WANGDUE PHODRANG DZONG

Before you reach the foot of the dzong, you can make out eight chörtens symbolizing the key events in Buddha's life. The entrance to the fortress is marked by a large prayer wheel at the end of an uphill track. The Wangdue Phodrang dzong is strategic to say the least, dominating an impressive view of the south-north and east-west routes. Built by the Shabdrung in 1638, it stands above the confluence of the Dang and Punak Tsang Chhu rivers. The choice of this location is also attributed to another legend: when the Bhutanese were looking for a site for this dzong, four crows were seen flying in four directions. Buddhists interpreted this as a good omen, symbolizing the spread of their religion to the four corners of the globe.

The dzong had to be rebuilt several times: after a fire in 1837, then after an earthquake in 1897. In June 2012, the dzong caught fire again and was completely destroyed. Reconstruction work has since been carried out, and it was reopened in 2022. The three-storey assembly hall is now open to visitors, as is the entire site.

The dzong's construction is based on three distinct narrow structures along the hillside. The central tower, also known as the utse, divides the building in two. The construction of this fortress enabled one of the three most influential penlops to control the road to Trongsa, Punakha, Dagana and Thimphu.