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Punakha, Punakha · 27.5819°, 89.8631°
The second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan, built in 1637–38 by Ngawang Namgyal, the first Zhabdrung Rinpoche, with Zowe Palep as architect. It keeps the sacred relics of the southern Drukpa lineage, served as the seat of government until the capital moved to Thimphu in 1955, and has hosted every royal coronation since 1907.
It is told that the Zhabdrung had the architect sleep beneath a small structure housing a Buddha image, and in a dream he saw a palace for Guru Rinpoche so clearly that he built the dzong from memory, without ever drawing a plan.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Zhabdrung era