders Tibet, and to the west, it is near the Wong Chhu (Raidāk) river basin. Wangchuck Centennial National Park is next to Jigme Dorji National Park, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, and Phrumsengla National Park in northern Bhutan. It is also connected to Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in central Bhutan through natural pathways. Most of northern Bhutan is included in these protected areas.
The park was created on December 12, 2008, to honor the Wangchuck dynasty, which began in 1907. It includes the sources of four major rivers: Punatsang Chhu/Sankosh River, Mangde Chhu, Chamkhar Chhu, and Kuri Chhu. The park also has different types of mountain ecosystems, such as blue pine forests and alpine meadows, found at elevations from 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) to 5,100 meters (16,700 feet).
Administration
The National Park Head Office is located in Nasiphel, which is in the upper part of the Chamkhar Chu basin in Bumthang District. It can be reached by a 22-kilometer road from Chamkhar town in Bumthang.
To manage the large area of the park, three range offices and two guard posts have been set up.
Flora and fauna
In October 2008, a survey found that 693 species of vascular plants live in the National Park.
The park is home to 43 species of mammals, and 8 of these are fully protected in Bhutan. These include the Royal Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard, Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard Cat, Himalayan Musk Deer, Himalayan Serow, and Bhutan Takin. The Tibetan Wolf is found only in this park in Bhutan.
The 2008 survey also recorded 250 bird species living in the park.
Forty-two species of butterflies have been found within the National Park and in nearby buffer zones.
Tourist Attraction
This is a two-day event organized by the National Park with the help of several groups. Nomadic highlanders from different areas of Bhutan come together to honor their traditions and culture.
This is a simple three-day trek. Along the path, many Buddhist temples can be seen, and there is a mountain pass named Phebila.
Drapham Dzong, located in the upper Chokhor valley, is a significant archaeological site in Bhutan. It was constructed by Chokhor Deb during the second half of the 16th century.
The Dhur Tshachu, or Dhur hot spring, is found on the popular Snow Man Trek II, which lasts 25 days. The trek begins in Paro, a town in western Bhutan, and ends in Dhur village in Bumthang.
People visit this hot spring for its therapeutic benefits. There are seven separate hot springs in the area. The hot spring is located along the upper Mangdechu river. Although this hot spring is part of a major trekking route, it can be reached from two different starting points without completing the 25-day Snow Man Trek. One route begins in Sephu, Wangdue Phodrang, and the other starts in Dhur Village, Bumthang.