Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Theocratic state
Level 2
1616 – 1907
Dual system of government founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
- 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 Zhabdrung1616 – 1651Unifier of Bhutan; built the dzongs.
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
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) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 183 years
Sikh Empire ★
North · 1799 – 1849
Overlap: 50 years
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)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Overlap: 71 years
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Overlap: 120 years
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