Rabdentse, Capital ruins in Gyalshing district, India.
Rabdentse are ruins of a former capital with preserved stone foundations of palaces, religious buildings, and chortens spread across multiple terraced levels. The site extends over a larger area with walkways that connect different sections together.
The site was founded as a royal capital in 1670 and served as the administrative center until its destruction by Gurkha forces in 1814. The fall marked the end of an era of royal power in the region.
The buildings here show how Buddhist traditions and royal practices were interwoven together. You can see this in the temple foundations and in how the structures were arranged across the site.
You reach the ruins through a forested path from Pelling, which takes roughly an hour to walk. The best time to visit is between October and March, when the weather is clearer and drier.
The complex consists of three separate ceremonial areas linked by stone pathways. Each area served a different function in royal administration and shows distinct architectural purposes.
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