Wangduechhoeling Palace was built in 1856 by Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel, the father of Bhutan’s first King Sir Ugyen Wanchuck. As the birthplace of the first king of Bhutan, Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck, the Wangduechhoeling Palace serves as an important landmark in the history of the monarchy in Bhutan. In addition to its historical importance, the palace is also an extraordinary example of traditional Bhutanese architecture, painting, and craftsmanship that continues to influence Bhutanese architecture today.
The magnificent carvings and paintings on the façade of the palace, the frames of the timber windows, and the wall murals are rapidly deteriorating and are in danger of being damaged beyond repair or lost forever if not conserved soon. The palace provides an opportunity to restore a significant part of Bhutan’s history and make it available to the general public while promoting sustainable tourism.
One of the oldest lhakhangs in the Kingdom, Jampa lhakhang was founded by the King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in the 7th century AD. The King was destined to built 108 lhakhangs to subdue the spirit of the demoness that was residing in the Himalayas. Jampa Lhakhang is one of the two which were built in Bhutan. The other one is Kichu Lhakhang in Paro, both believed to have been built on the same day.