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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.
What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.
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
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…