National Museum of Bhutan

Housed in the round Ta Dzong watchtower above Rinpung Dzong, displaying centuries of Bhutanese art, textiles, weapons, and religious artifacts.

Ta Dzong was built in 1649 as the watchtower guarding Rinpung Dzong below, and was converted into the national museum in 1968. Because the building is round, the galleries spiral rather than run in a line. It was damaged in the 2011 earthquake and closed for repair for several years before reopening. The collection runs from bronzes and thangka to festival masks, textiles and natural history, and photography is not permitted inside. It is a steep but short walk up from the dzong.