Jakar Dzong

Overview

The history of Jakar Dzong is as poetic as its name. Legend has it that in the mid-16th century, a group of lamas were looking for a site to build a monastery when a white bird—signifying an auspicious omen—circled and settled on the hill where the dzong now stands. It was initially founded by the great-grandfather of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and later expanded in 1667 to defend the valley against Tibetan incursions.

Unlike many other dzongs, Jakar is unique because its central tower (Utse) is located on the outside wall, and it features a protected passage leading to a nearby spring to ensure water supply during a siege. Today, it houses the district administration and the local monastic body, standing as a silent witness to centuries of political and religious evolution in central Bhutan.