Kuenga Rabten Palace

The Kuenga Rabten Palace located 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 Mangdue River. Like most other palaces, the Kuenga Rabten Palace is also 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 stay. The central tower (utse), which bears majestically decorated woodwork, is a three-storey building. 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 left room was the private residence of second 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.