In the mountains of central Bhutan lies Trongsa district, a place of great natural beauty. It covers 1,807 sq km, at altitudes from 600 to 4,800 metres, and is home to more than 19,000 people.
Trongsa is a special district, because the history of Bhutan’s monarchy begins here. The first King, His Majesty Ugyen Wangchuck, was the Trongsa Penlop, as was the second King, His Majesty Jigme Wangchuck. Trongsa was the ancestral seat of the kings, and even today the Crown Prince traditionally becomes Trongsa Penlop before ascending the throne. The first Trongsa Penlop was Chhoegyal Minjur Tenpa who was appointed by Zhabdrung.
Trongsa was founded in the 16th century, and its name means ‘new village’. There are many sacred sites to see, such as the Ta Dzong, Trongsa Dzong, Nabji Lhakhang and Phumzur Lhakhang; some of the temples are hard to reach by road.
About 88% of the district is forested, and much of it lies within Wangchuck Centennial National Park in the north and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in the rest. Trongsa is still quite rural, with scattered settlements, and farming is the main source of income. The district has five gewogs (blocks) and a varied climate.
The Mangde Chhu river flows through the Trongsa valley. The 720 MW Mangdechhu Hydropower Project on this river was completed in 2019.
Ta Dzong
Trongsa Dzong
Thruepang Palace
Chendebji Chorten
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