Gasa Dzong
A remote circular fortress in the far north, guarding the old route from Tibet below the high Himalaya.
Updated 18 October 2026
Gasa Dzong, properly Tashi Thongmön Dzong, sits at around 2,900 metres in the far north of the country and is unusual in plan: rather than the rectangular layout of most dzongs it is roughly circular, with three round watchtowers, built in the seventeenth century to control the passes from Tibet. It is the administrative centre of Bhutan's least populated district, a region that is mostly high mountain and includes Jigme Dorji National Park. The dzong was damaged by fire and has been restored. A road now reaches Gasa, which is recent; until the 2010s this was a walk of several days, and the change has altered the district considerably. The hot springs below are the other reason people come north.
History
The dzong was built in the 17th century by Tenzin Drukdra, the second Druk Desi, as a bulwark against attacks from the north, over a meditation place founded in the 13th century by Drubthob Terkungpa, and later enlarged by the fourth Desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. Legend says the deity of Gasa travelled to Tibet to greet the Zhabdrung, who blessed it with the name Trashi Thongmoen, which the dzong also took in 1648; in January 2008 a fire badly damaged it and took 10 hours to put out (Wikipedia, Gasa Dzong).
Highlights
- The circular plan - a round dzong with three watchtowers, unusual in Bhutan.
- The northern setting - high mountain country toward the Tibetan border.
- District administration - the working centre of the emptiest dzongkhag.
- The restored fabric - rebuilding after fire damage.
When to go
March to May and September to November. Winter is cold at this altitude and the road can be blocked by snow. The Gasa Tshechu is held in spring. Monsoon brings landslides on the mountain road.
What to expect
The road north is rough and prone to landslides, and the drive from Punakha takes several hours. Parts of the dzong are administrative and closed. There is little accommodation in Gasa itself. Photography inside is forbidden.
Nearby
Gasa Tshachu hot springs lie below; Jigme Dorji National Park surrounds the district.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q4134036, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Gasa Dzong
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Warm base layers - Merino or synthetic against the skin - never cotton, which chills when damp. Find on Amazon
- Strong insect repellent - DEET or picaridin; the jungle is where bites and disease risk are highest. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Swimwear - Needed at most public thermal pools; some traditional baths are nude and single-sex. Find on Amazon
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