Drukgyel Dzong
འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་རྫོང་
A dzong at the head of the Paro Valley that commemorates the 17th-century defeat of a Tibetan invasion. It was destroyed by fire and later rebuilt, and on clear days you can see Mount Jomolhari.
Drukgyel Dzong, meaning 'Fortress of the Drukpa Victory', sits at the northern end of the Paro Valley, at the old trade route leading to Tibet. It was built in 1649 to commemorate the defeat of a joint Tibetan and Mongol invasion. In 1951 a fire destroyed the dzong, which then stood in ruins for many years. To celebrate the birth of a royal prince, reconstruction began in 2016, and the fortress was restored to its original form. From the high ground in front of the dzong, on clear days you can see Mount Jomolhari (Jomolhari), which rises to over 7,300 metres. Drukgyel Dzong is also one of the starting points for the Jomolhari trekking routes. Getting there: about 14 km north of Paro town, roughly 25 minutes by car, and it can be combined with Kyichu Lhakhang and Taktsang. Note: opening hours and the areas open to visitors are subject to change, so check on site.
Opening hours
Daytime (check on site for opening)
Nearby sights
- Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)
- Kyichu Lhakhang
- Paro Rinpung Dzong
- National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong)
- Chele La Pass
- Haa Valley (Lhakhang Karpo & Nagpo)
- Tachog Lhakhang & Iron Bridge
- Motithang Takin Preserve