NATIONAL MUSEUM OF BHUTAN TA DZONG

Situated 100 m above the Paro dzong, it is an old watchtower depending on the fortress. The third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1952-1972), had the idea in 1968 to turn it into a National Museum. The six floors of the tower and exhibition rooms that make up the museum allow visitors to plunge into the heart of Bhutan's history and traditions. Following the earthquake that struck the region in 2010, a large part of the tower unfortunately collapsed. The museum, which has been under renovation since 2014, has had to reduce its space and today just over 20% of the collections are visible. Nevertheless, the visit is worth the trip to appreciate the full extent of the natural and cultural wealth of this little-known country. Among the many exhibits is the remarkable collection of religious objects, thangkha paintings and reliquaries. The art of thangkha painting was introduced to Bhutan at the beginning of the 12th century A.D. Unlike ordinary paintings, thangkha paintings aim to satisfy the realization of the spirit of Buddhism. On the ground floor, take a look at the collection of terrifying masks that men wear during tschechus. There are also stuffed animals typical of the country, traditional clothing and jewellery, stamps, not forgetting portraits of the various Bhutanese kings. Please note that cameras are not allowed inside the museum.