Lhuntse or Kurtoe as it was known in ancient times lies in the northeast corner of Bhutan. It is the ancestral home of the Kings of Bhutan and hosts several of the sacred sites of pilgrimage in the country. Located 77km from Mongar, Lhuntse is one of the most isolated districts in Bhutan.
However, the landscape is spectacular with stark cliffs towering above river gorges and dense coniferous forests. The region is famous for its weavers and their distinctive textiles are generally considered to be the best in the country. Kurtoep women are especially adept at weaving a textile called Kishuthara.
Most of Lhuntse district is part of the environmentally protected areas of Bhutan. The district contains parts of Wangchuck Centennial Park in the north, Thrumshingla National Park in the south and Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary in the east. Biological corridors that crisscross the central and southern regions of the district connect these three parks.
