culture · Paro, Bhutan
Rinpung Dzong, Ta Dzong and the covered bridge
Start at the National Museum in Ta Dzong, the round seven-storey watchtower on the slope above the dzong. It was built in 1649 to guard Rinpung Dzong and became the home of the National Museum in 1968. Galleries show ritual masks, thangka paintings, old weapons and armour, the famous Bhutanese stamps and natural history exhibits. Allow 60–90 minutes. The view from the terrace takes in the whole of the dzong below, the river and the airport.
Walk down the path to Rinpung Dzong, founded in 1644 by the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal on a site named 'heap of jewels'. It houses the district administration and the monk body, and the inner courtyard hosts the dances of the Paro Tshechu. The woodwork, painted galleries and the central tower are among the finest in the country. Several scenes of Bertolucci's Little Buddha were filmed here in 1993. Long sleeves, long trousers and no caps are required.
Leave the dzong by the lower gate and cross the traditional covered cantilever bridge over the Paro Chhu. From the far bank you get the classic photograph of the dzong above the river and the willow trees. Walk 10 minutes back into town for lunch. Entry fees are about Nu 500 at the museum and Nu 500 at the dzong, indicative 2026. Museum and dzong hours vary by day and season, so check with your guide.
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Questions people ask
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What are the timings of Paro Rinpung Dzong
Visitors are generally admitted in daytime hours, with longer access on weekends and holidays, because the dzong is a working administrative and monastic building. During the Paro Tshechu the courtyard is full of dancers and spectators. Your guide will confirm the day's hours. Check current status before you travel.
Is the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro worth it
Yes, for 60–90 minutes. It is the best single introduction to Bhutanese masks, thangkas, crafts and natural history, housed in a 17th-century watchtower above Rinpung Dzong. Entry is about Nu 500, indicative 2026. Visit before the dzong, so you understand what you are looking at.
Can I photograph inside Rinpung Dzong
You can photograph the courtyards, galleries and exterior, but not inside temples and shrine rooms. Do not photograph monks closely without asking, and do not use drones; drones need special permission in Bhutan. The best photograph of the dzong is from the covered bridge or the far riverbank.
