Drukgyel Dzong in Paro, Bhutan

Explore the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong

Quick Information

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Best time to visit
May - Nov
Ideal Duration
5-6 Days
Visa
On Arrival
Starting from
Rs. 10,000

Website

bhutan.travel/destinations/paro
  • Hills
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About Drukgyel Dzong in Paro

Drukgyel Dzong stands in the upper part of Paro district as a reminiscence of a glorious past and a tragic present, much like most constructions of the medieval age. The other dzongs that one can see in Bhutan are fully or partially functional, with monastic bodies and government departments operating from within the complex – but not Drukgyel Dzong of Paro. The skeletons of an old fortress and monastery were all that this place was, before the State and the Royalty decided to start a complete renovation project of the Drukgyel Dzong in Paro, Bhutan in 2016. This is mainly to fix the damage done by the big fire in 1951 caused by a butter lamp, which destroyed it to a large extent. Before that, it was used as an administrative centre. The year 2016 was chosen to mark two great events in the history of Bhutan – the arrival of Ngawang Namgyel to Bhutan in 1616 AD and also the birth year of Guru Rinpoche.

For this reason, the interiors of Drukgyel Dzong in Bhutan might be closed to the public for a while. However, even in their diminished and ruinous forms, the fortress-monastery resonate a sort of poignant beauty that match perfectly with its role played in the past of Bhutan. Though there is no way to know it for sure, Drukgyel Dzong history says that it was probably built by Tenzin Drukdra in around 1659 at the behest of Ngawang Namgyal, who later went on to unify all the fiefdoms of Bhutan and set up the sovereignty.

The fortress was built to commemorate the victory over the Tibetan forces from the north. The position where it stands used to be a very strategic one when it came to warfare with the powerful Northern Province. A special feature of Drukgyel Dzong is the false entrance-looking door, which only leads the enemy forces to an enclosed courtyard and trapped them inside. The Tremo La trail from Tibet enters the Paro Valley via this point, and once the invasions ceased and peace prevailed, this point was used for trade relations with Tibet. On the way up to the dzong, one can see a small chapel and a chorten, along with remains of old towers and walled tunnels – all crumbling under the weight of time, overgrown with weedy greens, but still standing tall enough to prove how well they served for the defence of Bhutan.

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Srivathsan's 7 days trip to Paro

A very memorable family trip organized by Valley Tours & Travel. Aashish and Pema were amazing to organize the entire trip at very short notice. Zong Mo and Pemba were our guide and driver for the trip and they were good too! In all a very happy trip with good hotels, serene places to visit and good support from Valley tours.

Srivathsan Kannan Kolkata

Brrevathi's 4 days trip to Paro

It was my first solo trip and definitely a great experience. I would recommend Allways Tours and Travels to everyone. Ms. Heema Lama did a good job assisting me with customising my package. Certain points for improvement - There was some confusion regarding the SDF that could have been avoided. It was told to me that the SDF was a part of my package and I should have ideally received an acknowledgment / receipt for it. Considering I didn’t have it in hand, I had to pay the amount at the airport. This happened as soon as I landed and had no means to contact my travel agent or my guide & driver. However, Ms Heema promptly refunded the amount. Also, the complimentary SIM card was given after multiple reminders on the first day. Ideally it could have been kept ready considering I’d shared a copy of my passport. Overall the trip was a great one and these were minor hassles. Hiking to Tiger’s nest monastery.

Brrevathi Bengaluru

Poo's 8 days trip to Paro

Thank you all for a wonderful experience in Bhutan. We enjoyed the trip and it was a very safe trip. Special thanks to Mr. Nima for being so patient enough and ensuring we cover every part of our itinerary in time. He has been a wonderful guide with all smiles every moment. Thank you to our driver for safe driving. Bhutaninc gave us awesome service as per our requirements. We will definitely recommend your agency to our friends and relatives.

Poo Scorpio Pune

Vinod's 5 days trip to Paro

Travel planning should have been better It was good trip but not great one

Vinod Bengaluru

Bijoy's 7 days trip to Paro

I am very much satisfied with the A D Tours and Travel. The owner is very much cooperative. We had a mishap. My friend died on 3rd May at Paro. The owner of A D Tours and Travels Mr. Gurung cooperated a lot and I am thankful to him. He was there with us the whole time. So my special thanks to Mr. Gurung. We enjoyed the trip till 3rd May afternoon. The services of A D Tours and Travels were very good. Hotels were good. Our guide was very good.

Bijoy Gupta Kolkata

Nilanjana's 8 days trip to Paro

Our Bhutan trip via AD Travels exceeded expectations, providing an unforgettable experience. Accommodations were superb, with our guide Tshering and driver Bhim La enhancing the journey. Bhutan's allure is undeniable, made even more memorable by their exceptional local people, always courteous, generous and ready to help. Trek to the Tiger's nest Monastery, dinner at a local farmhouse.

Nilanjana Bhattacharyya Hyderabad

Prakhar's 6 days trip to Paro

This was our first family trip to Bhutan and we had a wonderful time there. Our trip was organised by Green Zone destination. From the onset l, Sharmila was prompt and responsive. She was able to understand our requirements and created a custom itinerary for us. Our assigned driver and guide were also very friendly and knowledgeable. They shared with us the history of Bhutan, it's rich cultural heritage and religious significance. Our itinerary was 5 nights long which covered Thimphu, Punakha, Paro returning via Phutenshilong. During our visit, the weather was on our side and we visited all major attractions. We particularly liked the Punakha Dzong, Suspension Bridge, Tiger's nest and Paro cultural museum. The hike to Tiger's nest was the highlight of our trip. All our accomodations were comfortable and the rooms had picturesque views. My wife and I were also celebrating our wedding anniversary. The Green Zone destination team surprised us with a cake and decorated our room. This was a very kind gesture and it made our day all the more special. Additionally, during the trip my mother had forgotten her jacket in one of the hotels we were staying and the Green Zone destination team went out of the way to fetch it and deliver it to us enroute. Overall, we had a wonderful time and have cherished memories of our visit to Bhutan. Kudos to the Green Zone destination team for organising our trip and being on top of everything. I strongly recommend them for Bhutan travel requirements.

Prakhar Bangalore

Shital's 7 days trip to Paro

Guide was very helpful, they know what we like wat not . Tigers nest

Shital Shah Delhi

Dwarkesh's 9 days trip to Paro

Bhutan INC Tours made the trip of Bhutan so amazing! They were professional, kind and detail-oriented from my first interaction with them. I really appreciate that Miss Lalita created a personalised itinerary for me that was based around my love for hiking and trekking. The team put together a custom off the beaten path experience which was everything I could have asked for and more. My guide Sir Ugyen Nima had so much knowledge which he shared at every opportunity. I was enriched by his experiences whilst on this journey together. Thank you Ugyen Sir! Special mention also needs giving out here about how awesome it was having Mr Yeshi (my driver/guide) who played some great tunes throughout our drives around various parts of beautiful Bhutan thus adding another layer onto an already enjoyable trip. Each day brought new accommodation facilities; all equally comfortable some days were more cozy, but still I had ample of sleep to get ready for the next day. The meals provided for breakfast and dinner were very healthy and even got to experience the authentic bhutanese cuisine! Getting to know Bhutan through Bhutan INC Tours has been nothing short of mind blowing! Thank you so much guys for showing me such an awesome time – words fail when trying to describe just how grateful I am towards everyone involved!! Special Thanks to Mam Khina and Lalita for taking out time from their busy schedule to have a short meeting. Much appreciated!

Dwarkesh Soren Bhutan

Akshayaa's 8 days trip to Paro

The entire experience of booking our trip to Bhutan and the trip itself was very smooth. Thank you Travel Triangle for helping us find the local tour agent who organized everything perfectly for us. Loved the trip!

Akshayaa Rani Bangalore

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FAQ's of Paro

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Because of the burden of time and the fire in 1951, Drukgyel Dzong has suffered considerable damage, and the government is carrying out reconstruction projects inside. For this reason, the place is closed for a while, but a visit to the premises is very much worth the trip. The trek up to the monastery is beautiful too.

 

Drukgyel Dzong was originally constructed as a line of defence against the Tibetan armies. For this reason, its walls, towers and other constructions resemble that of a fortress to withhold attacks and sieges.

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