Arial shot of Mt. Everest seen from DrukAir flight Delhi (India) to Paro (Bhutan). Mt. Everest is also known in Nepal as Sagarmāthā and in Tibet as Chomolungma, is Earth's highest mountain.
Bhutanese temple typically have many "prayer wheels" which contain paper rolls of hundreds of meters covered with hand-written prayers and mantras. By turning the wheels (always clockwise!) the faithful can "efficiently" send thousands of prayers in a few minutes.
Painter at Thimpu art school
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong (meaning very awesome dzong "the palace of great happiness), is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan.it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. Punakha Dzong was the administrative centre and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu.
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong (meaning very awesome dzong "the palace of great happiness), is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan.it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. Punakha Dzong was the administrative centre and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu.
The Punakha Dzong was on of the locations of the royal wedding of the king of Bhutan in 2011
The Dzong is located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha–Wangdue valley. The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong (meaning very awesome dzong "the palace of great happiness), is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan.it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. Punakha Dzong was the administrative centre and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu.
Young monk at Bhutan monastry during Tshechu Festival at Wangdue Phodrang Dzong in 2011
Trongsa Dzong is the largest dzong fortress in Bhutan, located in Trongsa (formerly Tongsa) in Trongsa district, in the centre of the country.
Trongsa Dzong is the largest dzong fortress in Bhutan, located in Trongsa (formerly Tongsa) in Trongsa district, in the centre of the country.
Monk orchestra Tamshingphala Festival, Bhutan
Ugyenchholing Palace in Tang valley
Prayer wheels at Jamba Lhakhang temple, Bhutan
Buddhist prayer wheels at the main gate for the Jamba Lhakhang temple in the Bumthang region.The temple is one of the oldest temples in the kingdom of Bhutan. It was founded by Songtsen Gampo, a Tibetan King in the 7th century AD
Stupa near Ura town, Bhumtang region in Bhutan
The Gangtey Monastery is an important monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism, the main seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition. located in the Wangdue Phodrang District in central Bhutan. The Monastery, also known by the Gangten village that surrounds it, is in the Phobjikha Valley
Ura is a town in Ura Gewog in Bumthang District in northeastern Bhutan
The Dochula Pass is a mountain pass in the snow covered Himalayas within Bhutan on the road from Thimpu to Punakha where 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as "Druk Wangyal Chortens" have been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. Apart from the chortens there is a monastery called the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang (temple), built in honour of the fourth Druk Gyalpo (head of the state of Bhutan), Jigme Singye Wangchuck
The Dochula Pass is a mountain pass in the snow covered Himalayas within Bhutan on the road from Thimpu to Punakha where 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as "Druk Wangyal Chortens" have been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother
Rinpung Dzong in Paro is a large dzong - Buddhist monastery and fortress - of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school in Paro District, Bhutan. It houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.
Rinpung Dzong in Paro is a large dzong - Buddhist monastery and fortress - of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school in Paro District, Bhutan. It houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.
The Taktsang Palphug Monastery (also known as Tiger's Nest), is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex, located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley, in Bhutan. A temple complex was first built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Padmasambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the tutelary deity of the country. Today, Paro Taktsang is the best known of the thirteen taktsang or "tiger lair" caves in which he meditated.
The Taktsang Palphug Monastery (also known as Tiger's Nest), is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex, located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley, in Bhutan. A temple complex was first built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Padmasambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the tutelary deity of the country. Today, Paro Taktsang is the best known of the thirteen taktsang or "tiger lair" caves in which he meditated.
Wangdue Tshechu is a three-day festival of mask and folk dances founded by the 4th Temporal Ruler of Bhutan, Tenzing Rabgye (1638-1696), to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmasambhave. The Tshechu features dance by monks and laymen, and on the final day, before sunrise, the thangka will be unfurled and only shown for a few hours. Thangka, large cotton and silk painted murals, have served through history as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha. The unfurling is marked by intense religious fervor, the large thangka (measuring about 30 meters or 100 ft) is surrounded by devotees who gather to witness this occasion. The Annual Tshechu was held at Wangdue Dzong, which sadly burned to the ground in June, 2012.Since then it was re-located to the Tencholing Military Training center. Fortunately the reconstruction of Wangdue Dzong has already begun, but will only completed in 2021. see: http://www.indochinatravel.com/country/bhutan/festivals/wangdue-tshechu-2013.html
