 Paro comes into view, dominated by its fortress-monastery |
 Rinpung Dzong, more commonly referred to as the Paro Dzong |
 Rinpung Dzong on the north bank of the Paro River |
 Paro Dzong |
 Paro Dzong |
 The Rinpung Dzong was built ca. 1645 on the site of an older monastery |
 Paro Dzong |
 Paro Dzong and the river |
 Paro Dzong from the bridge to the west of the town center |
 Looking down of Paro Dzong from the National Museum of Bhutan, a former watchtower |
 The gilded roof of the utse (central tower) looking over the rice fields south of the river |
 Paro Dzong seen from above |
 Utse (Central Tower) of Paro Dzong |
 Paro Dzong with its large central tower |
 View of the Paro Valley with Rinpung Dzong and the Paro Airport |
 Paro Dzong often gives air travelers their first impression of Bhutan |
 Rinpung Dzong, Paro |
 The central tower (utse) rising above Paro Dzong |
 The main entrance reached by a defensive bridge on the north side |
 The north side of Paro Dzong |
 Paro Dzong |
 Monks on the steps of Paro Dzong |
 Another monastic building next to Paro Dzong |
 Dennis, Paro Dzong |
 A young novice monk in a hurry |
 Dog hanging around the entrance of Paro Dzong |
 Thunder Dragon - the symbol of Bhutan |
 The main entrance to Paro Dzong protected by dragons |
 Bhutanese Thunder Dragon |
 Thunder Dragon, Paro Dzong |
 Mural - Yulkhorsung, Guardian King of the East, white with lute |
 Mural - Phagkepo, Guardian King of the South, blue with a sword |
 Mural - Chenmizang, Guardian King of the West, red with chosen and snake |
 Mural - Namthosey, Guardian King of the North, yellow with mongoose and a banner of victory |
 Wheel of Deluded Existence (Wheel of Life), Paro Dzong |
 Mara, the God of Deception and Dissolution, holds the wheel in his claws - the crown of skulls symbolizing inevitable death |
 At the top, the Realm of the Devas, celestial gods |
 Wheel of Life - The Realm of Asuras, the jealous demigods and titans. The wishing tree links their realm to that of the gods |
 Wheel of Life - The Realm of Pretas, the Hungry Ghosts - always wanting, never satisfied |
 At the bottom, the Realm of Hell, characterized by suffering |
 Wheel of Life - detail of the torments of Hell |
 Wheel of Life - The Realm of Animals |
 Wheel of Life - The Realm of Mankind |
 On the left of the inner circle, the righteous ascending while on the opposite side, the hell-bound descend |
 Paro Dzong - mural of the symbols of Long Life |
 Thunpa Punzhi - the Four Harmonious Friends |
 Paro Dzong - tiger on a chain |
 Paro Dzong - bull on a rope |
 Door to the Dyt Hall, Paro Dzong |
 The 8-spoked Khorlo, or Wheel of Life |
 Detail of the woodwork and painting of Paro Dzong |
 Wooden beams and supports, Paro Dzong |
 The Utse (Central Tower) of Paro Dzong |
 The Utse (Central Tower) of Paro Dzong |
 Mural - Tiger on a Chain, Paro Dzong |
 Mural - Bull on a rope, Paro Dzong |
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 Monks passing through the courtyard, Paro Dzong |
 From the upper gallery, Paro Dzong |
 Dennis with two young monks, Paro Dzong |
 Dennis with two young monks, Paro Dzong |
 Me and Monks, Paro Dzong |
 View from Rinpung Dzong looking towards the town center of Paro |
 Looking out the window overlooking the Paro River |
 Pennant flag, Paro Dzong |
 Central Tower, Paro Dzong |
 Monk selling trinkets to tourists |
 Monk shop, Paro Dzong |
 Tandin Dorji hanging out of Paro Dzong |
 Bell in the courtyard of Paro Dzong |
 Central Tower, Paro Dzong |
 Another version of the Wheel of Life, Paro Dzong |
 Always strive to stay in the top half of the Wheel of Life |
 Best to avoid the bottom half of the Wheel of Life |
 Guardian Kings with Enlightened Beings |
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 Older monks at Paro Dzong |
 Monk texting, Paro Dzong |
 Tandin describing the Auspicious Symbols, Paro Dzong |
 An odd pillar beside Paro Dzong |
 Dennis with some local ladies on the path from Paro Dzong to the river |
 Paro Dzong's south face |
 Paro Dzong's south face |
 Central Tower of Paro Dzong |
 All Bhutanese visitors must wear National Dress including Kabney and Rachung to visit the Dzong or National Museum |
 Tower Bridge across the Paro River at the foot of Rinpung Dzong |
 Dennis and the cantilevered bridge at Paro Dzong |
 Cantilevered Bridge, Paro Dzong |
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 Avalokiteshvara - the Vision of Selflessness |
 View of Rinpung Dzong from the old Cantilevered Bridge |
 Guru Rinpoche, Paro Bridge |
 Sakyamuni, the Historic Buddha, Paro Bridge |
 Paro Dzong at night |
 Paro Dzong at night |
 Dennis on a night visit to Paro Dzong |
 Town of Paro at night, from the hillside near Paro Dzong |
 Paro Dzong at night |
 Paro Dzong at night |
 The moon tries to break through the clouds above the lights of Paro |