Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)

Theocratic state Level 2

1616 – 1907

Dual system of government founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

🗺 See on map in 1762

Capital: Punakha
Region: Himalaya
Duration: 291 years
Main period: Mughal Empire

Approximate extent.

At a glance

Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.

Rulers

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal

Events

1616170018001907

Rulers

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal Zhabdrung
Unifier of Bhutan; built the dzongs.
1616 – 1651

Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.

Key events

Year	Event	Place
1616	Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal arrives in Bhutan	Punakha

Sites & monuments

Punakha Dzong

Capital / fort · 1637

Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)

Religious monument · 1692

📄 Research papers

Paper🏛 Library access

Temple Desecration and Indo-Muslim States

Richard M. Eaton · 2000
Journal of Islamic Studies 11(3): 283–319

A documented, case-by-case study of temple destruction and its political context, 1192–1760.

✓ Verified with Crossref · 28 Sep 2026 · Original article by its authors, at the publisher

Read at the publisher ↗Google Scholar ↗doi:10.1093/jis/11.3.283

Paper🏛 Library access

🇮🇳 Indian scholarship

Potentialities of Capitalistic Development in the Economy of Mughal India

Irfan Habib · 1969
The Journal of Economic History 29(1): 32–78

Money, markets, crafts and credit in the Mughal economy — and why they did not lead to capitalism.

✓ Verified with Crossref · 28 Sep 2026 · Original article by its authors, at the publisher

Read at the publisher ↗Google Scholar ↗doi:10.1017/S0022050700097825

Paper🏛 Library access

🇮🇳 Indian scholarship

Connected Histories: Notes towards a Reconfiguration of Early Modern Eurasia

Sanjay Subrahmanyam · 1997
Modern Asian Studies 31(3): 735–762

Reads Mughal India as part of a connected early-modern world rather than an isolated civilisation.

✓ Verified with Crossref · 28 Sep 2026 · Original article by its authors, at the publisher

Read at the publisher ↗Google Scholar ↗doi:10.1017/S0026749X00017133

Paper🏛 Library access

Knowing the Country: Empire and Information in India

C. A. Bayly · 1993
Modern Asian Studies 27(1): 3–43

Spies, runners and news-writers: how the Company took over Indian systems of information.

✓ Verified with Crossref · 28 Sep 2026 · Original article by its authors, at the publisher

Read at the publisher ↗Google Scholar ↗doi:10.1017/S0026749X00016061

All journals & research papers →

🕸 Connections 24 links

Explore connections full screen ↗

Everything on YugMap linked to this page — and why. Hover a dot in the graph, or pick from the list.

🗂 Era 1

Medieval India
Part of this era

⏳ Periods 1

Mughal Empire
Belongs to this period

🏛 Kingdoms & empires 12

Sultanate of the Maldives 1153 – 1968
Existed at the same time (291 years)
Malla Dynasty of Nepal 1201 – 1769
Existed at the same time (153 years)
Ahom Kingdom 1228 – 1826
Existed at the same time (210 years)
Mewar (Sisodia) 1326 – 1949
Existed at the same time (291 years)
Vijayanagara Empire 1336 – 1646
Existed at the same time (30 years)
Kingdom of Mysore 1399 – 1950
Existed at the same time (291 years)
Kingdom of Kandy 1469 – 1815
Existed at the same time (199 years)
Portuguese Estado da Índia 1505 – 1961
Existed at the same time (291 years)
Mughal Empire 1526 – 1857
Existed at the same time (241 years)
British East India Company 1600 – 1858
Existed at the same time (242 years)
Maratha Empire 1674 – 1818
Existed at the same time (144 years)
Nawabs of Bengal 1717 – 1765
Existed at the same time (48 years)

👑 Rulers 1

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal 1616 – 1651
Ruled it

⚔ Events 1

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal arrives in Bhutan 1616
Happened in it

📍 Places & sites 2

Punakha Dzong 1637
A place of this polity
Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) 1692
A place of this polity

🔧 Technology 3

Jantar Mantar observatory early 18th century
Made or discovered in this time
The first passenger train 16 April 1853
Made or discovered in this time
Electric light arrives 1879
Made or discovered in this time

📄 Research 3

Temple Desecration and Indo-Muslim States Richard M. Eaton · 2000
Research on this topic
Potentialities of Capitalistic Development in the Economy of Mughal India Irfan Habib · 1969
Research on this topic
Connected Histories: Notes towards a Reconfiguration of Early Modern Eurasia Sanjay Subrahmanyam · 1997
Research on this topic

Contemporaries

Powers that coexisted with the Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi) for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.

Sultanate of the Maldives ★

Islands · c. 1153 – 1968

Overlap: 291 years

Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★

Himalaya · 1201 – 1769

Overlap: 153 years

Ahom Kingdom ★

Northeast · 1228 – 1826

Overlap: 210 years

Mewar (Sisodia) ★

West · 1326 – 1949

Overlap: 291 years

Vijayanagara Empire ★

South · 1336 – 1646

Overlap: 30 years

Kingdom of Mysore ★

South · 1399 – 1950

Overlap: 291 years

Kingdom of Kandy ★

Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815

Overlap: 199 years

Portuguese Estado da Índia ★

Coastal · 1505 – 1961

Overlap: 291 years

Mughal Empire ★

North · 1526 – 1857

Overlap: 241 years

British East India Company ★

Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858

Overlap: 242 years

Maratha Empire ★

Deccan · 1674 – 1818

Overlap: 144 years

Nawabs of Bengal ★

East · 1717 – 1765

Overlap: 48 years

Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★

Sikh Empire ★

Kingdom of Nepal ★

Himalaya · 1816 – 2008

Overlap: 91 years

British Raj (Crown Rule) ★

Pan-Indian · 1858 – 1947

Overlap: 49 years

Zamorins of Calicut

South · c. 1124 – 1766

Overlap: 150 years

Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)

West · c. 1128 – 1949

Overlap: 291 years

Marwar (Rathore)

West · c. 1226 – 1949

Overlap: 291 years

Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)

Deccan · 1490 – 1686

Overlap: 70 years

Portuguese Cochin

Coastal · 1503 – 1663

Overlap: 47 years

Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)

Northeast · 1515 – 1949

Overlap: 291 years

Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)

Madurai Nayaks

Portuguese Bassein & Bombay

Coastal · 1534 – 1739

Overlap: 123 years

Portuguese Diu

Coastal · 1535 – 1961

Overlap: 291 years

Portuguese Daman

Coastal · 1559 – 1961

Overlap: 291 years

Gorkha Kingdom

Himalaya · 1559 – 1768

Overlap: 152 years

Portuguese Ceylon

Sri Lanka · 1597 – 1658

Overlap: 42 years

Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India

Coastal · 1605 – 1825

Overlap: 209 years

Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)

Coastal · 1610 – 1825

Overlap: 209 years

Danish India

Coastal · 1620 – 1869

Overlap: 249 years

Danish Tranquebar

Coastal · 1620 – 1845

Overlap: 225 years

Fort St George, Madras

Coastal · 1639 – 1858

Overlap: 219 years

Dutch Chinsurah

Coastal · 1656 – 1825

Overlap: 169 years

Dutch Ceylon

Sri Lanka · 1658 – 1796

Overlap: 138 years

Dutch Malabar (Cochin)

Coastal · 1663 – 1795

Overlap: 132 years

French India

Coastal · 1668 – 1954

Overlap: 239 years

Bombay (English East India Company)

Coastal · 1668 – 1858

Overlap: 190 years

Chandernagore

Coastal · 1673 – 1950

Overlap: 234 years