Drugyal Dzong - Paro

My visit to Drugyal Dzong

I have learned in the histories during the old school days about the wars among the petty rulers of our country in early days and how people used  to go to fetch water at times of war, concealed in between high walls. Especially in the structures like fortresses, they used to have a secret pathways to fetch water from a well below. It is called as "Chhudzong" or a water fortress (Forgive me if my direct translation is incorrect). Chhhudzong will be located far below near the stream and the way to it will have been protected by high walls to protect themselves and the water source from the enemies. 

The structure will be seen in every old monuments. The same structure could be seen in Drugyal Dzong and it can be confirmed from the structural design that it is a Chhudzong. Although it's just a ruins, the structure still stands majestically on the hill overlooking the valley below. The walls are very strong and we can easily make it out that the structure is built with a firm foundation. I was amazed by the structures build over a large area and without having drawn a single line on a paper and using a single metallic nail, such a magnificent structure stands still at this time. Going by the History, it is said that the Dzong was built in 1649 and later in 1950, it was destroyed by fire. 

The Dzong is located about 12 Kilometers away from main Paro town and the journey through the thick pine forests is breathtaking. Once inside the courtyard of the Dzong, one can remember the histories and imagine the lives of our people during those times. The structures; the walls, staircases and the doors and windows will take us to the times of 17th or 18th centuries. It is one of the few old structures seen in Bhutan and a site visited by all people. The good news is the Royal Government of Bhutan has a plan to rebuild the Dzong to its former glory and hope the structure and architecture will be as it was.