The utse (tower), which previously served as Dogar Penlop's residence, and later as a jail, is undergoing a Nu.36.4 million renovation funded by the King of Bhutan.
Dobji Dzong was built in 1531 by Ngawang Chogyal who was the brother of Lam Drukpa Kuenley known as "The Divine Madman".
[1] According to legend, he chose the site by tracing an underground stream from the Ralung monastery in Tibet to its outlet at a boulder above the present fortress.
This sacred spring, later dubbed the Dobdrek Drub Chu, is believed to have magical healing properties.
Its survival despite a series of earthquakes is attributed to a terma (revealed treasure) stored on the top floor—a statue that depicts Guru Rinpoche.