A history of architecture.

Paro Taktsang

Popular among trekkers as the Tiger's Nest, Paro Taktsang sits on the cliff side of the upper Paro valley.

Padmasambhava Connect

According to a legend, it is one of thirteen Tiger's Nest caves in historical Tibet., where Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche taught Vajrayana. The legend states that Padmasambhava flew to this location from Singye Dzong on the back of a tigress, which gives the temple its popular name.

The Other Legend

Another story states how a former wife of an emperor became a disciple of Padmasambhava. After she transformed herself into a tigress, carrying Padmasambhava on her back from Tibet to Bhutan. In one of the caves, he meditated and revealed his eight incarnations and the place came to be known as 'Tiger's Nest'.

A fire broke out in the main building of the monastery complex, where a monk lost his life. An electrical short-circuit or flickering butter lamps could have caused the inferno of 1998.

Meditation Centre

11th Century CE. The period saw many monks and religious leaders from Tibet who established various schools coming in the kingdom.

14th Century. First sanctuary was built in the area. This was determined after studying the paintings found in the complex.

1692 CE. A monastery complex was built around the cave where Padmasambhava meditated. 

Chants of Padmasambhava in 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'

Padmasambhava brought Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th Century CE from where it was taken to the neighbouring kingdoms. Born in the kingdom of Oddiyana, Padmasambhava is considered to be the second Buddha among many Vajrayana Buddhists in Nepal, Tibet, eastern India and Bhutan. historians place Oddiyana in Pakistan's Swat Valley. However, alternative theories have connected it to modern-day Orissa. We tke a look at two monuments in Bhutan where Padmasambhava is revered.

Cultural Legacy

Dzong, which means a type of fortress, is the second largest in the kingdom. It hosts various festivals including Domche - where re-enactment of the Tibetan invasion of Bhutan in 1639 takes place, celebrating Bhutanese triumph.

Punakha Dzong

Also called Pungthang Dewachhenbi Phodrang, the building serves as the administrative centre of Punakha District.

Who built it?

1637 - 38 CE. it was constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, the first Zhabdrung Rinpoche.

Padmasambhava's Prophecy

Local legends tell how Padmasambhava had prophesied that "a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant. Ngawang Namgyal spotted the peak of the hill, which appeared in the shape of the trunk of an elephant as prophesied and he built the current fortress.

Capital of Bhutan

1907. Punakhs Dzong served as the place where Ugyen Wangchuk was coronated, after he reunited Bhutan after defeating the regional lords.

6-storied

Structure that sits at an elevation of 1,200 mts and has been listed as a tentative site in the Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.

Wrath of Nature

As the dzong sits between two rivers, flash floods have caused devastating damages to the fortress in the past, with the most recent being in 1996.

1897

The 1897 Assam Earthquake, with 8.0 magnitude severely damaged the fortress.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. 

Lekha went to the PDS Ration Store to collect provisions and the free kit, offered by the PM's scheme, to the white ration card holders, which we are.