How to Reach Tashichho Dzong
Credits:- Photo by Pema Gyamtsho on Unsplash
By Road:
The nearest airport to Tashichho Dzong is the Paro International Airport which lies 54 km away from Thimphu and takes around 45mins to 50 mins to reach Tashichho Dzong. One can book a cab from the Paro International Airport to reach Thimphu.
By Bus:
Buses are the most convenient way of reaching the Tashichho Dzong. Alternatively, when you land at Paro Airport, instead of hiring a car, step on buses waging from Thimphu to Tashichho Dzong. The overall journey might be time-consuming around 1 hour 20mins but it will take you directly to the place.
By Rail:
There are no railways to reach Tashichho Dzong. It is better to book a taxi or travel by car. The best way to explore the place is to rent cars or vans usually for visiting the attractions in this beautiful city in Bhutan.
Best Time to Visit Tashichho Dzong
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The ideal time to visit the Tashichho Dzong starts from April to October. However, many visitors can also choose to travel to the place in the month between September to November.
Winter Season(November-March):
The winter season in Bhutan usually starts in November and continues until early March. The coolest month is January and the temperature ranges around 7°C during that time. To make most of your trip booking a travel plan as per the climatic conditions will guarantee you a happy and stress-free trip.
Spring Season( March to mid-April):
The spring season in the country lasts for a very short time. It usually begins from early March to mid-April. It is also touted as one of the best seasons to plan a trip to this serene beauty.
Summer season(April-Mid-September):
It is a true fact that the country experiences a relatively long summer season. It starts from mid-April and continues till the end of September. The warmest month in the year is July with an average temperature of 23°C.
Monsoon Season:
One can experience rainfall in Bhutan from late-June. The city experiences the heaviest rainfall in June as frequent monsoons soak parts of the country, mainly the southern part.
Autumn Season (September-October):
Last but not the least Autumn season greets the country in late September or early October and is reportedly one of the best times to visit the natural geography.
What Not to Miss at Tashichho Dzong
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There are many mesmerizing things to do in Tashichho Dzong. Here we are mentioning a few to help you plan your trip to Bhutan in the best way.
1. Visit Buddha Dordenma
The Buddha Dordenma is a giant statue of Gautama Buddha, sedentary inside a lotus, resting on the lovely hill about three km away from Dzong in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park.
The statue is 169 feet in height and it is one of the largest Buddha stupas around the globe. It is made of bronze and covered with gold. This huge structure manages the city of Thimphu as a protector.
The statue is 169 feet in height and it is one of the largest Buddha stupas around the globe. It is made of bronze and covered with gold. This huge structure manages the city of Thimphu as a protector.
2. Learn Bhutan’s Culture Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan
Weaving has been an integral part of Bhutan’s arts and culture. To give this art a proper direction Her Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuk set up the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan in 2005.
The main aim of the art school is to target and preserve the specific artform and also serve as a non-profit, non-governmental educational institution. Knitting is primarily taught to the students in the school and because of its noble initiative, the school has become a very integral part of the government.
The main aim of the art school is to target and preserve the specific artform and also serve as a non-profit, non-governmental educational institution. Knitting is primarily taught to the students in the school and because of its noble initiative, the school has become a very integral part of the government.
3. Explore Choki Traditional Art School
School displays the devotion of kids concerning the art. It was set-up in the year 1999; the school was started by Thrimdep Choki Dorji who was ardent on the education of arts to the rural and lower class of economically weak children.
4. Gain some knowledge at National Library of Bhutan
At the National Library, all pieces of Bhutan are well-looked-after, starting from religious to socio-political. It started in 1967 in Thimphu, alongside with Tibetan and Bhutanese texts and manuscripts. Here, you can find books on topics that lay emphasis on teaching society living a stress-free life.
The inside walls have photo frames from the historical times, which gives the library an artistic look. You can find many frames of historical events hanging, which are quite fascinating. The place is soothing, and you can find yourself immersed in reading about the history of Bhutan.
The inside walls have photo frames from the historical times, which gives the library an artistic look. You can find many frames of historical events hanging, which are quite fascinating. The place is soothing, and you can find yourself immersed in reading about the history of Bhutan.
5. Witness the beautiful Changangkha Lhakhang
This temple is yet another of the major attractions in the capital city of Bhutan. The primeval temple is situated at a distance of 1 km from the city of Thimphu. Built-in the 12th century, the structure of the temple resembles the ancient-style Bhutanese monastery.
The overall architecture of the temple is that of a castle and is perched on the Thimphu mountain range. Gorgeous interior wall paintings with life-size Tibetan texts adorn the walls and the peaceful environment calls for a day well-spent here.
The overall architecture of the temple is that of a castle and is perched on the Thimphu mountain range. Gorgeous interior wall paintings with life-size Tibetan texts adorn the walls and the peaceful environment calls for a day well-spent here.
Other Essential Information About Tashichho Dzong
Credits:- Photo by Pema Gyamtsho on Unsplash
Location- Chhanchhan Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
Opening Hours-
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM–5 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM
- Sunday: 9 AM–1 PM, 2–4:30 PM
Entry Fee- Rs 300 /person. or BTN 300
- Students: BTN 150
- Tariff payers, Children (below 5 years): No Entry Fee
Average Temperature- Around 19°C to 22°C in the capital
Distance from Nearest Airport- 51.6 km or 1 h 23 min drive from Paro airport.
Prayer Timings of Tashichho Dzong: The Tashichho Dzong Prayer timings are from 11 AM to 4 PM. The building closes for the day after 5 PM and on weekends, the fort is open from 11 AM to 4 PM.
History of Tashichho Dzong
Credits:- Photo by Pema Gyamtsho on Unsplash
The overall history of the place juts back to the 12th century. The Fortress was primarily constructed in 1216 A.D. by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa. In 1641, after Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal took over it but after finding it too basic and minuscule he constructed the lower Dzong.
Since then, the structure has endured major restorations, due to terrible fires and earthquakes taking place in succession over the years. The building was first constructed by the very first Dharma Raja Lho-Drukpa who belonged to the sect of Buddhism.
Architecture of Tashichho Dzong
Credits:- Photo by Pema Gyamtsho on Unsplash
The basic construction of the building is a whitewashed structure that has two-stories along with three-storeyed towers at all four angles. These towers are then capped by three-tiered wonderful golden rooftops that add a touch of bling to the beauty of the place.
The Dzong construction style is very unique and specific only to Bhutan, Tibet and some areas of China. The architecture is gigantic in style with high exterior walls which then blend with multifaceted courtyards, temples, organizational offices, and monks' lodgings.
Tashichho Dzong at Night
Credits:- Photo by Pema Gyamtsho on Unsplash
It is a busted fact that the Tashichho Dzong is visited by a large number of visitors during the sunset as the palace is a treat to the eyes after the daylights go off. The whole area comes abuzz when the Dzong is decorated with lights.
The whole palace along with the beautiful windows of the King's residence as well as the temple is decked with lights exquisitely. A picture-perfect sight for everyone out there, the place gives a lot of options to the shutterbugs to go on clicking.
