Ta dzong with its living hermits is the only structure reconstructed to represent wangchuck dynasty. It was trongsa poenlop jigme namgyel who finally emerged as the most powerful national leader in the country. Traditionally the king of bhutan first becomes the trongsa penlop governor before being named crown prince and eventually king. Trongsa dzong, meaning the dzong on the tip of a dungkhar conch of the neverchanging country of druk and the everlasting dharma was built in 1647 during the time of trongsa penlop chogyal minjur tenpa. Trongsa dzong, meaning the dzong on the tip of a dungkhar conch of the neverchanging country of druk and the everlasting dharma was built in 1647. This imposing structure, witness to various significant events which has shaped bhutanese history, has a rich legacy left behind by religious and political. The structure is strategically located on a steep slope. There are 23 separate lhakhangs in the dzong and most of the existing fine decoration, sonam enlightened me, was designed during the rule of the first. Go there with a good guide and he will tell you interesting anecdotes. Both the first and second kings of bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat. The dzongs strategic location gave it great power over this part of the country. Wifi and parking are free, and this resort also features a restaurant. Tshangkha lss is located 25 kms before reaching trongsa. Climb up the path to visit ta dzong, which now houses a shrine dedicated to the epic hero, king gesar of ling.
Sep 11, 2015 the trongsa monk body migrates between winter and summer residences of trongsa and bumthang respectively, just as the main dratshang or the central monk body does between thimphu and punakha. The dzong was built in its current form in the 17th century. Trongsa dzong is situated overlooking the mangdechhu river. A stop at the ta dzong museum in trongsa is not only an excellent way to break up a very long drive from punakha to bumthang, but a very well done museum with a fine little lunch stop. Exhibits vary a bit, but generally focus on festivals and the deities as well as bhutanese. A visit to this former watchtower provides visitors with an insight into the significance of trongsa in bhutans history. It is also known for its printery, which produced religious texts in the traditional.
While visiting dzong in trongsa i had a chance to see young monks preparing their performace for next festival. Find cheap deals and discount rates among them that best fit your budget. Higher up there are excellent views across the mangde valley. In 1541, he meditated at the village of yueli in trongsa, a few kilometers from the present dzong. Spotlight on the district series trongsa dzongkhag bhutan. Built on a spur overlooking the gorge of the mangde river, a temple was first established at the location in 1543 by the drukpa lama, nagi wangchuk son of ngawang chhojey. Even if youre visiting trongsa as a break spot between your trip from thimphu to jakar, still there are some places which you should visit here. Built on a spur overlooking the gorge of the mangde river, a temple was first established at the location in 1543 by the drukpa lama, ngagi wangchuk son of ngawang chhojey. Tadzong, the tower of trongsa project documentation 1no.
Built in 1648, it was the seat of power over central and eastern bhutan. Trongsa dzong, the largest dzong at a striking location, is an important administrative building, providing the headquarters of the government of trongsa district. Tongsa dzong trongsa 2020 all you need to know before. Trongsa which means new villageforms the central hub of the nation. The construction was overseen by dzongpon geduen chophel. Inside, the building opens up on a number of different levels. N27 4 12 e89 52 47 dzong in bhutan is a complex of fortified building which served as a principal seat of buddhist school. The first temple was built in 1543 by the drukpa kagyu lama, ngagi wangchuk, who was the greatgrandfather of shabdrung ngawang namgyel, the person who unified bhutan. Historical background of lingzhi dzong bhutan land of the. Historical background of lingzhi dzong the posting of my photos of the beautiful and remote linzhi dzong aroused lot of interest among my readers, including myself. It consists of a maze of courtyards, passageways and corridors and the complex contains as many as 25 temples. As of date the ta dzong of trongsa is the most fascinating museum of the nation. Its rich history is traced to the founding of a temple in the area by the drukpa lama, ngagi.
The largest and, arguably, most scenic fortress in bhutan. Trongsa dzong had been the seats of the trongsa poenlops who have governed the eastern region for over three hundred years. Trongsa dzong, most strategic dzong built by erstwhile rulers. Trongsa dzong is a powerfully built fortress and is exemplary of dzong architecture. Due to the dzongs highly strategic position, on the only connecting route between east and west, the trongsa penlop was able to control effectively the whole of the central and eastern regions of the country from here. Trongsa travel guide attraction, things to do, places to. Trongsa dzong was first built in 1647, and it was from this dzong fortress that the first two bhutanese kings ruled the country. A rich history restored austria in bhutan completely restored to its former glory in a major restoration and renovation project begun in 1999, the trongsa dzong was sanctified with the sacred consecration rabney ceremony on october 28, 2004 corresponding to the 15th day of the ninth month of the wood monkey year. Browse expedias selection of 10 hotels and places to stay closest to trongsa dzong. Tower of trongsa royal heritage museum trongsa, bhutan. The dzong is a massive structure with many levels, sloping down the contours of the ridge on which it is built. A rich history nestled on a hill, overlooking the mangdechu river, the trongsa dzong is a testimony of bhutans architectural heritage, political history, rich traditions and cultures. The dzong was severely damaged in the 1897 earthquake, and repairs were carried out by the penlop of trongsa, jigme namgyal, father of bhutans first king.
Trongsa dzong was founded by yingzin ngagi wangchuk, a descendant of ngawang chogyal and. Trongsa provides a strategic central location to control bhutan and for centuries it was the seat of the wangchuck dynasty of penlops governors who effectively ruled over much of. This boarding school mainly caters to the young schoolgoing children of the surrounding villages. Trongsa dzong is closely connected to the royal family. Jan 30, 2016 bhutan trongsa dzong journey organized by. The hotel and restaurant balconies offer a spectacular view of deep valleys, trongsa dzong, and emerald mountains. An important printing house is also located at the dzong, where printing of religious texts is done by traditional woodblock printing. The daga dzong used to be the office of the daga penlop who held the rank of cabinet minister under the desi temporal ruler system of government introduced by the zhabdrung. Chokhor raptentse dzong at trongsa which was built in 1644, used to be the seat of power of the. The establishment of the trongsa dzong greatly helped in this endeavor. The watchtower of trongsa has been converted into a museum dedicated to the wangchuck dynasty and is a good place to learn about the history of the kingdom. The five floors of displays tell the history of the monarchy through such varied treasures as the 500yearold jacket of ngagi wangchuk, the second kings saddle and a copy of the famous raven crown.
Korean book national research institute of cultural heritage 26nos. It was worn by the 1st king of bhutan, gongsar ugyen wangchuck. Book your tickets online for tongsa dzong, trongsa. It also showcases jigme wangchucks prayer book and silver box, the 3rd. Trongsa dzong like almost all towns in the kingdom, this dzong architecture dominates the entire trongsa horizon dwarfing the surrounding buildings. Dzong architecture project gutenberg selfpublishing. In trongsa by far the most impressive place to visit is trongsa dzong. The most popular and prominent one is the incredible ta dzong museum and tower. It was from here that the attempts to consolidate trongsa travel guide, things to do, tips. Chokhor raptse dzong at trongsa which was built in 1644, used to be the seat of power of the wangchuck dynasty before it became rulers of bhutan in 1907. In the history, this was the very place from where the leaders attempted the unifying of the country because it was centrally located in the country.
Its official name is chhoekhor raptentse dzong, and it is also known by its short name of choetse dzong. Traditionally, the king of bhutan first becomes the trongsa penlop governor before being named the crown prince and eventually the king. Discover hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in trongsa, bhutan from trongsa dzong to chendebji chorten. Jan 12, 2012 while visiting dzong in trongsa i had a chance to see young monks preparing their performace for next festival. Known to be the symbol of trongsas history, the museum is dedicated to the wangchuck dynasty. The first two hereditary kings ruled from this dzong, and tradition still dictates that the crown prince serve as trongsa penlop before acceding to the throne. The zhabdrung relied on visions and omens to site each of the dzongs. Dancing buddhist monks in trongsa dzong, bhutan youtube. Wangdi is important in the history of bhutan because in the early days it was the site of the countrys second capital. Trongsa dzong is a drukpa kagyu monasteryfortress in central bhutan.
The first construction on the site was carried out by ngagi wangchuck 151754, the greatgrandfather of zhabdrung ngawang namgyal. Zhabdrung managed to unify most of western bhutan by mid17 th century but the central, eastern and southern parts still remained so he deputized dronyer druk namgyel to. Built on a spur overlooking the gorge of the mangde river, a temple was first established at the location in 1543 by the drukpa lama, ngagi wangchuk son. Perched upon verdant hills, the tower of trongsa museum offers five floors of buddhist history and artifacts, as well as panoramic views of the valley below. Trongsa dzong is the largest dzong fortress in bhutan, located in trongsa formerly tongsa in. So i did a little research into its historical background and came up with the following. Trongsa dzong is the largest dzong fortress in bhutan, located in trongsa formerly tongsa in trongsa district, in the centre of the country.
Trongsa, previously tongsa, is a town and capital of trongsa district in central bhutan. Trongsa dzong trongsa, bhutan attractions lonely planet. The whole eastern region was brought under the drukpa rule and was governed from trongsa dzong. The trongsa dzong, which was built in 1644, used to be the seat of power of the wangchuck dynasty before they became rulers of bhutan in 1907. Built by the first governor of trongsa in 1652, the watchtower served to protect the region from internal rebellion, controlling the whole of the central and eastern regions of the nation. The rich history of trongsa dzong goes back from the 16tth century when a holy man built a temple on the site after discovering a selfmanifesting hoofprints of a horse belonging to bhutans protective deity palden lhamo. It was built in 1652by the 1st governor of trongsa, chogyal minjur tenpa. Trongsa news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2019 learn. Trongsa ps is located on a slope overlooking the trongsa dzong, at a distance of about 1km uphill from the main town and is a day school for preprimary to grade 6 students.
The raven crown, designed by lam jangchub tsendrue is featured in the third gallery. The dzong is one of the largest in bhutan and is a fine example of bhutanese architecture. The forces of trongsa penlop defeated the tongfu gyalpo and surprisingly took control of the zhongar dzong and other kingdoms. Taa dzong was once a watchtower which guarded the trongsa dzong from the internal rebellion. I wish i could come back and see it with all the masks and music.
This one will surely take you back and will force to relive certain historic moments. Trongsa dzong dzongs of bhutan central bhutan tours. The first temple was built in 1543 by the drukpa kagyu lama, ngagi wangchuk, who was the greatgrandfather of shabdrung ngawang. This watchtower ta dzong overlooking the dzong now houses an excellent museum.
The trongsa monk body migrates between winter and summer residences of trongsa and bumthang respectively, just as the main dratshang or the central monk body does between thimphu and punakha. Ta dzong museum, trongsa ticket price timings address. Cool and unusual things to do in trongsa atlas obscura. Positioned prominently above the mangdechhu, stands the trongsa dzong with a. Trongsa dzong this impregnable fortress of bhutan is filled architecturally beautiful temples, corridors, live paintings representing bhutanese tradition in every sense. Environed by deep valleys, trongsa boasts a prominent museum, which was made out of trongsas watchtower. Save on popular hotels near trongsa dzong, trongsa. A fiveday festival known as the trongsa tsechu is held in the northern courtyard during december or january. Trongsa dzong, the largest dzong fortress in bhutan. Audit report on audit of accounts and operations of thetdrp. Trongsa is mostly visited for its historical importance and its magnificently built dzong. Trongsa dzong was founded by yingzin ngagi wangchuk, a descendant of ngawang chogyal and a revered follower of kuenkhen pema karpo. The wangdue phodrang dzong wangdi was founded by the zhabdrung in 1638 atop a high ridge between the punak tsang chhu and the dang chhu, clearly chosen for its commanding view of the valleys below.
All four kings were invested as trongsa penlop governor prior to ascending to the throne. Tongsa dzong trongsa 2020 all you need to know before you. All these icons are responsible in the history of bhutan, especially in bringing order to the countrys endless civil wars. Visit the tower of trongsa museum on your trip to trongsa or. This magnificent watchtower sits on a spur overlooking the trongsa dzong and it has four surveillance points resembling the dragon, the garuda, the tiger and the lion. Trongsa places to visit in trongsa bhutanitis travels. Trongsa, previously tongsa is a thromde or town, and the capital of trongsa district in central. Taa dzong tower of trongsa trongsa district central. Both the first and second king ruled the country from this ancient seat. It is built on a strategic location overlooking the mangde chhu river. It was at that time that people of neighbouring ngatshang and themnagbi villages migrated, fearing the new ruler, to pema ked padma bkod a legendary hidden land sbas yul in southeast tibet. The size of the original dzong is unknown, but history books in bhutan state that the fourth desi, tenzin rabgay 16801694, extended it and also added another twostoried tower.
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