Accounts are sketchy as to who it was that built the Dzong; some maintain that it was built by the Paro Penlop La Ngoenpa Tenzin Drukdra (at the behest of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal) whilst some are of the opinion that it was built by Zhabdrung himself. Either ways, the Dzong was built in 1649 to commemorate Bhutanese victory over the invading allied Tibetan and Mongol forces.
The great Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel is widely regarded as the greatest historical figure of Bhutan, whose stature was not very far removed from that of an enlightened deity and is revered even today as such. A renaissance man blessed with abundant talents and virtues, he was the very embodiment of his former incarnation, the great Kuenkhen Pema Karpo.
The great Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel is widely regarded as the greatest historical figure of Bhutan, whose stature was not very far removed from that of an enlightened deity and is revered even today as such. A renaissance man blessed with abundant talents and virtues, he was the very embodiment of his former incarnation, the great Kuenkhen Pema Karpo.
A statesman, ruler and spiritual leader par excellence, his political and social initiatives and reforms changed the course of Bhutanese history and touched every aspect of the nation’s social and cultural fabric. Perhaps, his most significant legacy for Bhutan, was that he gave shape to the country’s distinct national, social and cultural identity, which has always acted as an important safeguard for a small and vulnerable country in maintaining its sovereignty from the medieval ages to modern times.
Though rightfully enthroned as the 18th Abbot of Ralung, a contentious claim by a rival contender, Pagsam Wangpo, as the authentic reincarnation and the ensuing disputes was to lead Ngawang Namgyel to leave Tibet for his prophesized destiny as the temporal and spiritual ruler of the southern Kingdom of Bhutan. On the invitation of his devout patrons from Bhutan, and given the auspicious omens, intuitions and dreams he had of this southern country from his protective deities, Yeshey Gonpo and Palden Lhamo, Ngawang Namgyel came to Bhutan in 1616, at the age of twenty three. This was to become an important and critical watershed in Bhutan’s history.
In a very short time after his arrival, the Zhabdrung repelled several Tibetan invasions and effectively consolidated his authority in Western Bhutan. At the end of his reign, the Zhabdrung had unified a great part of the country for the first time under a central theocratic government. This was largely achieved through establishing a network of strategically located Dzongs, the setting up of central political and administrative machinery along with the formalization of the Drukpa Kagyu School as the state religion and ideology. The Dzongs enabled him to gain control over different regions of the country. The success of the process of unification and the many other accomplishments and extraordinary feats he performed, resulted in him earning the appellation ‘Zhabdrung’ which translates as ‘At Whose Feet one Submits.’
Drukgyel Dzong is one of the many Dzongs built by the Zhabdrung. Unlike other Dzongs he built, Drukgyel Dzong served mainly defensive purposes rather than the customary administrative and religious functions. It was built to commemorate Bhutanese victory over the allied forces of Tibet and Mongolia, who made several invasions but failed. The structure consisted of the ‘Utse,’ or the central tower, which housed the shrine for the Guardian Deities, and the Shabkhor - rectangular buildings surrounding the courtyard. The high and massive stone masonry walls of the Shabkhor buildings stood on the steep slope of the hill entirely enclosing the inner space of the Dzong, making approach to Dzong possible only from a single entrance, which remained heavily guarded by several Ta Dzongs or Watchtowers connecting the entrance to the foot of the hill. Secret tunnels providing protected passages to fetch water from the river below, as well as to send reinforcements also said to have existed. It also housed one of the biggest granaries of the rest of the Dzongs in the country. Besides serving its defensive purpose, the Dzong also enabled the cementing of Bhutanese control over what was then the main route to Tibet, across the Tremo La Pass. Once the Tibetan invasions ceased, this became a major trade route; Bhutanese rice was transported to the Tibetan town of Phari Dzong and bartered for salt and bricks of tea.
‘Druk’ implies Bhutan (as Bhutan was also referred to as ‘Druk Yul’ or ‘Land of the Drukpas) and ‘Gyal’ translates as ‘victory,’ and in its totality, directly translates as ‘Fortress of Drukpa Victory.’ It is said that the Dzong housed the best armory in the country at the time. It was once used as a Summer Residence by the Ringpung Rabdey or the Monks of the Monastic School at Paro Dzong. Unfortunately the Dzong was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1951. Only the ruins of giant walls, charred gigantic wooden posts, beams and watch towers were all that remained of what was once the most important and historic testament to Bhutanese valor. The Dzong is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan's Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion. Some of the original relics rescued from the fire that occurred in 1951 are an image of Chenrizig, the god of compassion; an image of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal; 108 volumes of kanjur (translated words of Lord Buddha) and 12 volumes of Bum (Hundred thousand verses of Prajnaparamitra) and Dolma (Tara).
In 2016, to celebrate the birth of The Gyalsey, as well as to commemorate two other significant events, namely, the arrival of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel to Bhutan in 1616 AD and the birth year of Guru Rinpoche, the Nation took a unanimous decision that the Dzong be rebuilt and reinstated to its former glory. The announcement and ground breaking ceremony took place a day after the Prince was born.
Though rightfully enthroned as the 18th Abbot of Ralung, a contentious claim by a rival contender, Pagsam Wangpo, as the authentic reincarnation and the ensuing disputes was to lead Ngawang Namgyel to leave Tibet for his prophesized destiny as the temporal and spiritual ruler of the southern Kingdom of Bhutan. On the invitation of his devout patrons from Bhutan, and given the auspicious omens, intuitions and dreams he had of this southern country from his protective deities, Yeshey Gonpo and Palden Lhamo, Ngawang Namgyel came to Bhutan in 1616, at the age of twenty three. This was to become an important and critical watershed in Bhutan’s history.
In a very short time after his arrival, the Zhabdrung repelled several Tibetan invasions and effectively consolidated his authority in Western Bhutan. At the end of his reign, the Zhabdrung had unified a great part of the country for the first time under a central theocratic government. This was largely achieved through establishing a network of strategically located Dzongs, the setting up of central political and administrative machinery along with the formalization of the Drukpa Kagyu School as the state religion and ideology. The Dzongs enabled him to gain control over different regions of the country. The success of the process of unification and the many other accomplishments and extraordinary feats he performed, resulted in him earning the appellation ‘Zhabdrung’ which translates as ‘At Whose Feet one Submits.’
Drukgyel Dzong is one of the many Dzongs built by the Zhabdrung. Unlike other Dzongs he built, Drukgyel Dzong served mainly defensive purposes rather than the customary administrative and religious functions. It was built to commemorate Bhutanese victory over the allied forces of Tibet and Mongolia, who made several invasions but failed. The structure consisted of the ‘Utse,’ or the central tower, which housed the shrine for the Guardian Deities, and the Shabkhor - rectangular buildings surrounding the courtyard. The high and massive stone masonry walls of the Shabkhor buildings stood on the steep slope of the hill entirely enclosing the inner space of the Dzong, making approach to Dzong possible only from a single entrance, which remained heavily guarded by several Ta Dzongs or Watchtowers connecting the entrance to the foot of the hill. Secret tunnels providing protected passages to fetch water from the river below, as well as to send reinforcements also said to have existed. It also housed one of the biggest granaries of the rest of the Dzongs in the country. Besides serving its defensive purpose, the Dzong also enabled the cementing of Bhutanese control over what was then the main route to Tibet, across the Tremo La Pass. Once the Tibetan invasions ceased, this became a major trade route; Bhutanese rice was transported to the Tibetan town of Phari Dzong and bartered for salt and bricks of tea.
‘Druk’ implies Bhutan (as Bhutan was also referred to as ‘Druk Yul’ or ‘Land of the Drukpas) and ‘Gyal’ translates as ‘victory,’ and in its totality, directly translates as ‘Fortress of Drukpa Victory.’ It is said that the Dzong housed the best armory in the country at the time. It was once used as a Summer Residence by the Ringpung Rabdey or the Monks of the Monastic School at Paro Dzong. Unfortunately the Dzong was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1951. Only the ruins of giant walls, charred gigantic wooden posts, beams and watch towers were all that remained of what was once the most important and historic testament to Bhutanese valor. The Dzong is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan's Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion. Some of the original relics rescued from the fire that occurred in 1951 are an image of Chenrizig, the god of compassion; an image of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal; 108 volumes of kanjur (translated words of Lord Buddha) and 12 volumes of Bum (Hundred thousand verses of Prajnaparamitra) and Dolma (Tara).
In 2016, to celebrate the birth of The Gyalsey, as well as to commemorate two other significant events, namely, the arrival of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel to Bhutan in 1616 AD and the birth year of Guru Rinpoche, the Nation took a unanimous decision that the Dzong be rebuilt and reinstated to its former glory. The announcement and ground breaking ceremony took place a day after the Prince was born.