Explore the Rich Heritage and Magnificent Architecture of Rinpung Dzong

The beautiful and serene town of Paro in Bhutan is a magnet for tourists who seek relief from chaotic urban life and spend some days in bliss of nature. While the natural beauty and serenity of Paro is amazing, there are many other attractions for the visitors to explore. The impressive religious shrines and citadels in Paro are also enticing and impressive. One such example is the magnificent Paro Dzong.

Nuances of the Paro Dzong

The majestic fortress of Paro, located on banks of Paro Chuu, is also known as Rinpung Dzong which denotes the jeweled fortress. It now serves as the headquarters of the Bhutan govt and serves as a major tourist puller. The architecture of the edifice and the scenic beauty is amazing. Its massive buttressed walls can be seen from anywhere in the valley. It is where the acclaimed movie ‘Little Buddha’, directed by celebrated Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci was shot! Outside there is a Degyankha Temple which is a destination for the pilgrims.

History and legends of the Paro Dzong

Like the other major edifices in Bhutan, certain folklores and legends are associated with the origin of the Paro Dzong. As per history it was a small crag offered to Lama Drung Drung Gyal by the locals. He later turned it into a five storey temple and preached the holy teachings of Lord Buddha. Later it was bestowed to the Drupka dynasty and Zhabdrung Rinpoche rebuilt it as a fortress. It served as a good defense to repel foreign invasion attempts in the past.

The amazing architecture

Built on a steep mountain cliff, The Paro Dzong is visually stunning- to say the least. The construction was done in several phases and owing to some natural calamities restoration works were done too. It suffered damaged from a fire and an earthquake in the past, for example. Now, the pagoda structured complex contains over a dozen shrines and chapels though some of these are not accessible to the tourists. There is a five storeys tall central tower. There is a monastic quarter which is inhabited by about 200 Buddhist monks.

Outside of the complex, to the northeastern side is a stone-paved area which is largely used to hold the yearly religious festival-Tsechu. Below the dzong there is a wooden covered bridge named Nyamai Zam. The Dzing looks majestic from outside but its interiors are also awe inspiring. The murals and wooden carvings inside are amazing to look at. The painted woodworks inside exude warmth.

Useful tips for the visitors

The Paro Dzong opens at 8 am everyday but closing time varies a little in winter and summer months. It is about 3 km from the main own and approx 10 km from Paro International airport. The Tsechu Festival draws a lot of locals to the area and it is more of a social event. The visitors can experience glimpse of Bhutanese culture by visiting the Dzong at the time of the festival. Above all, tourists enjoy watching the spectacular mask dance and unfurling of the gigantic embroidered thangka.

It is best to visit the rinpung dzong early in daytime so that you have some time left for visiting the Bhutan National Museum which is not far from it. Maintaining proper dress code is necessary and photography is allowed to an extent in the edifice.