National Museum of Bhutan

Housed in the historic Ta Dzong watchtower, the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro displays over 3,000 artifacts, including sacred relics, royal heirlooms, and cultural items, reflecting the nation’s rich cultural heritage.

Planning your visit

The National Museum of Bhutan occupies the Ta Dzong, a seventeenth-century watchtower built to defend the Rinpung Dzong below it in the Paro valley — a circular fortified structure of enormous stone walls, converted to a museum in 1968 on the orders of the third king.

The collection of over 3,000 objects covers Bhutanese art and culture: thangka paintings, bronze and gilt statuary, ritual objects and masks used in the tsechu festival dances, textiles, armour, weapons, household items, stamps and natural history material. The religious art is the strength, and it is displayed as living tradition rather than antiquity, since the practices continue.

The building suffered earthquake damage in 2011 and reopened after lengthy restoration.

Its position above the valley gives views over Paro, the dzong and the river, and the walk down to the dzong is part of most visits.

Bhutan requires visitors to travel on a package with a licensed guide and a daily sustainable development fee, so the museum is nearly always part of an arranged itinerary rather than an independent visit.

Bookable options include guided formats covering the museum, dzong and temples. Current availability is listed below.