Trongsa
The Dzong that Guards the Middle of the Kingdom
The ancestral seat of the royal family, at the centre of the country where the east-west highway once had to pass through the dzong itself. Trongsa Dzong spills down a ridge above a gorge, and the Ta Dzong watchtower above it is now a royal heritage museum. Usually a night or a lunch stop between Phobjikha and Bumthang, over Pele La (3,420 m) from the west and Yotong La from the east.
Highlights
- Trongsa Dzong over the Mangde Chhu gorge
- Royal heritage museum in the Ta Dzong
- Chendebji Chorten on the road from Pele La
- Trongsa Tshechu in winter
Things to do
- Trongsa DzongMorning · 1h 30m
- Ta Dzong royal heritage museumAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Chendebji Chorten stopAny time · 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: March – May, September – November
Worth knowing
Monsoon: Landslides on the East-West Highway
June to August is Bhutan's monsoon. Landslides and roadworks close the Lateral Road for hours at a time, especially between Punakha and Trongsa and over Thrumshing La; a 7-hour drive can take a day. Keep a spare day before your flight home, start drives early, and expect clouds over the mountain views. Leeches on forest trails.
- Trongsa Tshechu — Three days of mask dances at Trongsa Dzong in midwinter. Cold, uncrowded, and the passes on either side can have snow.