Mongar is the gateway to eastern Bhutan and its second-largest town, a lively hillside settlement reached by one of the most spectacular drives in the country — a winding mountain road through fir forest, rhododendrons and cliff-hugging bends.
The town is best known for Mongar Dzong, one of the newest fortresses in Bhutan, built in the 1930s in the traditional way without nails or written plans — a fine example of living Bhutanese architecture. Nearby, the sacred Yakgang Lhakhang and the great Drametse Goenpa, home of a UNESCO-recognised mask dance, are well worth visiting.
As the hub of the east, Mongar is the natural base for exploring Lhuentse and the wider eastern circuit, offering warm hospitality and a genuine glimpse of a less-travelled side of Bhutan.