28th June 2012
The Wangdue Phodrang built in 1638 by the nation's founder, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, burnt down over the weekend and by Tuesday only the stone steps to the building remained intact.
The site is one of the oldest and most important in the country and the Himalayan region. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife went to the scene while the fire was still raging to offer their support. Most of the relics were in storage while the historic building was being restored and the army managed to save many of the remaining treasures. The Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley has stated that the site would be rebuilt, just as Paro Taktsang, another iconic monument, had been when it burned down in 1998. This is indeed reassuring, but after such a president, it is a pity that more care was not taken to prevent a similar occurrence. It is believed that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the wiring.
Part of the inside of the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong in Bhutan. (Photo: Flickr)
A similar thing happened to the Cutty Sark, when it was being restored. The cynic inside me says: "was there an even greater cynic who advised that it would be cheaper to build the whole thing from scratch?" Just look at Ypres, few would notice it had been rebuilt, and a lot fewer would even care.
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