Simtokha dzong also known as sangak zabdhon phodrang is a small dzong. Dzongs were frequently built on a hilltop or mountain spur. It is believed that an electrical short circuit causes the fire. By tuesday, only stones, which comprised the stairs before the dzongs entrance, remained of the dzong, according to the bhutan newspaper, kuensel, which reported that numerous administrative documents were lost.
This tragedy had left a hole in every bhutanese and a red remarks in the history of bhutan. When zhabdrung ngawang namgyel was in chimi lhakhang at punakha, an old cripple approached him and told him that if he built a dzong in wangdue phodrang on a ridge that resembled a sleeping elephant, he would unite the country. Reconstruction of wangdue phodrang dzong reaches midway komal kharka, wangdue phodrang feb 28, 2018 the ongoing wangdue phodrang dzong reconstruction project has reached its midway with over 50 per cent of the works complete. The dzong is part of the drukpa lineage of the kagyu school of tibetan buddhism in bhutan. Wangdue dzong reconstruction on track komal kharka, thimphu aug 10, 2017 the ongoing reconstruction of wangdue phodrang dzong has seen a rapid progress in the past few months despite the hindrances brought by monsoon. The name is said to have been given by ngawang namgyal, the 1st zhabdrung rinpoche, who was searching for the best location for a dzong to prevent incursions from the south. Zhabdrung ngawang namgyel met a young boy named wangdi playing in the sand by the punak chhu and named the new dzong wangdi phodrang wangdis palace which was. Wangdue dzong was burned to the ground a few months back due to some electrical problem during renovation. Reconstruction of wangdue phodrang dzong reaches midway. The impressive wangdiphodrang dzong perched on a ridge overlooking the punatsangchu and dangchu rivers was built in 1639. Wangdue phodrang dzong posted on april 24, 20 the impressive wangdiphodrang dzong perched on a ridge overlooking the punatsangchu and dangchu rivers was built in 1639. Just one year, pungthang dechen phodrang the embryonic original punakha dzong was completed.
Bhutan holds 20 dzongs, or fortresses, with one of those being the wangdue phodrang dzong. May peace and hapiness prosper in our nation under your dynamic care and leadership. I should have known, the last days of june is never good for me. An important historical monument and former buddhist monastery, today it houses one of the premier dzongkha language learning institutes. Wangdue phodrang dzong stock photos and images 306 narrow your search. Wangdue phodrang is one of the largest dzongkhags in the country. Wangdue phodrang dzongkhag travel western bhutan, bhutan. The monastery contains a number of important historical bhutanese artifacts including 12th century paintings monitored by unesco and a noted statue of shabdrung ngawang namgyal on the upper floor. However, the dzong was being renovated at the time, so most of the historical relics had. The massive wangdue phodrang dzong is situated atop a high ridge between the punak tsang and dang chhu rivers.
Zhabdrung ngawang namgyel laid the foundation stone of wangdue phodrang. It was built in 1629 by zhabdrung ngawang namgyal, who unified bhutan. It is the third oldest dzong in the country after the semtokha and punakha dzongs, and played a significant role in zhabdrungs efforts to unite the country the dzong has experienced disasters before. New wangduephodrang dzong on the command of his majesty the king, the dzong reconstruction started in january 2014. After being constructed in 1638, it was destroyed by a major fire in 1837, then damaged by an earthquake in 1897. The wangdue phodrang dzong wangdi was founded by the zhabdrung in 1638 atop a high ridge between the punak tsang chhu and the dang chhu, clearly chosen for its commanding view of the valleys below. The tentative lists of states parties are published by the world heritage centre at its website andor in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate harmonization of tentative lists at regional and thematic levels. The construction was overseen by dzongpon geduen chophel. This bowl shaped glacial valley located on black mountains is filled with black necked cranes and endless pasturelands perfect for a painter to paint it.
This historic fortress was constructed in 1638 by zhabdrung ngawang namgyal and boasts that it is the third oldest dzong in bhutan after the semtokha and punakha dzongs and has been repaired in 1837 after a fire and an earthquake in 1897. During the time of lam neten pelden singye, the dzong was also damaged by a severe earthquake in 1897. New wangduephodrang dzong royal government of bhutan. Wangdue phodrang dzong dzongs and fortresses of bhutan. Wangduephodrang dzong reconstruction project is pleased to invite sealed bids from the interested bidders having valid trade license for the sculpture of various statues of goenpo, lhamo and so on for wangdue dzong reconstruction. Religion wangduephodrang dzong history raonline bhutan. However, as the dzong was being renovated at the time of the fire, most of the historic relics had been put into storage and so were saved from destruction. According to some, the ganden phodrang is represented by the central tibetan administration or dalai lamas governmentinexile in dharamshala, india after 1959. What differentiates the wangdue phodrang dzong from other dzongs in bhutan.
One of the most prominent sites in this dzongkhag was a century old fortress, wangdue phodrang dzong 16382012 which stood dramatically on hilltop overlooking the wangdue valley. Wangdi phodrang dzong burnt down in the afternoon of 24 june 2012. Bhutan is mourning the loss of wangdue phodrang dzong. The dzong as built in 1531 by ngawang chogyal, the brother of chojie drukpa kuenley. The size of the original dzong is unknown, but history books in bhutan state that the. Wangdue phodrang dzong overlooks the convergence of the dangchhu and punatsangchhu. More buildings were added around later, including the buddhist temple erected to memorize the defeat of tibetan invasion in 1639 and brassy rooftop gifted from the 7th dalai lama. South of wangdi, as it is known locally, towards the southern region of tsirang, is the giant indianfinanced punatsangchhu hydroelectric project.
Unlike the other dzongs in the country, wangdue phodrang dzong will be also the first one to have a passage built underground called the service tunnel to carry utility lines such as electricity, water supply pipes, sewer lines, and telephone and internet lines. Bhutan had only just submitted wangdue phodrang for world heritage list consideration in march. Wangdue phodrang dzong the impressive wangdiphodrang dzong perched on a ridge overlooking the punatsangchu and dangchu rivers was built in 1639. There is nothing to see at this point except ruins, and all the administrative offices have been moved to nearby bajo town. About 45 desuungs from wangdue phodrang dzongkhag had come together to carry out a day long volunteering works at wangdue phodrang dzong reconstruction project wdrp. The building you see today is actually not the original thimphu dzong. The name dogar, which means white border, is a reference to the five white bolders in the village of dogar.
The current focus is on the construction of the main tower and administrative blocks. Dzongs have had a history of fires, he explained, noting that butter lamps had. The wangdue phodrang dzong fortress was built in 1638 by the zhabdrung situated on the top of high edge between the punak tsang chhu river and the dang chhu river. Though most of the dzong expect for one monastery was destroyed, religious and historical relic managed to be rescued by volunteers and care keepers. Trashi chho dzong thimphu, bhutan attractions lonely. The volunteers were engaged in the ramming of mud satha on the ceiling of the first courtyard structure. The members of the project steering committee members are. Wangdue phodrang dzong, most standout structure, bhutan. The wangdue phodrang dzong, third oldest dzong in bhutan was built in 1638 and stood majestically on the hilltop. We visited wangdue dzong on 4th of november, it is one of the must visit place in bhutan. Wangdue phodrang dzong, wangdue phodrang in bhutan. Monks at dechen phodrang in 1971 it became a monastic school and currently it has 450 student monks enrolled in eightyear courses with a staff of 15. Dogar dobji zhong is considered to be the first model dzong in bhutan. Wangdue phodrang dzong reconstruction project posts.
Wangduephodrang dzong is the third oldest dzong in bhutan. However, this is ganden phodrang in a different sense, the personal service or labrang of the dalai lama. Dobji dzong dobji dokar dzong fortress built in 1531 by ngawang chogyal, the brother of drukpa kuenley popularly known as the divine madman, the dokardogar dobji dobrji dzong is situated at an altitude of 6,600 feet on the way to haa in western bhutan. He described a ridge in the presentday wangdue phodrang as a sleeping elephant and told zhabdrung that he would unite the country by building a dzong. History of wangdue phodrang the region is named after the wangdue phodrang dzong that overlooks the confluence of two rivers. When zhabdrung ngawang namgyel was in chimi lhakhang at. Wangdue dzong was razed to the ground on 26 june 2012. Dzong architecture project gutenberg selfpublishing. If the dzong is built on the side of a valley wall, a smaller dzong or watchtower is typically built directly uphill from the main dzong with the purpose of keeping the slope clear of attackers who might otherwise shoot downward into the courtyard of. The guide was very helpful to explain each and every details about the dzong. Semtokha dzong was destroyed in 1634 during the bhutantibet war.
It is the third oldest dzong in the country after the semtokha and punakha dzongs, and played a significant role in. Wangdue phodrang dzong travel guide attraction, things. The dzongkhag administration of wangdue phodrang joins the nation in offering our tashi delek and prayers for long life, good health and continued the annual. River by the side of the dzong is added attraction. The first fortress the dhongen dzong blue stone dzong was erected in 1216 on the hillside where dechen phodrang now stands, and it was adopted as the seat of lama phajo drukgom. It is a sixstoried structure with a central tower or utse at an average elevation of 1,200 metres 3,900 ft with a. But little did i know, what would happen next would be something that would go down history. The dzong held a powerful position during the premonarchy days and presently it is the towns visible feature. Wangdue phodrang, bhutan accommodations, attractions. It is the second oldest and most majestic dzong in bhutan built at the orders of ngawang namgyal. Every bhutanese know the history that wangdue phodrang dzong was founded in 1638 by the zhabdrung and was bhutans second capital until trongsa was founded in1644 with wangdue dzongpon as the head. Also, the dzongs structure which follows the counter of a ridge over the. Attractions and places to see in wangdue phodrang bhutan. Wangdue phodrang bhutan tourism 2020 travel guide holidify.
Last year, at this time, i got my first site and a labour died on this very day. Zhabdrung ngawang namgyel met a young boy named wangdi playing in the sand by the punak chhu and named the new dzong wangdi phodrang wangdis palace which was later changed to wangdue. The architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monks accommodation. In 1667, the seventh wangdue dzongpon sonam lhundrub extended the dzong to provide a new. Legend says that the zhabdrung ngawang namgyal met a small boy named wangdi playing in the sand on the banks of the punak tsang chhu and was moved to name his new dzong wangdi later wangdue phodrang wangdis palace. The size of the original dzong is unknown, but history books in bhutan state that the fourth desi, tenzin rabgay 16801694, extended it and also added another twostoried tower. Wangdue phodrang dzong fortress wangdue phodrang dzong overlooks the convergence of the dangchhu and punatsangchhu. Wangduephodrang dzong reconstruction projects steering committee, under the chairmanship of honble home minister and vice chairperson, honble health minister, is responsible for discharging administrative, technical, financial and organizational duties of the project. Since the dzong was under renovation before the fire, most of the. The annual wangdiphodrang tshechu was introduced by zhabdrung ngawang namgyal after the completion of the dzong. A cantilever bridge built in 1685 to span the puna tsang chu. All the rivers in bhutan are so beautiful and clean.
Wangduephodrang dzong wangduephodrang dzong was built in 1638 by zhabdrung ngawang namgyal. The original dzong which was one of the most important and historic heritage sites in bhutan was burnt down by the tragic fire accident on 24 june 2012. The ruins of wangdue phodrang dzong, wangdue bhutan. The place wangdue in earlier days served as second capital of bhutan and is a remarkable place in history. Wangdue phodrang dzong rising from the ashes daily. Then the punakha dzong began its history of political center until 1955. Dzong architecture is a distinctive type of fortress wylie. Wangdue phodrang dzong reconstruction project management joins the nation in wishing our majesty the king and queen a very happy 8th wedding anniversary.