The consecration ceremony of the newly reconstructed Lingzhi Yugyal Dzong today, presided over by the Venerable Dorji Lopen of the Zhung Dratshang, marks the successful completion of the Lingzhi Dzong Conservation Project. This significant event was graced by the Hon’ble Minister for Home Affairs, MP, members of the National Council, the Dzongdag, and other Dzongkhag officials. Hundreds of dignitaries and local residents gathered to witness this momentous occasion.

Damaged by the 1897 earthquake and 2011 earthquake which inflicted further damage prompted a major reconstruction effort that began in 2018 under the 12th Five Year Plan. The Project was funded with a total budget of Nu. 179 million by the Government of India (GoI). Spearheaded by the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, the project highlights a key innovation—the involvement of Open Air Prisoners (OAPs), which resulted in a significant cost reduction.

Originally built in 1668 by Chogyal Minjur Tenpa, the 3rd Druk Desi, Lingzhi Dzong commemorates Bhutan’s victory over Tibet in the 1667 war. Its strategic location on the northern frontier was vital for defending Bhutan’s borders and ensuring regional security.