Overview
The 23km drive from Trongsa to Kuenga Rabten takes about an hour and passes through open countryside, high above a river gorge. Kuenga Rabten was the winter palace of the second King and is now looked after by the National Commission for Cultural Affairs. The building has a superb woodwork and decorations. At present, part of the palace is used as a library. The top floor has an alter room with statues of Shakyamuni, Zhabdrung and Guru Rimpoche. From the palace, one can take a hike up to the road and further along the village to a nunnery. The duration of the hike is about 25 minutes with a gradual ascent. There are about 80 nuns residing at the nunnery. This pleasant excursion from Trongsa offers further insights into the early days of Bhutan’s monarch.
