Trongsa
Trongsa forms the central hub of the kingdom & historical place from where attempts at unifying country were launched. It is also known as the Vanguard of the Warriors. The first and Second Kings of Bhutan ruled Bhutan from Trongsa. The Crown Prince normally holds the position of the Trongsa Penlop before ascending to the Throne. It lies at an elevation of 2,300 m.
PLACES OF INTERESTS:
Ta Dzong: Perched above the Trongsa Dzong, this is a watch tower which once stood guard over the Trongsa Dzong from the internal rebellion. It’s now being turned into a heritage museum. Some of the important items on display includes, a bronze statue of Pema Lingpa (which is said to be made by himself),a sacred image of Sung Joenma Dorji Chang (Self spoken Vajradharna), age old dance and ritual costumes, ancient prayer books, paintings, textiles, etc.
Trongsa Dzong: It is the seat of power over Central and Eastern Bhutan. It was built by Chogyal Minjur Tempa and was later enlarged at the end of the 17th century by Desi Tenzin Rabgay. Trongsa Dzong is the ancestral home of the present Royal Family. The first two hereditary kings ruled Bhutan from this Dzong. It is built on many levels into the side of the hill and can be seen from every approach to Trongsa showcasing its strength as a defensive stronghold.
HOLY PLACES:
Chendbji Chhorten: It was built during the 18th century by Lama Shida in the style of the great Boudhanath Chhorten of Nepal to cover the remains of an evil spirit which is said to have manifested as a gigantic snake.
SHORT DAY TRIPS:
Kuenga Rabten Palace: It is approximately an hour drive through the 23 km road on Trongsa. We have to drive through Zhemgang Highway to reach Kuenga Rabten. The road passes through an open countryside over a river gorge. In this region the land slopes quite gently. It was earlier the winter palace of the second King, Jigme wangchuk. Currently the Palace is looked after by the National Commission for Cultural Affairs. Right above the palace is the nunnery; which is about 40 minute’s walk uphill. There are about 80 nuns residing at the nunnery and one can visit their hostel, the main shrine and their dining hall.
Semji Village: Semji village is approximately 7 kilometers from Trongsa and ideal bird watching for bird lovers. If weather permits, hiking through the dense forest amidst the vibrant birds will make this trip to Trongsa an unforgettable one. At Semji one can visit the village and subsequently continue hiking downhill till the highway. Here your vehicle will shuttle you back to Trongsa town. The whole hiking trip takes approximately 4-5 hours.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Trek - Trekking through the Royal Heritage trail and the Nabji Korphu community based trek is among the other things that can be done here in Trongsa.