Trongsa Dzongkhag is located in the heart of the country and built on a spur overlooking the gorge of the Mangdue river, a temple was first established at the location in 1543 by the Drukpa lama. In 1647, his great-grandson Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal constructed the first dzong to replace it. It’s the largest dzong at a striking location, and is an important administrative building, providing the headquarters of the government of Trongsa district. Trongsa provides a strategic central location to control Bhutan and for centuries it was the seat of the Wangchuk Dynasty of penlops (governors) who effectively ruled over much of eastern and central Bhutan, and from 1907 have been Kings of Bhutan. It is also a major monastic complex, with around 200 monks.
Chhoetse Dzong acting as a seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan was built in 1648. High above the thriving Mangde Chhu stands this imperious monastery. All four kings of Bhutan ruled the nation by passing the throne of Trongsa Penlop (“governor”) from this antique seat. Therefore, the monastery is closely related to the royal family as the first two hereditary kings ruled from this monastery itself.
