UntilDrela Samten Choekhor or Jela was built by Drukpa Kuenley’s Brother Lam Ngawang Choegyal (1464-1540) the 14th holder of Druk Ralung in 15th century A.D. when great Ngawang Choegyal arrived in Paro, he built the first Drukpa Kagyu place in Paro Tshongdu in 1525 A.D. then after he built Dobi Chokhorgang and Dolpa Shar Samtentsemo.

Drela Samten Chokhor in the ancient time was the important monastic center for dual system of governance in Bhutan. When Zhabdrung Rinpoche was 24 yrs old he came to paro on pilgrimage and stayed at Druk Kagyu Chooeding and he was not allowed to stay there because of Tibetan invasion. Suddenly Zhabdrung left the place via Hungrel Dzong and Damchenthang stupa through high way of Thimphu and arrived at Drela (Jela). When he was staying in the Dukhang of Drela Samten Chokhor, he encountered Bhutan’s protective deity Pal Yeshey Goenpo face to face. He received a prophecy in the temple that he would win from Tibetan invasion. Because of this, even today, the Parop people call Drela Samten Tsemo as Jela, the meeting place of Pal Yeshey Goenpo and Zhabdrung Rinpoche. The temple was quite small when Zhabdrung Rinpoche visited.

The temple was later extended by the 16th Pal Je Khenpo Sherub Singye in the first quarter of the 18th century A.D.The treasure of the temple are Buddha Shakyamuni in the center, Maitreya Buddha in the right, Buddha of light in the left which are huge statues. To the right of Budddha is the standing Manjusri and to the left os two-armed Avalokiteshvara. These both the statues were made by Je Khenpo Sherub Sinhye.

There are smaller old statues of Guru Padmasambhava and Ngwang Chogyal to be seen. In this temple, if we worship the protector Dharma Yeshey Goenpo, we are protected and safe gurded. From the ancient time onwards, Bhutanese people and the Dharma protector Yeshey Goenpo had a special Dharmic bond. There are stories that from the time immemorial the Yeshey Goenpo has protected Bhutanese and got victory from others. The lamas say that even today each Bhutanese has one re-incarnate Choechong Yeshey Goenpo. Today there is a monastic school in this temple, which is affiliated to Paro Rinpung Dzong.

There are five diffrent ways to Drela Dzong:

1.from Phajoding Pumo Dechen Chokhor Gonpa in Thimphu;

2. From Tshaluna ;

3. from Do-choten Gonpa;

4. From Gonsarkha ; and

5. From paro Ta Dzong.

If you go from Ta Dzong, you can travel by the side of the road up to Damchen Gongma and then you will have to walk along with the old main trail between Thimphu and Paro for three hours before arriving at Drela Dzong.

Source: Druk Ge Nye-1 FB