Description: River Guides of Pangbang River
Our home, Panbang, is a remote community in south central Bhutan with a population of about 1500 people. It lies in the heart of sub-tropical biodiversity richness, adjacent to Royal Manas National Park (RMNP). The park is Bhutan’s first protected area and was established in 1966. With an area of about 1057 square kilometers, RMNP is home to over 86 different mammal, 365 bird and 900 plant species. Asian elephant, tiger, golden langur, clouded leopard, and gaur are some notable wildlife you can find in M
The region our community lies in is also known as lower Kheng, in Zhemgang district. Until recently, our people practiced slash and burn agriculture and moved around the slopes in search of fertile and new land to grow crops such as maize and millet. It was only during the fourth five-year plan (1976-1981) that enough paddy fields were created to encourage sedentary agriculture. Present day settlements in Panbang arose after that.
Lower Kheng is not only rich in wildlife, but also home to Bhutan's largest river basins, the Mangde Chhu and Drangme Chhu basins. As Bhutan becomes a coveted destination for nature tourism, we saw the need to preserve our sacred land and all that it has to offer. We also saw a business opportunity that would allow us to remain in our village, gainfully employed. Elsewhere in Bhutan, the youth are flocking to urban centers, looking for a better life and abandoning their rural homes. This has led to overcrow