Dzhongs of Bhutan
Dzhongs are a unique and integral part of life in Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon that we had the pleasure of visiting this summer. A dzhong is an architectural structure -- somewhat like a fort -- that brings together the civil and religious administration of the country under a single roof. Most dzhongs have their origin in the military requirements of the local feudal lords but today they contain offices of the district administration and interestingly serve as a residence for Buddhist monks who are responsible for the Buddhist temple that is always colocated in the same premises. Here are two pictures of the Dzhong at Thimpu and this is us in Thimphu, the capital city of this tiny, land locked country wedged between India and Tibet. many of today's architecture in Bhutan is also modelled on the dzongs as you can make out from this picture of the Clock Tower in the central square of Thimphu. After Thimphu, we crossed the Dochula Pass on our way to Punakha Puna...
