The Trongsa Palace - Almost a 4 hour long drive from #Bhumthang took me to this #beautiful #palace constructed very strategically on a steep ridge surrounded by spectacular #valleys from all sides is an #architectural #beauty in true sense. It was constructed by the Late #King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck as a focal point from where unification of eastern #Bhutan took place. Today, it holds offices of the administrative wing of the #Royal government. Around 2 kms to the left of the dzong (#palace) flows the Mangde Chhu #River, which now supports the on going construction of Mangde #Chhu Hydroelectric #Plant (one of the biggest in Bhutan), funded by the GoI in exchange of electricity supply into the Eastern grid, #India. This mega project is right now the highlight of the Indo - Bhutan energy cooperation. Apart from the economic angle, preliminary studies show the significant negative impact of the under construction HEP on #Manas #National #Park (a UnESco declared world heritage site) in #Assam, thereby disturbing the #Himalayan #ecology and the #winter #capital, #trongsa itself.. #findinglostwoods #lonelyplanet #hydropower #himalayas #delhi #nature (at Trongsa, Bhutan)