Jigme Dorji National Park: Bhutan's Himalayan park across five dzongkhags

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Jigme Dorji National Park: Bhutan's Himalayan park across five dzongkhags

Background

Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) was gazetted in 1974 as a wildlife sanctuary and upgraded to a national park in 1993.
Its revised area is 4,319 km2; until the Wangchuck Centennial Park was established, JDNP was the largest national park.
It covers five dzongkhags: Gasa (entirely), Paro, Punakha, Thimphu and Wangduephodrang, and 15 geogs.
Four major rivers originate in the park: Pachhu, Wangchhu, Pochhu and Mochhu, and major hydropower dams are built on them.
The park holds all four national symbols: blue poppy, takin, raven and cypress.

Gazetted as wildlife sanctuary: 1974 Upgraded to national park: 1993 Revised area: 4,319 km2

Why it matters for exams: National symbols, protected areas and administrative units of Bhutan are standard fact-recall material.

Kerala PSCUPSC

7 October 2026 Source: Department of Forests and Park Services, Bhutan (Introduction, Jigme Dorji National Park)

In plain words

Dzongkhag District — The first-level administrative unit of Bhutan, made up of geogs.

Geog Block of villages — A sub-district unit within a dzongkhag.