Lhuentse District (Dzongkhag) is one of the less visited districts in Bhutan and the ancestral home of Wangchuck dynasty. The Dzong is situated in the fertile valley of Kuri Chhu and was originally built as a monastery by Kuenga Wangpo, son of Pema Lingpa in 1543. Later in 1654, the Trongsa Penlop, Chogyal Minjur Tempa built a formal Dzong after winning a battle and named it Lhuentse Rinchentse. Lhuentse is 60 km away from Mongar town.
The earth quake of 21st September 2009 that hit eastern Bhutan caused a major damage to the Dzong and many other temples in the region.