Introduction

Gyantse Dzong is a renowned fortress located at Dzong Hill at the center of Gyangtse County and it is mostly known because of its touching story and extraordinary past. The fortress was originally built in 1641 and was later rebuilt in 1952 by the third king which is now used as the seat of the royal Bhutanese Government. This site bears a lot of history because in 1904 Britain invaders conquered Gyangtse but they encountered resistance from locals. What is fascinating is that the locals were so brave and were able to conquer the invaders without special weapons like guns instead they used stones, cannons, arrows, bows swords and lances. However, the defense wasn’t long lived because of hunger and lack of ammunition because in June the invaders bombed their supply depot rendering the locals to give in after eight whole months. Till date both locals and visitors visit this site to commemorate heroes who fought hard for their beloved motherland and also enjoy the beautiful scenery at the top of the hill located in Gyangtse.

Things to see and on a visit

Visitors can see the famous cliff where the famous fight took place on a visit. The cliff where the battlefront took place is located at the center of Gyantse and it is 125 meters high and 4020 meters. From this hilltop, a bird’s eye view of both small and big houses can be seen decorating the whole area with a shade of pale grey. Located opposite to Dzong Hill is Palkhor Monastery which is the most beautiful place of the whole set up and to the northwestern side is Ninchu River that flows calmly as it waters the vegetation on its way.

There is a monument that commemorates this heroic event in this area. Visitors can also experience the culture of Bhutan that is fully reflected in Thimphu in respect of religion, literature, traditional attire and customs. Tourists can attend festivals and get in touch with the locals way of lie and traditions. For instance, at the Tsechu festival that runs through four days every year in autumn is a highlight with Cham dances performed in courtyards.