Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong)

Bhutan

Cross a wooden cantilever bridge draped in prayer flags and the great white walls of this fortress-monastery rise before you, guarding the Paro valley as they have for centuries.

Commanding a rise above the Paro river, Rinpung Dzong is among the most magnificent of all dzongs in Bhutan — a 17th-century fortress-monastery whose name means "fortress on a heap of jewels." Behind its towering whitewashed walls lie shaded courtyards, richly painted galleries and finely carved woodwork, while red-robed monks move quietly between the temple halls that still function as an active religious and administrative seat. Approached by a traditional covered bridge, Paro Dzong rewards an unhurried wander through its layered history. Each spring it erupts into colour for the Paro Tshechu festival, its courtyards alive with masked dances. Among the essential things to do in Paro, Rinpung Dzong Bhutan is unforgettable. Plan your visit via the official Bhutan Tourism portal: bhutan.travel.

March to May and September to November for clear skies — or during the Paro Tshechu in spring for the masked-dance festival.

Among places to visit in Paro, time your visit for late afternoon when the light warms the walls, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered to enter the temples, and photograph the covered bridge from the riverbank below for the classic view.

This attraction can be easily woven into BreakBag Holidays' customised Bhutan tour packages, pairing Rinpung Dzong with Tiger's Nest and the valleys around Paro and Thimphu.

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