The Trongsa Dzong is above the Mangde Chhu, on the way to the Eastern highway connecting central Bhutan to the East and West. The fortress on the ridge with wide stone stairs and beautiful paved courtyards. It used to be the seat of power of the Wangchuck dynasty before it became ruler of Bhutan in 1907. It is the largest Dzong in Bhutan.
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History of the Dzong
The first site for the construction of the fortress was done by Ngagi Wangchuck (1517–54). He was the great-grandfather of the founder of Bhutan Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. He came to Trongsa in 1541. He built a small meditation room. He discovered self-manifested hoof prints belonging to the horse of the deity Pelden Lhamo.
Trongsa literally means new village. The dzong was built by Chhogyel Mingyur Tenpa in 1644. He was one official of Zhabdrung Ngwang Namgyel who commanded him to bring eastern Bhutan under central control. Latter on the fortress was enlarged by Desi Tenzin Rabgyeat by the end of the 17th century.
The Trongsa Dzong was damaged by an earthquake in 1897. It was repaired by the Penlop of Trongsa, Jigme Namgyal. He was the father of the first of Bhutan. The dzong is connected to the royal family of Bhutan. Two Kings of Bhutan ruled the country from Trongsa. Still, the crown prince of Bhutan gets the title of Trongs Penlop from the fortress.
The strategic location of the Dzong gave the ruler the to rule the country with ease and easily could control far eastern Bhutan. The same fashion of moving the Monastic body from Trongsa to Bumthang during summer and again moving from Bumthang to Trongsa during Winter is still practiced. It is like moving the Monastic body from Thimphu to Punakha and vice versa.
Architecture of Trongsa Dzong
The architecture of Trongsa Dzong is an example of the architecture of Bhutan. The fortress is Bhutan’s largest Dzong. Most temples are meant for deities of Yamāntaka, Hevajra, Cakrasaṃvara, and Kālacakra.
The Maitreya (Jampa) temple was built in 1771. It also has a clay statue of the Buddha of the Future, donated by King Ugyen Wangchuck. You can see 16 paintings of the Arhats and of the Buddha Akshobhya (Mitrugpa).
The interior decorations in the temples are attributed to the time of the reign of the first ruler, King Ugyen Wangchuk. With aid from the Austrian Government, the fortress went into renovation. The original design of the northern assembly hall, an original court scene with mural paintings of the guardians of four directions, the Phurba statue in the main hall, a mural replica of the Swayambunath temple of Nepal, and a pictorial map of Lhasa are retained.
Inside the Dzong
You can see 25 Lhakhangs inside the fortress. The design of the interior of the Dzong was done during the rule of the first king, Ugyen Wangchuck.
You can see the assembly hall and Jampa Lhakhang, with a two-story Maitreya (Jampa) statue. The southern Mithrub Lhakhang with funerary chorten of Ngagi Wangchuck. You can see footprints worn into the wooden floor by one enthusiastic prostrator.
Outside The Dzong
To the side of the dzong is the archery ground and pavilion where the current king (then crown prince) was crowned penlop in 2004.
Festival of Trongsa
A five-day festival known as the Trongsa Tsechu is held in the northern courtyard of the temple during December or January. Every Dzong or fortress in Bhutan observes the annual Tsechu. The celebration is meant for Guru Rimpoche coming to Bhutan in the 8th century. It is like victory over evil by Buddhism. It is held in the spring and autumn seasons. Masked dances are a popular feature along with the exposition of a very large thanka (religious painting) on the cloth of Guru Rimpoche and other figures called the Thongdrel. A fire blessing in the form of people running through “an archway of blazing straw” is also witnessed.
Places to visit in Trongsa
You can visit a few places in Trongsa.
Ta-Museum
You can see a watchtower, called “Ta Dzong” built to guard the dzong from enemies. Now it is now housing a museum called Ta Museum. It is dedicated to Jigme Namgyal, who was Trongsa Penlop from 1853 to 1870.
Ta Dzong was converted into a state-of-the-Art Museum with technical and financial support provided by the Austrian Government. The Museum houses a chapel dedicated to the Jigme Namgyal.