One of the main reasons that visitors will visit the Kingdom of Bhutan is that it is largely unspoilt by the modern world, and it can boast some of the best scenery in the world. Nestled in the Himalayan mountain range, Bhutan is one of the true gems, but tourism is restricted in order to keep the country as idyllic as possible. The very best locations in the country have already been preserved in some of the best national parks in the world, and a visit to these natural sites will certainly be worth your time.
Thrumshingla National Park
Located in central Bhutan this is one of the most popular National Parks as it enjoys some fantastic mountain scenery and particularly enjoys some great waterfalls. Because much of the park is made up of the traditional forests that are to be found across Bhutan, there are many bird species that have flourished in the park, including the brightly colored Satyr Tragopan and the Rufous-Throated Wren-Babbler.
This is probably the most popular national park for tourists in Bhutan because it is easily accessible by road from the capital Thimphu, and it also enjoys a visitor center and trekking opportunities.
Wangchuck Centennial Park
As with all of the national parks to be found in Bhutan, the mountainous terrain plays a big part in the importance of the park, with over 200 species of animals to be found in the area. The park itself is the largest in Bhutan and was named for the current royal dynasty, and can be found in the northern portion of the country, where a number of the parks are to be found.
The most important reason that the park is in place is the rare species to be found there, with Asian Black Bears and Snow Leopards both being present in the park.
Jigme Dorji National Park
One of the most fascinating national parks in the country is that of Jigme Dorji, where two sacred mountains can be found, namely Mount Jomolhari and Mount Jitchu Drake. The Bhutanese government works alongside the WWF here to preserve many of the species to be found here, including the Bengal Tiger, the Snow Leopard and the Clouded Leopard. There are also many traditional Himalayan species to be found in the park including the Bharal, which is species of sheep, along with the Dhole, which is a wild dog.
The park is also home to two high altitude fortresses that are among the most important country, namely the Lingshi Dzong and the Gasa Dzong.
Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park
It is the variety of different ecosystems that can be found in this are that make it such an important site, with altitude in the park ranging from 600m above sea level up to nearly 5000m above sea level. There are a large number of different animal and bird species to be found in the park, including the Rufous-necked Hornbill and the Golden Langur. However, it is the Black-necked Crane that spends its winter in the park that attracts the most attention. This has also been a pilot area in terms of developing nature tourism, with guided nature treks being trialled in the park.
Royal Manas National Park
Lying in the south of Bhutan, this park has a different feel to some of the other parks in the country, with a greater diversity of plant life and interesting animals. The park itself is named after the Manas River that runs through the park, and along with the other waterways it helps to support important species such as the Mahseer, which is a rare migratory fish, the Wild Water Buffalo and the Ganges River Dolphin. It also has a number of endangered mammals in the park including the Bengal Tiger, the Gaur and the Golden Langur.