Wangdue dzong has 14 temples, including kunrey assembly hall of monks. It must have been spectacular before it was engulfed in fire during 2012. It is believed that the fire is caused by electrical short circuit. We visited the beautiful dzong on our trip through bhutan in may 2011. 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. The kuenray has a kagyudserthi lhakhang on the top floor, kuenray in the middle and a caretakers room on the. Dhi companies will play a major role in the reconstruction process within the framework of the governments plan. The dzong caught fire in 19 but the destruction was so severe that a new dzong had to be erected.
Wangdue phodrang dzong, bhutan attractions images, timings. We want to play a central role, said the chairman of dhi, lyonpo om pradhan. 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. Located in the south of punakha, the higher reaches of the wangduephodrang valley provide rich pastureland for cattle.
By karma eden on october 19, 2017 bhutan, lhuentse. Eighteen kilometers from the town is the burnt ruins of drugyel dzong victorious fortress from where tibetan invasions were repelled. Wangdi is important in the history of bhutan because in the early days it was the site of the countrys second capital. Wangdue phodrang dzong the impressive wangdiphodrang dzong perched on a ridge overlooking the punatsangchu and dangchu rivers was built in 1639. The little town is popular for the tales of shaman culture, ornamental speeches or lozeys of shaa, ancestral home of pema tshewang tashi, the knight whose lozey still remains a favourite amongst the bhutanese. So, when i got my job here in wangdue, he said, he is happy to have me work here as he has many memories about wangdue. Places of interest in and around wangduephodrang wangduephodrang dzong sitting on top of the hill at the confluence of punakha chhu and tang chhu rivers, wangduephodrang dzong is towns most visible features. After the appointment of the first drung or drungpa subdivisional administrator, it became a pressing need to have a large and fitting centre to address the affairs of the people. The dzong is open for visitors during wangduephodrang tsechu celebrated in autumn. Wangdue dzong was razed to the ground on 26 june 2012. The guide was very helpful to explain each and every details about the dzong. Wangdue phodrang dzong reconstruction project home. Dzong in the sky, a photo from wangdi phodrang, central. 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.
The name is said to have been given by ngawang namgyal, the first zhabdrung rinpoche, who was searching for the best zone for a dzong to keep intrusions from the south. River by the side of the dzong is added attraction. Dhi ready to help in wangdue dzong reconstruction the. It has been around four years since the reconstruction works of the wangdue phodrang dzong began after the fortress was completely razed down in the tragic fire of 24th june, 2012 and the tentative completion schedule is on december, 2021. After trongsa dzong was established in 1644, the wangdue phodrang penlop ruler became the third most powerful ruler, after the penlops of paro and trongsa. N27 4 12 e89 52 47 dzong in bhutan is a complex of fortified building which served as a principal seat of buddhist school. Jun 24, 2012 history being trodden down to ground zero by infernonothing could be done, just wait and wait and wait the wrath of fire settle downaround 5 pm, 24 june, 2012.
Drukgyel dzong is one of the monuments nearby paro. 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 blacknecked crane festival bncf 24oct2019. To lhuentse singye dzong slice of last shangrila in bhutan. 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. With its massive walls and secret inner courtyards, the dzong is an apt metaphor for what bhutan until recently was. The 18th century pecha is titled, wangduephodrang thupwang lhakhang zhenpai karcha mootig doshel. The town gives its name to the dzong worked in 1638 that summons the district. Wangdue phodrang dzong built in 163839 got lost in a big fire tragedy on june, 24th 2012. In 1963, the dzong was turned over to the indian army to be used as a camp.
The wangduephodrang dzong is and has always been the provincial capital of the shar district. The druk holdings and investment dhi has said that it along with its companies will render all help in the reconstruction of the wangdue dzong. Wangdue phodrang is 2 hour drive from the capital, and about a 2hrs 45 minute journey from the airport. The town is not more than an enlarged village with a few wellprovided shops. Wangdue dzong reconstruction touches another milestone. The punakha dzong, also known as pungthang dewa chhenbi phodrang meaning the palace of great happiness or bliss, is the administrative centre of punakha district in punakha, bhutan. Apr 16, 2016 the dzong is being reconstructed with a fund of nu 1. Attractions and places to see in wangdue phodrang bhutan. Most of the dzongs were built to be strategic footholds for gaining influence of particular buddhist schools and controlling over the region under the power of the schools.
While most were burnt in the fire some that were saved from the fire are now kept in rinpung dzong. Wangdue phodrang is the meeting place of three major highways. The project director said that as of now nu 226 million m has been spent, of which materials worth nu 26 m has been stocked. Dzong in bhutan is a complex of fortified building which served as a principal seat of buddhist school.
The dzong gate is organized in wangdue phodrang in central bhutan. Behind rinpung dzong, on a high hillside is the castle shaped ta dzong a watch tower built in 1651 to defend bhutan from tibetan invasions. Kuenray of wangdue dzong completed april 16, 2016 0 comments in news by samdrup. To reach such a distant destination, first, we have to reach khoma from where hiking trail to singye dzong actually starts. In the feudal days, a dzongpon was the secular administrator, and the local ruler of wangdue was known as the wangzop. Located in the haa valley, the haa dzong was built in 1895 because a pressing need was felt to protect the adjoining border from tibetan invasions and after the appointment of the first haa drungpa, it became necessary to build an administrative center. A four century old architectural wonder the dzong is situated in the confluence of two rivers and has a peculiar cacti fence all around. It is said that ngawang chogyal followed the spring originating from the throne of jetsun milarepa in druk ralung, tibet in order to select a suitable site to establish. Top 5 bhutan dzongs updated for 2020 regent holidays. Constructed by ngawang namgyal, 1st zhabdrung rinpoche, in 163738, it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. The wangdue phodrang dzong 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 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.
May peace and hapiness prosper in our nation under your dynamic care and leadership. At the chosen spot, the zhabdrung encountered a boy named wangdi playing beside the river and hence named the dzong. Drukgyel dzong paro 2020 what to know before you go. When he became desi, he tried to keep the clergy out. From the wangdue fire incident, we realised that our role is more pronounced. Oct 19, 2017 to lhuentse singye dzong slice of last shangrila in bhutan 0. The second largest district in bhutan has a population of approximately 28,000 and is located at an altitude of 4,300 feet. The dzong had undergone major repair in 1837 after the fire and in 1897 due to damages caused by an earth quake. Wangdue dzong reconstruction works reaches 51 percent. As a defense fortress, druk gyal dzong is said to have housed the finest armory in the country which was located in a room overlooking the southern valley.
He was a drukpa lama who unified bhutan under one central administration. It was founded by trongsa penlop chhogyal minjur tempa when the eastern region of the country was brought under drukpa rule according to the. The threestorey kuenray of wangduephodrang dzong will be consecrated on april 20. Following the changes in the design of the utse last year, the completion of the dzong has been deferred to 2021 from 2018. 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. It was open to visitors during the festival of wangdue phodrang tsechu in. Wangdue is important in the history of bhutan, because in the early days it was the countrys secondary capital.
Wangduephodrang dzong burnt in 2012 and the kabisa lhakhang in punakha which was affected by windstorm. During the days of the first king and before that, the post carried a seat in the council. Built in 1637, the dzong is the winter residence of the central body of monks who descend from northern locations to the warmer climate of the south to wait out the winter cold. Dhi ready to help in wangdue dzong reconstruction the bhutanese. Citizens initiative to rebuild wangduephodrang dzong. Drukgyel dzong paro 2020 what to know before you go with. History being trodden down to ground zero by infernonothing could be done, just wait and wait and wait the wrath of fire settle downaround 5 pm, 24 june, 2012. May 14, 2014 most of the dzong has been burnt down in a fire and is in the process of being reconstructed. There are daily buses form phuentsholing,thimphu and paro.
Wangdue dzong was built in 1638 by zhabdrung ngawang namgyal. 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. The dzong was built in 1638 by shabdrung ngawang namgyal. Wangdue phodrang dzong reconstruction project management joins the nation in wishing our majesty the king and queen a very happy 8th wedding anniversary. Dzong was built by shabdrung ngawang namgyal to commemorate the victory over the tibetan invaders in1644. All the rivers in bhutan are so beautiful and clean. We visited wangdue dzong on 4th of november, it is one of the must visit place in bhutan. The town shares its name with the wangdue phodrang dzong built in 1638 that dominates the district. Who is who wangduephodrang dzong reconstruction project. My father was a monk, he was monk in wangdue phodrang dzong for two years. The story goes that when the zhabdrung was looking for a site to build the dzong, he came across a boy named wangdue playing by the riverside making a sand fortress. Preservation of this important fortress is the nations duty.
Knowing this fact we can say the historical wangdue dzong is a vital dzong that led to the unification of the kingdom. The goenkhang has a figure of gonpo mahakala carved on a stone slab. Located in southeastern ontario near the town of madoc, the centre is situated in the midst of an. Stan sesser every district in bhutan has a dzong, which is the headquarters for the districts government, and also headquarters for the religious administration. Wangdue phodrang dzong reconstruction project facebook. Punakha dzong sits at the confluence of the mother and father rivers, mo chhu and po chhu, in the bountiful punakha valley. Trashigang dzong located on a mountain ledge overlooking the dangmechhu, trashigang dzong is one of the most strategically placed dzongs in the country because it is accessible only from the north. Citizens initiative to rebuild wangduephodrang dzong public. This dzong is in eastern bhutan under the geographical jurisdiction of the lhuentse dzongkhag administration near the alpine tibetbhutan border. Wangdue phodrang dzong wangdue phodrang, bhutan attractions. The members of the project steering committee members are. Orgyan osal cho dzong the palyul foundation of canada. It is believed that an electrical short circuit causes the fire. It has been around four years since the reconstruction works of the wangdue phodrang dzong began after the fortress was.
The dzong held a powerful position during the premonarchy days and presently it is the towns visible feature. Builtin 1638, wangdue phodrang dzong was the most visible feature of the district and provided a wonderful view being located on a ridge overlooking the confluence of the rivers dang chhu and punakha chhu. Today, 24 june 20, is the first anniversary of wangdue dzong fire disaster, which seemingly was forgotten too quickly by many bhutanese, i. Wangdue dzong reconstruction project director kinley wangchuk said the dzong is today 58 percent complete. The dzong had undergone major repair in 1837 after the fire and in. He was the one who rebuilt tashichhodzong after the old one had burnt down and he built it within a record time of one year. Wangdue phodrang dzong wangdue phodrang tourist places.
An historic dzong built by shabdrung ngawang namgyal in 1638 was located at wangdue phodrang. Buddhas temple in wangduephodrang dzong an old scripture on the construction of a monastery inside the wangduephodrang dzong complex was found in paro. It was open to visitors during the festival of wangdue phodrang tsechu in autumn. Guidelines to manage bhutanese heritage sites daily. Wangdue phodrang also lies on the route from the capital to jakar, samdrup jongkhar, mongar, damphu and gelephu. Jun 09, 20 wangdue phodrang dzong built in 163839 got lost in a big fire tragedy on june, 24th 2012. Steering committee members honorable home minister, chairman honorable health minister, vice chairman venerable tshogki lopon, zhung dratshang secretary, mohca secretary, gnh dasho zepon wangchuk venerable lam neten, wangdue rabdey representative from gyalpo zimpon office zimpon wom namgay rinchen director, doc officiating dasho dzongdag. In 1968 a new dzong was again constructed and it continues to function as the district administrative headquarters. Utse, which is also the tallest structure of the dzong, is the most important structure of a dzong as it houses most of the sacred relics, statues of guardian deities, he said.
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