The scenic district of Wangdue Phodrang is central on the town and dzong of that name and stretches all the way to the \pelela and Phobjikha valley, towards the southern region of tshering. Legends says that the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal met a small boy named Wangdi playing in the sand on the banks of the Puna Tsangchu and was moved to name his new Fort Wangdi Phodrang. As per the 2017 census, the population of Wangdue Phodrang District was 8954.