Castle · Thimphu, Bhutan
Tashichho Dzong
A Buddhist monastery and fortress in Thimphu, the seat of Bhutan's government since 1968. Built 1962–1968.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Thimphu, Bhutan |
|---|---|
| Type | Castle |
| Built | 1962–1968 |
| Coordinates | 27.4894° N, 89.6350° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Tashichho Dzong is known for
A Buddhist monastery and fortress in Thimphu, the seat of Bhutan's government since 1968.
About Tashichho Dzong
Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu in Bhutan, on the western bank of the Wang Chu. It has traditionally been the seat of the Druk Desi, the head of Bhutan's civil government, an office which has been combined with the kingship since the creation of the monarchy in 1907, and summer capital of the country. The main structure of the whitewashed building is two-storied with three-storied towers at each of the four corners topped by triple-tiered golden roofs.
History
The original Thimphu dzong was built in 1216 by Lama Gyalwa Lhanapa. In 1641 Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal took over that dzong, reconsecrated it, and renamed it Tashichho Dzong. Most of this original dzong was destroyed by fire in 1772 and a new dzong was built at the present site. Tashichho Dzong was again destroyed by fire three different times and seriously damaged by an earthquake in 1897. In 1962, after the capital was moved from Punakha to Thimphu, the present dzong was rebuilt by the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and after its completion in 1968 it became the seat of Bhutan's government.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Thimphu |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Paro Airport (PBH) |
| Distance from the airport | 13.9 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark's coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Paro International Airport (PBH) · Paro, Bhutan · 14.2 miles away
- Bagdogra Airport (IXB) · Siliguri, India · 97.9 miles away
- Xigaze Peace Airport / Shigatse Air Base (RKZ) · Xigazê (Samzhubzê), China · 130.2 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Bhutan
More castles
Frequently asked questions
What is Tashichho Dzong?
A Buddhist monastery and fortress in Thimphu, the seat of Bhutan's government since 1968.
Where is Tashichho Dzong located?
Tashichho Dzong is in Thimphu, Bhutan. Its coordinates are 27.4894° N, 89.6350° E.
How do I get to Tashichho Dzong?
The nearest town is Thimphu, and the nearest airport is Paro Airport (PBH), about 13.9 miles away (straight line).
When was Tashichho Dzong built?
Tashichho Dzong was built 1962–1968.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tashichho_Dzong — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1896299 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.