Item: Architecture

Drukgyel Dzong; location: Paro district. Drukgyel Dzong ('brug rgyal rdzong) lies at the northern end of the Paro Valley. Presently unoccupied and falling into disrepair, Drukgyel Dzong was built in the 17th century by the then Paro Penlop (governor) Tenzin Drugdra to celebrate multiple victories over Tibetan army incursions in 1617, 1634, 1639 and Tibeto-Mongol attacks of 1644 and 1649. For more information, see Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel, "Druk Gyal Dzong: The Two Faces" in Fortress of the Dragon: Proceedings of the Fourth Colloquium on the Tangible and Intangible Culture of Bhutan, 11-55, 2009. 395-414.

Ariana Maki 3-2012