Rinchengang village in Wangdue Valley is one of the most clustered villages in Bhutan typically characteristic of a close knit community. The village sits over a slope across the Punatsangchu river facing the Wangduephodrang Dzong. The early settlers were supposed to have been hired during the early 1600’s, by the saint Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (the saint who unified Bhutan) from Cooch Bihar in India as construction laborers. They were exceptionally skilled in stone masonry and helped Zhabdrung built the old Wangdue Dzong. The massive Dzong stood for over 474 years with little to no renovation before a fire gutted the Dzong to the roots in 2012. People all over the country stood in solidarity for the reconstruction of one of the most important and oldest fortresses in the country. In the olden days, the village was known as ‘Drinchengang’ meaning grateful valley; grateful for the contribution the villagers made in building the Dzong. With passage of time, the settlers bonded with the locals through marriage and adopted the local culture and traditions. They were eventually recognized as Bhutanese citizens.

Surrounded by hundreds of terraced rice fields, it takes about fifteen minutes to walk up to the village from the highway. From there you can get a better view of the Wangdue Dzong and Punatshang chu river as it meanders down the valley. You can walk through the village, visit some traditional farmhouses replete with farm animals and interact with the villagers. Being very hospitable, you can have tea with local snacks at a farmhouse and even help out at their farm.