The dzongs: monastery-fortresses
The building that best represents the local architecture is the dzong: the country would count 1,300 of them. Erected from the 12th century to protect the strategic points of the kingdom, these gigantic fortresses were originally the property of powerful families. It was from the 17th century and the unification of Bhutan that the vast majority of dzongs were built. The role of these huge buildings then changed to become the relays of the central administration and the shelter of monasteries - this is still the case today. From the point of view of their design, they are defensive structures, square or oblong in shape. Their thick walls are not at right angles and converge towards the roof. The general appearance of a dzong is sometimes dictated by the configuration of the land on which it is erected, making it unique. The building revolves around a tower, utse, built in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by imposing walls housing monks' cells, kitchens and administrative offices. The buildings surrounding it offer superb balconies and sculpted arcades. While the upper floors, inaccessible to enemies, have imposing, richly decorated windows, the first floors are pierced only by narrow loopholes. The dzongs of Punakha, Jakar and Trongsa are among the most beautiful and impressive in the country.
The chörten and the monasteries
Known as stupa in India, the chörten
differs from the latter by its bulbous shape. Circulation around a chörten is always clockwise: the cosmic direction. The chörten is built around a piece of wood decorated and covered with sacred inscriptions, symbolizing the tree of life. Its shape represents the universe. Although there are several thousand of them in the country, the commemorative chörten of Thimphu is perhaps one of the most beautiful. There are 2,000 monasteries throughout the country. Their doors are decorated with inlaid metal motifs or religious paintings and the interior walls are covered with frescoes. They can be distinguished by the brown strip that decorates the top of the building.The traditional habitat
The secular architecture also stands out because of the country's geographical configuration. With the exception of Thimphu, the capital, which has a population of 70,000, most of the villages have about ten dwellings, arranged to provide protection from the wind and cold. While in the west of the country, the use of clay is common, villagers in the central regions use stone and wood to build their two- to three-storey houses. You will certainly notice the painted phalluses on the facades of the houses. These exterior frescoes are actually meant to ward off demonic spirits and negative energies. They are inspired by the life of Drukpa Kunley, the divine madman.
