Drukgyel Dzong

Drukgyel Dzong stands at the head of the Paro valley, a fortress built in the seventeenth century to commemorate Bhutan's defence against Tibetan invasions and to guard the route toward the passes. Long a striking ruin after a fire, it has undergone reconstruction while retaining its dramatic hilltop silhouette. On clear days the sacred peak of Jomolhari rises beyond it, framing one of the country's classic views. The site marks a trailhead for treks into the high mountains.