Himalaya

The Himalaya rises north of Bhutan’s western valleys in a barrier of high ridges, snowfields and glaciers. Rivers descending from these mountains feed the valleys farther south, including the country around Punakha. Passes across the range connect Bhutan with the Tibetan plateau, but their height and winter snow make travel arduous. The mountain landscape also holds sacred significance in Bhutanese tradition, where peaks and remote places are associated with protective deities.