Author : lopzang

Chhimi Lhakhang is located on a hilltop and founded by Lama Drukpa Kuenley-the Divine Madman. It is 25mins walk across the field from the road at Sopsokha.

Lama Drukpa kuenley subdued the demoness of the Dochula with his “Magic Thunderbolt of wisdom”. A wooden effigy of the lama’s thunderbolt is preserved in the temple, and the childless women can go to the temple to receive a wang (blessings) from the saint. This temple is also know as temple of fertility. There is a statue of lama and his dog, as well as that of the Lama Zhabdrung, Sakyamuni, Chenrezig and lama’s brother Ngwang Chogyal, who actually built this temple in the year 1456.

Chhimi Lhakhang is one of the best and popular tourist spots in Punakha and Wangdue region. Many Bhutanese couple also visit this temple for the blessings of child. And there are many stories of such prayers are being answered.

Drukpa Kuenley was also the sait who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on the walls and as flying wooden phallus on the house tops at four corners of the eves. This phalluses are used to drive away the evil spirits, eyes and malicious gossip. You will see a lot on the wall paintings as you walk through the Bhutanese houses.

Punakha dzong is the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan and located majestically at the confluence of Pho Chhu (Male River) and Mo Chhu (Female River) in Punakha. This dzong was built by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyel in 1637. The dzong houses the most scared relics of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, the Rangjung Kasarpani and the sacred remains of Zhabdrung Ngwang Namgyel. This relic is a self-created image of Avalokiteswara that miraculously emerged from the vertebrae of Tsangpa Gyarey the founder of the Drukpa School when he was cremated.This dzong was the administrative center and the seat of the Bhutanese government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. Today it still serves as the winter residence of our central monastic body beside the administrative and religious center for Punakha district.

p style=”text-align: justify;”>Punakha Dzongkhag has been inextricably linked with momentous occasions in Bhutanese history. It is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of the most majestic structures in the country.On October 13, 2011, the wedding of the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and his fiancé, Jetsun Pema, was held at the Punakha Dzong.

p style=”text-align: justify;”>Punakha valley has a pleasant climate with warm winters and hot summers. It is located at an average elevation of 1200 meters above sea level. Owing to the favorable climatic conditions, rice grows very well in this region and is the main cash crop cultivated here.

p style=”text-align: justify;”>Come and visit the most beautful dzong in Bhutan.