THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF BHUTAN
Established in 1968, the national museum of Bhutan is located at the Ta-Dzong, Paro. This ancient building was, however, renovated on the command of His Majesty, the third hereditary Monarch of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. This fortress is now the house of many of the finest specimens of art and masterpieces of bronzes and paintings.
Its history dates 356 years back where it purposed as Paro’s watch tower, then built by Tenzin Drugdra, the first Governor of Paro and the second Regent of Bhutan who ruled from 1656 - 1667. He was the half brother of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Ta-Dzong is build above the main Paro Dzong. It is cylindrical in shape and has seven stories with each floor housing different historical and cultural heritage. The spiral form of the structure cures around the inner core like a conch shape. The national museum has more than 3000 works of art, covering more than one thousand five hundred years of our cultural heritage.
GENERAL INFORMATION
OPEN: TUESDAY - SATURDAY
0900hrs - 1600hrs
Entry Permitted till 1530hrs
SUNDAY
1100hrs - 1600hrs
CLOSED: MONDAYs and Government Holidays
ADMISSION FEE
LOCAL: Nu. 10
SAARC Countries: Nu.50
TOURIST: Nu. 100
STUDENT: Nu. 5
Monks, Nuns and Children under 10 years - FREE
ZHABDRUNG GALLERY
It has 65 selected exhibits including the seal of Nga Chhu Drugma (The Sixteen I’s), Thangkas and photographs of Dzongs pertaining to his lineage and important deeds.
BHUTANESE SCRIPT
It is the chart narrating evolution of development of Bhutanese script and sheds light on jogyig, the Bhutanese cursive way of writing.
THANGKA ART
Thangka painting was introduced in Bhutan in 12th century A.D. and its style reflects combined tradition of Melung and Gongkar Khentse. The subject of these masterpieces are Buddhas, guardian deities and tutelary deities.
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