Semtoka (Bhutan)

Simtokha Dzong is similar to all the Dzongs in the country ... Or rather, I should say that all the Dzongs in Bhutan are similar to the one in Simtokha, located on a hill south of Thimphu ! It is, in effect, the first of these fortress-temples built under the reign of Bhutan's founder, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

The structure is solid, the location strategic: at the junction of the roads leading towards the Punakha and Paro valleys. The Dzong is still inhabited by a community of rather shy, young monks. I preferred to visit at a quiet moment of the day, in order not to miss the sacred temple and the very revered statue of the goddess of compassion that is kept there. Bear in mind that it is strictly forbidden to take photos in the sanctuaries where statues and sacred objects are kept.