Punakha Dzong in the sunset light

By tradition, dzongs are constructed without the use of architectural plans. Instead construction proceeds under the direction of a high lama who establishes each dimension by means of spiritual inspiration.
In previous times the dzongs were built using corvee labor which was applied as a tax against each household in the district. Under this obligation each family was to provision a decreed number of workers to work for several months at a time in the construction of the dzong.