Jakar Dzong

Jakar Dzong or Jakar Yugyal Dzong is the dzong or fortress of the Bumthang District in central Bhutan. It is located on a ridge above Jakar town in the Chamkhar valley of Bumthang. It is built on the site of an earlier temple established by the Ralung hierarch Yongzin Ngagi Wangchuk (1517–1554) when he came to Bhutan. Jakar Dzong may be the largest dzong in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).

The name Jakar is derived from the word bjakhab, meaning "white bird", in reference to Jakar's foundation myth, according to which a roosting white bird signaled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery. Jakar Dzong, or the ''castle of the white bird',' dominates the Chamkhar valley and overlooks the town. Constructed in 1549, by the Tibetan lama Ngagi Wangchuk, who came to Bhutan to spread the Drukpa Kagyu teaching, the dzong played an important role as the fortress of defense for the whole eastern dzongkhags. It also became the seat of the first king of Bhutan in 1646, after the Zhabdrung had firmly established his power. Jakar Dzong is the nation's largest dzong. Its official name is Yuelay Namgyal Dzong, named in honor of the victory over the troops of Tibetan ruler Phuntsho Namgyal.

Text adapted from “Jakar Dzong” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Jakar Dzong ranks #3,704 of 8,133 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #6 of the 14 mapped in Bhutan. Founded 1549, it is older than 41% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 755 atlas entries founded in the 16th century. 1 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. See how Bhutan compares in the castle statistics.

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