Tashichho Dzong (lit: The fortress of the glorious religion) is a Buddhist monastery complex and fortress located on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu next to the banks of the Wang Chu River (or Raidāk River), Bhutan. It is considered the most important dzong in the country as it has been the seat of the government since 1952. It presently houses the throne room and offices of the king, the secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance.
History
Although the Tashichho Dzong was constructed between 1961-1969 on the order of third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1952–1972 AD), there was an old Dzong (fortress) in Thumpu built in the 13th century by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, a Tibetan Buddhist who played a significant role in the early spread of the Drukpa school to Bhutan (Chand, 2017). It was enlarged in 1755 by Chhogyal Sherab Wangchuk, the thirteenth Deb [(1744–1763 A.D.) Chand, 2017].
References
1) Chand, R., 2017. Social ecology of immigrant population and changing urban landscape of Thimphu, Bhutan. Journal of Urban and Regional Studies on Contemporary India, 4(1), pp.1-12.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 1 February 2022