Mongar
A quiet hill town along the east-west highway, known for its orange orchards and traditional stone architecture.
Overview
A relaxed hill town along the winding east-west highway, Mongar is often a one-night stopover for travelers heading further east — but it rewards a slower look, with orange orchards on the surrounding slopes and some of Bhutan's most traditional stone architecture. Nearby Drametse Monastery is the birthplace of Bhutan's masked drum dance, now recognized by UNESCO.
Highlights
- Mongar Dzong, one of Bhutan's newer but still traditionally built fortresses
- Orange orchards covering the surrounding hillsides
- Drametse Monastery, birthplace of the UNESCO-listed masked drum dance
- Traditional stone houses less common elsewhere in Bhutan
Things to Do
- Visit Mongar Dzong and its town market
- Day-trip to Drametse Monastery
- Walk through orange orchards on the hillsides above town
Popular Places
Mongar Dzong
Completed in the 1930s, built in the traditional style without nails or written plans, like its older counterparts.
Drametse Monastery
A remote hilltop monastery and the birthplace of the Drametse Ngacham masked dance, inscribed by UNESCO.
Mild and subtropical-leaning at this lower elevation, with warm, humid summers and gentle winters — noticeably milder than the central valleys.
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