IDNO

P.96675.WIL

Description

On Cech’s list describing prints:
“F. W. became Political Officer in Sikkim on January 4th, 1933.
(Photos 53-75: in and around Paro MPOW: 70-73)
71. “At outwork of the Paro dzong 26.6.33”
See gi: paro” [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

Place

S Asia; Bhutan; Paro [Paro Ta Dzong]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Williamson, Frederick

Collector / Expedition

Date

26 June 1933

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Place: The small castle like building on the mountain is Paro Ta Dzong. The cylindrical building was built in 1641 AD by Desi Tenzin Drugyel Drukda, the then Governor of Paro, as a watchtower to look over the Paro Dzong in case of invasions from the north. As was the situation in those days, invasions were occasional and the Dzong, which was the center of administration in the state, needed to be overlooked by such towers to look out for invaders. The unique structure has six floors that go spiraling down from the top. During the olden days the building not only housed soldiers but also prisoners of war, mostly invaders. Since 1967 the Dzong was re-established as the National Museum and holds a fascinating collection of art, relics, religious Thangkha paintings and Bhutan's exquisite postage stamps. Below the Ta dzong we can village house by the Paro river. [Dawa Dem 16/9/2008]

The transcription of this album by Mark Turin and Sara Shneiderman was carried out with reference to Krystina Cech’s catalogue list alone. Alex Nadin has since revised their cataloguing by systematically matching their records to the images. Margaret Williamson’s handwritten captions for photographs have now been transcribed into the Inscription field, and Cech’s descriptions appear in the Description field. Correct entries for Place, Named Person and Other Nos. have also been entered by Alex Nadin. [Sudeshna Guha 29/10/2002]