Trongsa

Trongsa, previously Tongsa, is located in Trongsa District, Bhutan. The name means "new village" in Dzongkha. The first temple was built in 1543 by the Drukpa lama, Ngagi Wangchuk, who was the great-grandfather of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the founder of Bhutan.

Trongsa Dzong, built in 1644, is the seat of power of the Wangchuck dynasty, rulers of Bhutan since 1907. Traditionally the King of Bhutan first becomes the Penlop (governor) of Trongsa before being named Crown Prince and eventually King. Built on a mountain spur high above the gorges of the Mangde Chhu, the dzong controlled east-west trade for centuries. The only road connecting eastern and western Bhutan (the precursor to the modern Lateral Road), passed through the courtyard of the dzong. At the command of the penlop the massive doors could be shut, dividing the country in two.

Higher yet on the mountainside is a large watchtower, called "Ta Dzong", which guards the slopes above the dzong, preventing attackers from firing arrows down into the courtyards below.