Trongsa Dzong

Coordinates: 27°29′58″N 90°30′17″E / 27.49944°N 90.50472°E / 27.49944; 90.50472
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Trongsa Dzong
Chhoekhor Raptentse Dzong
Choetse Dzong
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
in 1647.

Trongsa Dzong is the largest

Drukpa lama, Nagi Wangchuk son of Ngawang Chhojey. In 1647, his great-grandson Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (Shabdrung or Zhabdrung being his title),[1][2] constructed the first dzong to replace it, called Chökhor Rabtentse Dzong with a shorter version of Choetse Dzong. It was enlarged several times during the 18th century; the Chenrezig Lhakang was built in 1715 and a whole complex, including the Maitreya (Jampa) temple, was added in 1771. The dzong has since been repaired on several occasions; it was damaged during the 1897 Assam earthquake and underwent extensive renovation in 1927 and 1999.[2][3]

Trongsa Dzong, the largest dzong at a striking location, is an important administrative building, providing the headquarters of the government of

Kurje Monastery in the Bumthang Valley. It contains a notable printing house, responsible for the printing of many religious texts in Bhutan.).[1][4][5]
It is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan's Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.

Geography

The Dzong and the small town surrounding it are situated on a spur, a wild rocky area, above the ravines of the

Mangde Chuu valley with the scenic backdrop of the Black Mountains on its southwest. The Dzong is located above the fast flowing Mandge Chu in a unique setting that has been described as "the most spectacularly sited dzong in Bhutan with a sheer drop to the south that often disappears into cloud and mist".[2][6][7]

Chorten in Nepalese style at Pele La on the foot track to Trongsa Dzong.

Approach to Trongsa, till 1970, was only from the upper reaches of the Mangde Chu valley, starting the descent to the Trongsa town and the dzong from the location of two small chortens at Chendebji (One built by Lama Shida in

Guru Rinpoche. The Potala Lhakhang was built in 2005 and is housing a 9 metres (30 ft) high statue of Chenresig. Arriving at the head of the valley, there is an extensive view of the large white Trashi Dzong.[2][6]

From Thimpu, the capital city on the west, the journey is by road, of about 7 hours, passing through mountain ranges on the east and west directions. The road is aligned above the Dzong, passes through a vegetable market and then through a small palace. This palace is where the late king

Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (the third king of Butan) was born in 1928.[2]

History

Courtyard

Trongsa means "the new village" in Bhutanese, which comprises retreats, temples and hermitages of monks.

dharma wheel-the conchshell".[7] The original temple site is today located at the end of the dzong, at the Temple of Chortens.[2][3]

Panorama of Trongsa Dzong.

In 1647, the great-grandson of Ngagi Wangchuk, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, noted for the building of several other prominent buildings in Bhutan, began constructing a dzong in Trongsa, given its strategical importance.

Wangchuck dynasty before they became rulers of Bhutan in 1907. The rulers of Trongsa, the penlops of the Wangchuck dynasty, who resided at Trongsa Dzong were very powerful, exerting influence over all of eastern and central Bhutan, controlling east-west trade for centuries.[4] The only road connecting eastern and western Bhutan (the precursor to the modern Lateral Road), passed through the courtyard of the dzong. By the 19th century, the penlops, ruling from Trongsa Dzong, had become so powerful that Trongsa had effectively become the capital of Bhutan, although never officially so.[4] Its strategic location added to its importance on the east-west trade route and was a source of revenue to the Trongsa penlop.[2][4]
They later became the monarchs of Bhutan that rule to this day.

Sir Ugyen Wangchuck, the first ruler of Bhutan was the Penlop at Trongsa before he was crowned the King of Bhutan in 1907. However, he retained the position of Penlop as well.[1][8]

In 1652,

Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara) Lhakang and in 1765, Penlop Zhidar established a monastic community of around 50 monks at the dzong.[3] In 1771, a whole complex, including the Maitreya (Jampa) temple was added to provide for the monks. In 1853, the 10th Penlop of Trongsa, Jigme Namgyal, who was the father of the first king. erected the Demchog (Cakrasamvara) Lhakhang, in the central section of the dzong.[3]

Trongsa Dzong was heavily damaged following the 1897 Assam earthquake. It underwent major repair and was restored by both the 1st king, Ugyen Wangchuck and the 2nd king, Jigme Wangchuck in 1927, who renovated the Chenrezig Lhakhang in particular.[3] In 1999, funding from Austria led to extensive restoration works and was reconsecrated in October 2004, coinciding with the enthronement of the Crown Prince.[3]

The old village of Trongsar is located below, but there is a new village of Trongsar, which has been under construction on the mountainside since 1982. Tibetan immigrants settled in the valley in late 1950s and early 1960. The shopkeepers are mainly of Bhutanese and Tibetan origin.[1][2]

Architecture

General view of Trongsa dzong.
Interior courtyard in Trongsa Dzong.

Trongsa Dzong is a powerfully built fortress and is exemplary of

Ugyen Wangchuk. However, the Dzong has undergone renovations in recent years with assistance provided by an Austrian team. The original design of the northern assembly hall, an original court scene with mural paintings of the guardians of four directions, Phurba statue in the main hall, a mural replica of Swayambunath temple of Nepal and a pictorial map of Lhasa are retained.[10]

Ta Dzong, the watch tower, that was in the past a stronghold against internal insurgencies, towering over the east side of the dzong, has since been converted into a state-of-the Art Museum (National Museum) with technical and financial support provided by Austria. The tower also houses a chapel dedicated to the Jigme Namgyal who was penlop in the 19th century. It is also stated that in the dungeon of the tower two British soldiers were imprisoned during the Duar War.[6][10] The Ta Dzong tower originally was a highly fortified six-storied tower, with numerous galleries in the thick walls for defense. Further fortifications in the form of three independent towers were added at a higher elevation in close vicinity of the Ta Dzong.[11]

Aside from its central administrative offices, Trongsa is a major monastery and today houses around 200 monks.

Kurje Monastery in the Choekhor Valley of Bumthang and some of them often spend their summers at Kurje.[4] An important printing house is also located at the dzong, where printing of religious texts is done by traditional woodblock printing.[4]

Festival

A five-day festival known as the Trongsa

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.[5]

Gallery

  • One side of the Dzong
    One side of the Dzong
  • A panoramic view of the Trongsa Dzong within Trongsa town setting
    A panoramic view of the Trongsa Dzong within Trongsa town setting
  • Inner courtyard of Trongsa Dzong
    Inner courtyard of Trongsa Dzong
  • Front entrance to the Dzong
    Front entrance to the Dzong
  • View of Trongsa Dzong (2001)
    View of Trongsa Dzong (2001)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Dorje (1999), p. 856.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-74059-529-2
    .
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Pommaret (2006), p.211.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Pommaret (2006), p.212
  5. ^
    ISBN 1-84353-048-1
    .
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-81-8324-265-3
    .
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-1-59311-735-1
    .
  8. ^ Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society, Volume 17. Royal Central Asian Society. 1930. p. 215.
  9. ^ a b c Pommaret, p. 213
  10. ^ a b c Brown, p.164
  11. ISBN 1-84383-066-3
    .

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trongsa Dzong.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trongsa_Dzong&oldid=1180801874"