Trongsa

Trongsa sits at the exact centre of Bhutan on a steep spur above a gorge, and its dzong is the largest in the country, a cascade of courtyards and towers dropping down the ridge in stages. Whoever held Trongsa controlled the only road between east and west, which is why the office of Trongsa Penlop became the stepping stone to the throne and is still held by the crown prince. The watchtower above the dzong houses a museum of the monarchy. The road approaches from the far side of the gorge in full view of it. The town is a stop rather than a stay.