Trongsa

The high-perched town of Trongsa has been the symbolic regal heartland of Bhutan since the kings of the Wangchuck dynasty who reigned here rose as the nation’s monarchs in the early 20th century. But Trongsa is also important because of its geography, nestled between the verdant ridges of the Black Mountains and the flowing channels of the Mangde Chhu River, strategically providing a crossroads between the Indian border in the south, the wild national parks in the east and the capital city of Thimphu in the west.

Trongsa tour guides point first-time visitors straight to the mighty Trongsa Dzong complex that looms high in the midst of the rustic town and is arguably the most breath-taking manifestation of traditional Bhutanese defensive architecture going. There is also the Thruepang Palace, the ancestral home of the nation’s royal family and a fantastic museum housed in the Trongsa Tower, one of Bhutan’s best. A walk around town in the meanwhile reveals a curious mix of Tibetan culture and Bhutanese character as seen in its intriguing craft shops and eateries touting carved bowls, handmade textiles and spicy curry dishes to boot.