Standing 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) above sea level, Ta Dzong watches over the Paro Valley from a majestic rise—just 4 km (2.4 miles) from Paro town and 2 km (1.2 miles) from Paro Dzong. Built-in 1649 by La Ningpa Tenzin Drukdra—Paro’s first Penlop, the second Druk Desi, and half-brother to Zhabdrung—the tower was designed as a strategic military lookout to protect the valley.

Its name, Ta Dzong, meaning “watchtower,” reflects its original purpose. In 1968, the Third King converted it into a museum, and in 1974, it became the National Museum of Bhutan—opened to the world in celebration of the Fourth King’s coronation.

Today, it houses over 3,000 artefacts representing 1,500 years of Bhutanese heritage—thangkas, ritual objects, weapons, and even natural history exhibits. The museum’s circular, seven-story structure is a marvel, with narrow stone staircases and small windows framing views of the valley below.

Though damaged in the 2011 Sikkim earthquake, restoration is ongoing. Plans include a tribal gallery celebrating Bhutan’s diverse customs, crafts, and communities. The gallery's storied past includes hosting two British prisoners and serving as a location for the 1993 film Little Buddha.

Visitors walk through Bhutan’s cultural timeline, surrounded by whispers of saints, kings, and artisans. The view stretches far from this high vantage point—linking the past with Bhutan’s ever-evolving identity.