Author : lopzang

Cheri monastery is situated in the upper Thimphu valley. After a half an hour ride, there is an approximately 45 minutes steep walk to reach the monastery.

After the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel arrived in Bhutan in the 17th century, he travelled in the Laya, Gasa, Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdi areas. The grandson of the famous Devine Madman Drukpa Kunley, Tsewang Tenzing (1574-1613) offered him the monastery of Tago with its lands and servants. The Shabdrung was very happy of this gift and he came to stay there. Tago was the place where the first Drukpa to come to Bhutan, Phajo Drugom Shigpo, had meditated and seen the protective deity Tandrin (Skt: Hayagriva) who appeared under the form of a horse from a rock. The Shabdrung stayed in retreat three years at Tago.

The tradition says that because of the magical powers of his enemy, the rule of Tsang in Tibet, or because of the evil spirits, a boulder of the size of a yak fell on the cave where he was meditating, and still now a day, it can be seen. Following this incident the villagers started spreading the rumour that that the Shabdrung was dead but those who had faith in him went to Tango and saw that he was not harmed and that he was sitting more radiant than ever. This event increased the people’s faith in him. They returned to their village and on the top of their roofs, they put a white flag for the gods. From this day it is said that the tradition of putting flags on the roofs was established. Later the Shabdrung’s father Mipham Tenpeyu Nyima died at Ralung Monastery in Tibet. By secret means, the Shabdrung had the body of his father brought from Ralung and after they finish the cremation according to the ritual of Demcho Khorlodompa (Skt: Cakrasamvara), the Shabdrung thought of building a new temple to contain the remains of his father. From the guide of Tango written Phajo Drugom Shigpo in the 13th century, there was a prophecy saying that on the right of Tango there was a place called Mijur Dorjeden, which had the characteristics of a great place and was the symbol of firm life.

The Shabdrung threw the relic representing Avalokisteshara, which had appeared after the cremation from one vertebra of his father, and it fell at the place of Cheri which is next to Tango. Therefore at 29, in 1620, the Shabdrung started to build his first residence. During the day he was building the monastery while during the night he was meditating in the cave called “the cave of the subjugation of the evil spirits”. The monastery was completed on one and half year. From Nepal some craftsmen came and built one chorten in which were put the relics of the Shabdrung’s father and of the eminent monks of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage. The Shabdrung performed the ceremony of consecration of this huge commemorative chorten in silver, which was called “Nul Bum Chorten”, and he established a new monk body of 30 monks. The first abbot was Pekar Juney (? – 1672) and that was the beginning of the Drukpa monastic community in Bhutan. The Shabdrung also invited from Tibet his preceptor Lhewang logroe who started teaching the monks in Cheri. He was a scholar and an expert in astrology. As a proof of his accomplishment a fire appeared from a hole.

The Shabdrung saw in a vision that he was destined to conquer Bhutan and to express his gratitude, he composed a dance which is still now a days represented during the festivals “Tsechus”: the Dance of the ‘Guitar Cham’.

The Traditional Medicine Services was established in the year 1968, under the command of our third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. But National Institute of Traditional Medicine was established in the year 1988, for the welfare of Bhutanese people and to preserve its rich culture and tradition. The Traditional Medicine Services in Bhutan is fully integrated with modern health care and delivery system and is available in all 20district hospitals.

The date of the foundation of Changangkha Lhakhang is not exactly known but the elder people speak like that: ‘The descendants of Phajo Drugom Shigpo Son’s Nyima, established the monastery in the 15th century and called it “Phagpa Ranjung Tsuglakha”, “ the temple of Avalokitoshvara” statue which has appeared by itself”. In this main statue made of precious materials, they put relics which had appeared after Phajo’s cremation and many items of other kagyul lamas. Changangkha Lhakhang is the most important temple for the Children born in Thimphu, since the protective deity of children resides in this temple.

This statue, which still exists, represents Avalokiteshvara with 11 heads. Thanks to the prayers said by the descendants of this lineage, this lineage has given to the monk-body the famous 4th Desi Tenzing Rabgye (1638-1696), other abbots and eminent Lamas for the benefit of Bhutan.

Simtokha Dzong stands at a strategic point at the entrance to the Thimphu valley. When Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel was subduing the demons in the Thimphu Valley, a demon disappeared into a big stone where Semtokha Dzong stands today. The place was called Sinmo Dokha (Demon on the stone). This was constructed n the year 1629. Zhabdrung Rinpoche named this Dzong as Sanga Zapdon Dzong.

This dzong is the oldest dzong in the country and today it houses the Rigzhubg Institute for Buddhist studies.

Folk Heritage Museum was founded by Her Majesty, the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck in 2001. It provides visitors and tourists with fascinating insights into the Bhutanese material culture and way of life. The Folk Heritage Museum is set inside a three storied, 19th century traditional house. It is a living museum that our present generations can learn and appreciate the life of our forefathers.

The museum gives you a glimpse of the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle, in addition to artifacts from rural households; it also displays an impressive collection of typical household objects, tools and equipment. The museum also organizes regular demonstrations of rural traditions, skills, habits and customs as well as hosting educational programs for children.

The activities of the museum follow a seasonal rhythm, just like the activities of a true rural household, offering you something new to see every time you visit the place. The museum does a remarkable job of recapturing the rural setting and ambiance of a traditional household by setting up paddy, wheat and millet fields,  a traditional water-mill with mill stones more than 150 years old, traditional style kitchen gardens with vegetables that were typically grown during the past 100 years and even one of the traditional hot stone baths that are famous throughout the country.

In an effort to maintain our knowledge of indigenous natural resources, native trees and plants that had domestic uses in a rural Bhutanese household is grown, creating an oasis of greenery, right in the heart of the capital city of Thimphu.

Tourists may also avail the special offers of the museum at a nominal fee with an advance booking of at least one week. These include demonstrations of the traditional way of extracting oil or Markhu Tsene, brewing ara or Ara Kayne, roasting rice or Zaw Ngowni and pounding rice or Tham Dhungni within the museum premises. The museum also organizes an open air buffet lunch and dinner offering visitors a taste of traditional cuisine. The menu for such arrangements is available at the Museum and consists of a variety of traditional dishes from every region of the Kingdom.

However, lunch and dinner arrangements are only available for groups with five or more members. The museum is closed on government holidays.  Hours of operation are from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday, from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays and 11:30 am to 3:30 pm on Sundays.