Drukgyel Dzong: A Majestic Fortress of Bhutan
Explore Drukgyel Dzong, a breathtaking cultural landmark in Bhutan, showcasing the resilience of its history amidst stunning Himalayan landscapes.
Drukgyel Dzong, known as the Fortress of the Victorious Bhutanese, is a remarkable historical site in the Paro Valley, a prime destination for visitors to Bhutan. Constructed in the 17th century, this impressive fortress was built to commemorate the victory over Tibetan invaders, showcasing the resilience and spirit of the Bhutanese people. Although much of the structure is now in ruins, the remaining walls and towers evoke a sense of grandeur and history, providing a captivating backdrop for photography enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Visitors to Drukgyel Dzong can explore the remnants of its once-majestic architecture while enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and lush valleys. The journey to the dzong is as rewarding as the destination, with a scenic drive through picturesque landscapes filled with traditional Bhutanese homes and terraced fields. The best time to visit is during clear days, when the majestic peaks of the Himalayas can be admired in their full glory. As you roam the site, take a moment to reflect on the stories that this fortress holds, and immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere that surrounds it. Drukgyel Dzong is not just a monument of historical significance; it also serves as a reminder of Bhutan's rich cultural heritage and its commitment to preserving its traditions. Whether you're a cultural enthusiast, an adventure seeker, or simply a traveler eager to absorb the beauty of Bhutan, Drukgyel Dzong is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Local tips
- Visit early in the morning for fewer crowds and the best lighting for photographs.
- Wear comfortable shoes as the terrain can be uneven and requires some walking.
- Bring a water bottle and snacks, as there are limited facilities nearby.
- Check the weather forecast before your visit to ensure clear views of the surrounding mountains.
A brief summary to Drukgyel Dzong འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་རྫོང་།
- Drugyel Dzong, Chuyul, BT
- Visit website
- Monday 7 am-6 pm
- Tuesday 7 am-6 pm
- Wednesday 7 am-6 pm
- Thursday 7 am-6 pm
- Friday 7 am-6 pm
- Saturday 7 am-6 pm
- Sunday 7 am-6 pm
Getting There
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Car
If you are traveling by car, head towards the Thimphu-Phuentsholing Highway (NH 5). From Chhukha, take the road towards Phuentsholing and continue for about 20 km until you reach the junction for the road leading to Paro. Take a left turn onto the road heading towards Paro. After approximately 30 km, you will see signs for Drukgyel Dzong. Follow the signs, and you will arrive at the dzong, which is located in the Chuyul area.
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Public Transportation
To reach Drukgyel Dzong using public transportation, start by taking a bus from Chhukha to Phuentsholing. Upon reaching Phuentsholing, transfer to a bus heading to Paro. The journey to Paro will take about 1.5 to 2 hours. Once in Paro, you can hire a taxi or a local shared vehicle to take you to Drukgyel Dzong, which is about 15 km from the center of Paro. Make sure to check the bus schedule in advance, as services may vary.
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Taxi
If you prefer a more direct route, you can hire a taxi from Chhukha to Drukgyel Dzong. The trip will take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. Be sure to negotiate the fare beforehand, as prices can vary. Expect to pay around 1,500 to 2,000 Nu for a one-way trip. Ensure the taxi driver is familiar with the route to avoid any confusion.
Attractions Nearby to Drukgyel Dzong འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་རྫོང་།
- Paro Chu
- Tiger's Nest Hiking Trail
- Paro Taktsang
- Tiger's Nest View Point
- Tiger nest Bhutan
- Bumdrak Monastery འབུམ་བྲག་ལྷ་ཁང་།
- Kyichu Lhakhang སྐྱིད་ཆུ་ལྷ་ཁང་།
- Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang | ཟླུམ་བརྩེགས་ལྷ་ཁང་།
- Juneydrak Hermitage
- Katsho Goemba
- Valleys Of Bhutan
- Kila Goenpa Nunnery
- Jangsarbu Lhakhang
- National Museum of Bhutan འབྲུག་གི་འགྲེམས་སྟོན་ཁང་།
- Chumphu Nye
Landmarks nearby to Drukgyel Dzong འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་རྫོང་།
- Amankora, Paro
- The Taktsang
- Taktshang Paradise Hotel
- Tiger's Nest Resort - Best Resort in Paro, Bhutan
- Paro Taktsang Base
- Parking Lot for Paro Taktsang / Tiger's Nest.
- The Tigers Nest Camp
- Zhiwaling Heritage Hotel
- Raven's Nest
- Hotel Phendey Gakhil
- Bumdrak CampSite
- Chukha village lhakhang
- Bumdra sky burial (Duethro dangpa )
- Tenzinling Resort
- Tenzinling Luxury Villa Tents