The Royal Heritage Tour offers the visitors a unique look at the history of Bhutan’s royal family and traditional life.

Locations: Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Mongar, Lhuentse
Season: Year-round
Duration: Varies
Tourist Profile: 40+ yrs; enjoys history and prefers to travel by car

Itinerary Options:
1. Conduct visits in conjunction to existing travel itineraries to various Dzongkhags.
2. Driving tour to each Dzongkhag starting from Thimphu/ Paro and exit from Samdrup-Jongkhar.

Sites Include:
1. Punakha
Punakha Dzong
Formerly known as Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (The Palace of Great Bliss), the Dzong (fortress) was built in 1637 by the Shabdrung. The gigantic Dzong was damaged six times by fire, once by flood and once by an earthquake. On 17th December, 1907, the first king of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck, was crowned here. The Machen Lhakhang, a temple inside the Dzong enshrines the mummified body of the Shabdrung who died in retreat here in 1651. Dzongchung (or the little Fortress), built in 1328 by saint Ngagi Rinchen can still be seen opposite the main Dzong. The Kuenrey in Punakha Dzong is open to the tourists after 9am daily whether the monk body is in residence or not.

Coronation Room
The coronation room within the Punakha Dzong holds a significant part in the Bhutanese history. It was here that the Trongsa Penlop Ugyen Wangchuck was presented with the insignia of Knight of Commander by the British. He was a good mediator during the Younghusband Mission to Lhasa. This was addition to his already growing popularity amongst the Bhutanese people who saw him as a potential leader for Bhutan. In 1907 the Bhutanese people unanimously crowned Sir Ugyen Wangchuck as the first king of Bhutan and thus started the monarchy system. He was enthroned in the coronation room on 17th December, 1907.

2. Trongsa
Kuenga Rabten Palace
The Kuenga Rabten Palace under the Trongsa District formerly served as the winter residence for the second king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and his junior consort, Ashi Pem Dechen. Constructed in 1928, it has been well preserved on account of its royal connections.

The Palace is located just beneath the motor road and it stands on the slope overlooking the mighty Mangdue River. As soon as you cross the threshold of the courtyard, you feel the aura of the past and your experiences from other such sites get further replenished with the contemplation of the elegance of the conventional complex.

Like most palaces, the Kuenga Rabten Palace is surrounded by stone walls with spy-holes which were used by the royal guards to check on the adversaries. A gallery runs around the courtyard on all four sides. To the left of the central tower there is a royal apartment and an outside where the royal bodyguards would stay. The central tower (utse), which has finely decorated woodwork, is a three-storey building. The ground floor and the second floor, which were once used respectively as a granary and a military garrison, are now empty. On the third floor, there are three adjoining rooms. The main entrance leads into the central room, known as the Sangye Lhakhang, which contains images of Shakyamuni Buddha and the Twenty-one Aspects of Tara. The room to the left was the private residence of King Jigme Wangchuck, while the room to the right is the Kangyur Lhakhang, now housing part of the National Library of Bhutan, to which the Palace is presently affiliated.

Yurungchholing Palace
The palace was built by the first king’s grand father-in-law Trongsa Penlop Ugyen Phuntsho (father of Jigme Namgyel’s wife) in 1830’s or 40’s. Presently the palace is used as a residence by the Penlop’s great great grand daughter, Ashi Kelsang. It also houses about 150 monks who are sponsored by them.
The Palace is no different from the rest of the traditional structures in the country, with an exquisite architecture and its interior design like that of the Dzongs.

With its warmer, more temperate climate the valley of Mangdelung, where the palace is located, provided a welcome relief from the harsh winters of Bumthang. The 2nd king, at various points in this extensive, well cultivated valley built no less than three residences.

Although the palace is not open to tourists at present, there are plans for this great mansion to be unbolted soon.

Thruepang palace
It was built by the 2nd king Jigme Wangchuck as his Palace most likely in 1930’s. The palace was occupied by the senior queen Ashi Phuntso Chhoden. The third king was born in Thruepang Palace and he spent most of his childhood traveling between the Thruepang, Kuenga Rabten and Wangdichholing palaces.

It is situated just above the motor road right next to the gate that leads to the Tronsa Dzong, before entering the proper Trongsa. It was renovated recently and is used by the fifth king.

Samchholing palace (Drakten Geog)
Built by the second king, it was later handed over to Ashi Pem Dechen, his junior consort and mother of HRH Namgyal Wangchuk. About 15 minutes walk away from the road head below, the Palace is located on a strategic point. From there, the vista of the conventional hamlets strewn over the region is very breathtaking.
The Palace has beautiful architectural designs and presently it is undergoing renovation.

Trongsa Dzong
Positioned prominently above the Mangde-chhu, stands the Trongsa Dzong with great splendor. It was built by Ngagi Wangchuk, the great grandfather of the Shabdrung, in 1543. The intricacy of its maze of buildings on successive levels is clearly visible from the town. The Dzong holds a special place in history of Bhutan as it was from there that the tradition of placing the Crown Prince as the Penlop before being enthroned as the king started. The title Chhoeste Penlop was derived from the Dzong. The first king’s father Jigme Namgyal was the Trongsa Penlop and he was the one who paved the way for monarchy in Bhutan. Then Ugyen Wangchuk became the Trongsa penlop and unified the country. He was the most powerful Penlop. With the birth of Bhutanese monarchy in 1907, the position of the Trongsa Penlop assumed a special significance.
The institution of the Trongsa Penlop, therefore, came to signify the true heritage to the Bhutanese Throne and the investiture ceremony of the Trongsa Penlop became the formal declaration of the status of the Crown Prince.

Ta-Dzong
The imposing Ta Dzong is located on the hill overlooking the impressive Trongsa Dzong. It is now being renovated to be transformed into a National Museum like that of the Paro Ta Dzong.

3. Bumthang
Wangdichholing Palace
The Wangdichholing Palace was built in 1857 by Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel and was later restored by his son, the first king Ugyen Wangchuck. It was the first palace to be built in Bhutan. It served as the summer residence of the second King, who later bequeathed it to his junior Queen Ashi Pem Dechen. The third king was said to have spent most of his youth in this palace. The place on which the Palace stands today was once a battle camp.

Located in the valley beside the Chamkhar River, the Palace presents the true aesthetic Bhutanese infrastructure. The view of the glorious Jakar Dzong and the mighty mountains enclosing it is splendid. The long alleyway with stone walls leads to the courtyard of the Palace from the parking space. Now almost in ruins, there are plans to refurbish the Palace by the royal government.

Domkhar Tashichholing Palace
Now used by the fifth king, it was formerly the summer residence of the second king Jigme Wangchuk, besides the Wangdichholing Palace. It was constructed in 1937 by the second king.

The Palace is a fine example of the authentic Bhutanese architecture. Located on a gentle slope, the Palace overlooks the villages and fields of Chumey Geog and the quaint landscape. Once there, you cannot help, but observe the beautiful Makhangthang, the first camping ground of the Royal Heritage Trek located next to the Domkhar stream.

Tang Ugyen Chholing
The 16th century Tang Ugyen Chholing Palace stands ceremoniously on the commanding spur of the remote Tang Valley. It was built by the Trongsa Penlop Tshokey Dorji, a descendant of Dorji Lingpa. The palace was once destroyed by an earthquake in 1987, and the present structure constitutes a smudge of more recent features of the reconstruction.
The palace is now turned into a museum with an entry fee of Nu. 100, which goes to the Ugyen Chholing Trust that supports the complex.

4. Mongar
Zhongkhar Dzong
The Zhongar Dzong in Lingmithang, which now stands in ruins, provides a picturesque view from the motor road below. Mongar Dzong was built to replace the Zhongar Dzong and it houses the artifacts of the old Dzong.

The Zhongar Dzong was damaged once by fire and at another unfortunate event, by an earthquake, said to have lasted for seven days. There isn’t a genuine source as to when and who built the fortress, but is explicitly thought that it came to existence on the spot where Lama Ngagi Wangchuk once built a small shrine. Evidently, it is believed that the fortress and the whole region were offered to the Shabdrung by the Zhongar King during his downfall in the 17th century.

Another story has it that the Dzong was burnt down during an affliction caused by innumerable fleas and rats.
Even today, people refrain from visiting the Dzong in fear of encountering the gigantic snake, which was said to have been the incarnation of the architect of the Dzong, Zochen Bala. It was believed that the Zhongar King cut off his hands to stop him from building another structure of equal or greater magnificence.

The fortress is however, soon to receive a wider audience after its renovation completes.

5. Lhuentse
Dungkar Nagtshang
The picturesque Dungkhar Choeje Nagtsang, is the ancestral home of the legendary Pala and Pila brothers, the forefathers of the Wangchuck dynasty.

The famous warrior brothers, Pala and Pila were the descendants of Kunga Wangpo, one of the seven sons of Pema Lingpa, the treasure revealer. It was Kunga Wangpo who founded the Khouchung Choeje, of which the Dungkar Choeje was a direct lineage of. Dungkhar Choje was respected as religious nobility two centuries ago, continuing the family of Pemalingpa. As a young boy, Jigme Namgyel, son of the potent Pila saw a vision that foretold him to pursue a journey west. Jigme Namgyal approached the Trongsa Penlop and did odd jobs at the court until he proved himself a commendable recipient of the titles thereafter, resulting in the unification of the whole country. Jigme Namgyel put an end to all the internal strife, civil wars, conspiracies and counter-conspiracies that existed among the regional leaders in the quest for their power. He successfully paved the way for Gongsar Ugyen wangchuk to become the first hereditary monarch of Bhutan in 1907.

It is today symbolic of revisiting Bhutan’s statehood built over the past 200 years.