Zhemgang
Encyclopedia
Zhemgang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag
s (districts) comprising Bhutan
. It is bordered by Sarpang
, Trongsa
, Bumthang
, Mongar
and Samdrup Jongkhar Districts, and borders Assam
in India
to the south. Administrative center of the district is Zhemgang
.
. Historically, Khengkha and its speakers have had close contact with speakers of Kurtöpkha
, Nupbikha, and Bumthangkha to the north, to the extent that they may be considered part of a wider collection of "Bumthang languages."
maintained guerrilla bases in the forests of southern Zhemgang from which they would launch attacks on targets in India and then return across the border. In late 2003 the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck
led a military operation
which largely swept the guerrillas out of the region. Because of the risk of attack, foreign tourists are not yet allowed to visit Zhemgang.
s:
(Trong Gewog
) and Royal Manas National Park
(Ngangla
, Pangkhar
, Trong Gewog
s), which occupy much of the west. These parks connect to Thrumshingla National Park
in the north (Nangkor
, Shingkhar Gewog
s) via a biological corridor that bisects Zhemgang.
Dzongkhag
A dzongkhag is an administrative and judicial district of Bhutan. The twenty dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewogs. Some larger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate judicial division, known as dungkhags , which themselves comprise two or more gewogs...
s (districts) comprising 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...
. It is bordered by Sarpang
Sarpang District
Sarpang District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan.-Languages:...
, Trongsa
Trongsa District
Trongsa 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....
, Bumthang
Bumthang District
Bumthang 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...
, Mongar
Mongar District
Mongar 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 Samdrup Jongkhar Districts, and borders Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to the south. Administrative center of the district is Zhemgang
Zhemgang
Zhemgang District , is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. It is bordered by Sarpang, Trongsa, Bumthang, Mongar and Samdrup Jongkhar Districts, and borders Assam in India to the south...
.
Languages
The dominant language in Zhemgang is Khengkha, language of the former kingdom of KhengKhen dynasty
The Khen dynasty of Assam replaced the Pala dynasty in the 12th century. Their accession marks the end of the Kamarupa kingdom, and the beginning of the Kamata kingdom....
. Historically, Khengkha and its speakers have had close contact with speakers of Kurtöpkha
Kurtöp language
The Kurtöp language is a member of the Tibeto-Burman language family spoken in the Kurtoe Gewog, Lhuntse District, Bhutan...
, Nupbikha, and Bumthangkha to the north, to the extent that they may be considered part of a wider collection of "Bumthang languages."
Security issues
Starting in the 1990s, the United Liberation Front of AsomUnited Liberation Front of Asom
The United Liberation Front of Asom is a separatist group from Assam, among many other such groups in North-East India. It seeks to establish a sovereign Assam via an armed struggle in the Assam Conflict...
maintained guerrilla bases in the forests of southern Zhemgang from which they would launch attacks on targets in India and then return across the border. In late 2003 the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the former King of Bhutan. He was the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006...
led a military operation
Military of Bhutan
The branches of the armed forces of Bhutan are the Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguards, Militia, and Royal Bhutan Police. Being a landlocked country, Bhutan doesn't have a navy. Additionally, Bhutan does not have an air force, although the Royal Bhutan Army does have a very small air arm which...
which largely swept the guerrillas out of the region. Because of the risk of attack, foreign tourists are not yet allowed to visit Zhemgang.
Geography
Zhemgang comprises eight gewogGewog
A gewog, or geog refers to a group of villages in Bhutan. Gewogs form a geographic administrative unit below dzongkhag districts , and above thromde municipalities. Bhutan comprises 205 gewogs, which average 230 km² in area...
s:
- Bardho GewogBardho GewogBardo Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan....
- Bjoka GewogBjoka GewogBjoka Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan. Bjoka Gewog is also a part of Panbang Dungkhag , along with Goshing, Ngangla, and Phangkhar Gewogs....
- Goshing GewogGoshing GewogGoshing Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan. Goshing Gewog is also a part of Panbang Dungkhag , along with Bjoka, Ngangla, and Phangkhar Gewogs....
- Nangkor GewogNangkor GewogNangkor Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan....
- Ngangla GewogNgangla GewogNgangla Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan, bordering India. Ngangla Gewog is also a part of Panbang Dungkhag , along with Goshing, Bjoka, and Phangkhar Gewogs....
- Phangkhar GewogPhangkhar GewogPhangkhar Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan. Phangkhar Gewog is also a part of Panbang Dungkhag , along with Goshing, Ngangla, and Bjoka Gewogs....
- Shingkhar GewogShingkhar GewogShingkhar Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan....
- Trong GewogTrong GewogTrong Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan....
Environment
Most of Zhemgang is part of the protected areas of Bhutan. Zhemgang's environmentally protected areas include Jigme Singye Wangchuck National ParkJigme Singye Wangchuck National Park
Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park covers an area of in central Bhutan. The Park occupies most of Trongsa District, as well as parts of Sarpang, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, and Zhemgang Districts. Jigme Singye abuts Royal Manas National Park to the southeast...
(Trong Gewog
Trong Gewog
Trong Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan....
) and Royal Manas National Park
Royal Manas National Park
Royal Manas National Park is Bhutan's oldest national park, and the Royal government considers it the "conservation showpiece of the Kingdom" and a "genetic depository" for valuable plants. It has an area of and covers eastern Sarpang District, the western half of Zhemgang District, and western...
(Ngangla
Ngangla Gewog
Ngangla Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan, bordering India. Ngangla Gewog is also a part of Panbang Dungkhag , along with Goshing, Bjoka, and Phangkhar Gewogs....
, Pangkhar
Phangkhar Gewog
Phangkhar Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan. Phangkhar Gewog is also a part of Panbang Dungkhag , along with Goshing, Ngangla, and Bjoka Gewogs....
, Trong Gewog
Trong Gewog
Trong Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan....
s), which occupy much of the west. These parks connect to Thrumshingla National Park
Thrumshingla National Park
Thrumshingla National Park in central Bhutan covers just over across four districts, but primarily in Mongar. It is bisected by the Lateral Road, and contains the Thrumshing La pass.-Flora and fauna:...
in the north (Nangkor
Nangkor Gewog
Nangkor Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan....
, Shingkhar Gewog
Shingkhar Gewog
Shingkhar Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan....
s) via a biological corridor that bisects Zhemgang.