Simtokha Dzong, Buddhist fortress in Thimphu, Bhutan
Simtokha Dzong is a Buddhist fortress south of Thimphu built on a ridge and featuring a central tower with twelve sides and traditional Bhutanese architectural details. The structure combines thick outer walls with inner courtyards and temple spaces arranged according to the classic dzong layout.
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal built Simtokha Dzong in 1629 as the first structure in Bhutan that combined both administrative and religious functions. This founding marked the start of a new building style that would shape the country for centuries.
The main temple holds statues of Sakyamuni Buddha alongside eight bodhisattvas, and its walls are covered with ancient painted murals and embroidered religious textiles. These works of art tell Buddhist stories and give the interior its spiritual character.
You reach the fortress by driving south of Thimphu on mountain roads, with the best conditions during the dry months from October to March. The climb to the site is steep, but the paths are generally easy to walk.
The name Simtokha comes from the belief that the fortress was built on a rock where a demon was trapped, with simmo meaning demoness and do meaning stone. This legend ties the physical location to a spiritual story that remains known to visitors today.
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