Simtokha Dzong – Stepping Inside the Soul of Bhutanese Architecture There’s something quietly powerful about the first time you lay eyes on Simtokha Dzong. As I made my way up the road just outside Thimphu, the dzong emerged on the ridge like a timeless guardian its whitewashed walls was as magnificent as ever. It wasn’t grand in size, the energy around it felt dense, visiting the dzong was a memory itself. Entrance of Simtokha Dzong Walking through the ancient wooden gate, I could immediately sense why this dzong matters so much to our history. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha is Bhutan’s oldest dzong and the first to combine religious and administrative functions. The moment I stepped into its central courtyard, I felt like I was walking through the beginning of something sacred something foundational. The architecture is compact and strong, with thick inward-sloping stone walls that seem to hold centuries of wind and prayer. The courtyard was qui...