Paro comes into view, dominated by its fortress-monastery |
Rinpung Dzong, more commonly referred to as the Paro Dzong |
Rinpung Dzong on the north bank of the Paro River |
Paro Dzong |
Paro Dzong |
The Rinpung Dzong was built ca. 1645 on the site of an older monastery |
Paro Dzong |
Paro Dzong and the river |
Paro Dzong from the bridge to the west of the town center |
Looking down of Paro Dzong from the National Museum of Bhutan, a former watchtower |
The gilded roof of the utse (central tower) looking over the rice fields south of the river |
Paro Dzong seen from above |
Utse (Central Tower) of Paro Dzong |
Paro Dzong with its large central tower |
View of the Paro Valley with Rinpung Dzong and the Paro Airport |
Paro Dzong often gives air travelers their first impression of Bhutan |
Rinpung Dzong, Paro |
The central tower (utse) rising above Paro Dzong |
The main entrance reached by a defensive bridge on the north side |
The north side of Paro Dzong |
Paro Dzong |
Monks on the steps of Paro Dzong |
Another monastic building next to Paro Dzong |
Dennis, Paro Dzong |
A young novice monk in a hurry |
Dog hanging around the entrance of Paro Dzong |
Thunder Dragon - the symbol of Bhutan |
The main entrance to Paro Dzong protected by dragons |
Bhutanese Thunder Dragon |
Thunder Dragon, Paro Dzong |
Mural - Yulkhorsung, Guardian King of the East, white with lute |
Mural - Phagkepo, Guardian King of the South, blue with a sword |
Mural - Chenmizang, Guardian King of the West, red with chosen and snake |
Mural - Namthosey, Guardian King of the North, yellow with mongoose and a banner of victory |
Wheel of Deluded Existence (Wheel of Life), Paro Dzong |
Mara, the God of Deception and Dissolution, holds the wheel in his claws - the crown of skulls symbolizing inevitable death |
At the top, the Realm of the Devas, celestial gods |
Wheel of Life - The Realm of Asuras, the jealous demigods and titans. The wishing tree links their realm to that of the gods |
Wheel of Life - The Realm of Pretas, the Hungry Ghosts - always wanting, never satisfied |
At the bottom, the Realm of Hell, characterized by suffering |
Wheel of Life - detail of the torments of Hell |
Wheel of Life - The Realm of Animals |
Wheel of Life - The Realm of Mankind |
On the left of the inner circle, the righteous ascending while on the opposite side, the hell-bound descend |
Paro Dzong - mural of the symbols of Long Life |
Thunpa Punzhi - the Four Harmonious Friends |
Paro Dzong - tiger on a chain |
Paro Dzong - bull on a rope |
Door to the Dyt Hall, Paro Dzong |
The 8-spoked Khorlo, or Wheel of Life |
Detail of the woodwork and painting of Paro Dzong |
Wooden beams and supports, Paro Dzong |
The Utse (Central Tower) of Paro Dzong |
The Utse (Central Tower) of Paro Dzong |
Mural - Tiger on a Chain, Paro Dzong |
Mural - Bull on a rope, Paro Dzong |
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Monks passing through the courtyard, Paro Dzong |
From the upper gallery, Paro Dzong |
Dennis with two young monks, Paro Dzong |
Dennis with two young monks, Paro Dzong |
Me and Monks, Paro Dzong |
View from Rinpung Dzong looking towards the town center of Paro |
Looking out the window overlooking the Paro River |
Pennant flag, Paro Dzong |
Central Tower, Paro Dzong |
Monk selling trinkets to tourists |
Monk shop, Paro Dzong |
Tandin Dorji hanging out of Paro Dzong |
Bell in the courtyard of Paro Dzong |
Central Tower, Paro Dzong |
Another version of the Wheel of Life, Paro Dzong |
Always strive to stay in the top half of the Wheel of Life |
Best to avoid the bottom half of the Wheel of Life |
Guardian Kings with Enlightened Beings |
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Older monks at Paro Dzong |
Monk texting, Paro Dzong |
Tandin describing the Auspicious Symbols, Paro Dzong |
An odd pillar beside Paro Dzong |
Dennis with some local ladies on the path from Paro Dzong to the river |
Paro Dzong's south face |
Paro Dzong's south face |
Central Tower of Paro Dzong |
All Bhutanese visitors must wear National Dress including Kabney and Rachung to visit the Dzong or National Museum |
Tower Bridge across the Paro River at the foot of Rinpung Dzong |
Dennis and the cantilevered bridge at Paro Dzong |
Cantilevered Bridge, Paro Dzong |
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Avalokiteshvara - the Vision of Selflessness |
View of Rinpung Dzong from the old Cantilevered Bridge |
Guru Rinpoche, Paro Bridge |
Sakyamuni, the Historic Buddha, Paro Bridge |
Paro Dzong at night |
Paro Dzong at night |
Dennis on a night visit to Paro Dzong |
Town of Paro at night, from the hillside near Paro Dzong |
Paro Dzong at night |
Paro Dzong at night |
The moon tries to break through the clouds above the lights of Paro |