National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong)

Housed in the historic Ta Dzong (watchtower) built in 1649 above Rinpung Dzong in Paro, the National Museum was inaugurated in 1968 as Bhutan's first public museum. Its circular six-story structure displays over 3,000 artifacts spanning Bhutanese art, culture, natural history, and religion, including thangka paintings, bronze statues, stamps, armor and weaponry, textiles, and a renowned collection of traditional masks used in tshechu festivals. The building was damaged in the 2011 earthquake and a new modern annex was constructed adjacent to house additional galleries.