National Museum of Bhutan, National museum in Paro, Bhutan.

The National Museum of Bhutan sits in a circular tower with very thick walls, perched above the Paro Dzong fortress in western Bhutan. The collection covers bronze sculptures, religious thangkas, ritual objects, and everyday items that together trace many centuries of Bhutanese life.

Ta Dzong was built in 1649 by Ponlop Tenzin Drukdra, the first governor of the Paro Valley and half-brother of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and completed in 1651 as an outpost and watchtower against Tibetan invasions. In 1968, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck ordered the old tower renovated and turned into the National Museum.

The museum displays works connected to different Buddhist schools that still shape religious life in Bhutan today. Walking through the galleries, visitors recognize the same symbols and figures found in temples and household shrines across the country.

Because visitor numbers are limited, booking in advance is a good idea. Morning visits tend to work best, as the light inside the tower is clearer and the terrace overlooking the Paro valley is less crowded.

The museum occupies the round Ta Dzong, a 1649 watchtower built by Ponlop Tenzin Drukdra, half-brother of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and completed in 1651. From its position above Rinpung Dzong, guards could watch the Paro valley for Tibetan incursions. The building's name, Ta Dzong, means "watchtower" in Dzongkha.