Monpa - The Dzong Dwellers

Thembang, a village which is included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites boosts the fortified ancient structures bearing testimony of the traditional and structural systems of Monpas, using composite stone masonry and wood architecture. The fortified structures were built to protect the people from inter-tribal wars. Agriculture is an important livelihood of the Monpas. Across generations the Monpas carry the indigenous knowledge of making handmade paper by processing the pulp of the local Shogshog tree and making natural darts