Altitude : 1520m/4987ft
Dagana is located in the southern part of the country and is a verdant region with over 80% of the district is under forest cover. Hardy trees like Champ, Augury, Chirpine and Sal grow throughout the region. Located below the major valleys of Thimphu and Wangduephodrang, Dagana stretches all the way down to the Southern border of the kingdom. It has an elevation range of 600m to 3800m above the sea level covering temperate zone and sub-tropical ecological zones. The name ‘Dagana’ is derived from the words – Darkala and Darkarnang. The former refers to the province’s guardian deity – Jomo Darkala and the latter means ‘The Realm of White Prayer Flags’. Legend has it that the people of Dagana were lawless in the 17th century, and that the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal had to send in soldiers to gain control over them.
The district is mainly inhabited by the Ngalops and the Lhotshampas majority ethnic groups, although in recent years, people from other regions have migrated to the region. This has added to the cultural diversity of the region with the introduction of new festivals and traditions.
Dagana has many religious stone monuments like Do Phamai Nye, Do Dungchen Menchu, Do Dungkar, Wachen Nye, etc. However, very few people, including locals, visit these places for they are very remotely located.
Places To See
Nyindukha Lhakhang was founded in the 18th century.
Shathong Lhakhangwas founded by Dupthob Shawa Ripa who was an ancient Buddhist Master said to have lived for over 900 years.
The Three Stone Megaliths
One of the more interesting features of Dagana are the three stone Megaliths, known as “Sky Pillar Rock” (Do Namkhai Kaw), “The Rock of Ancient Steps” (Do Kelpai Genthey) and “The Frontier Sky Fortress” (Tha Namkhai Dzong).Legend has it that when Daga Trashiyangtse Dzong was being constructed, the megalith known as the Frontier Sky Fortress emitted telepathic messages to the builders stating that the Dzong would collapse if it was built any higher than it currently stands. Even today the golden cupola of the Dzong is said to be level with the tip of the megalith.
The Rock of Ancient Steps, lying 7km west of Sky Pillar Rock, is a unique flight of five steps. One of the steps is no longer visible and is said to have submerged underground. Legend has it that when the remaining four steps sink underground, the present era will come to an end.
Daga Dzong is the headquarters for district administration and houses the clergy. The Dzong used to be the office of the Daga Penlop who held the rank of cabinet minister under the Desi (temporal ruler) system of government introduced by the Zhabdrung. Zhabdrung managed to unify most of western Bhutan by mid-17th century but the central, eastern and southern parts still remained so he deputized Dronyer Druk Namgyel to bring the area under Drukpa rule. Thus, the Dronyer starting constructing the dzong in 1949. Two years later it was completed.