The National Museum of Bhutan

Set in Paro Ta Dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan is sure to answer the queries of the history buffs. The popular tourist attraction is a cultural museum which was established in the year 1968 to house some finest specimen of Bhutanese art including bronze paintings and statues. Today the museum has more than 3,000 works of Bhutanese artefacts and artworks including traditional weapons, costumes, armour, handcrafted implements and covering more than 1,500 years of Bhutan’s cultural heritage. Tourists visiting the museum will get an opportunity to learn about the unique Bhutanese history with its rich holding of various creative traditions and disciplines. The ambience of the museum represents a remarkable blend of the past with the present which is an experience not to be missed when holidaying in Paro. As the tourists indulge in exploring the museum, they would come across the Natural History Gallery and Ritual Objects that showcases objects like daggers, headdresses, thunderbolts, robes, cymbals, musical instruments appropriate to Buddhist ceremonies. Further ahead, there is the Chapel of Wealth Deity and Thangkas that has a range of paintings of natural mineral pigments. A visit to the museum will bring one close to a collection that can best show the rich cultural traditions of the country.

Coming to the architecture of the museum, the unusual round building is said to resemble a conch shell. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the museum but tourists can make the best use if their photography skills by capturing the ta dzong (watchtower) and the surrounding grounds. In addition to this, once tourists are done with visiting the museum, one can take down a path from the museum to the dzong and back to the town. Indulging in this short hike will give the travellers an opportunity to enjoy good views of the valley and of the Ugyen Pelri Palace.