26 Nov 2016

Memorial Chorten

Thimphu District

Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in the memory of third king late Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. It is an impressive monument and a very scared to the Bhutanese who make an endless procession circumambulating it everyday. The temple inside gives good examples of tantric Buddhist and its philosophy.

Visitors will find elderly Bhutanese people circumambulating the Chorten throughout the day. Chorten literally means ‘Seat of Faith’ and Buddhists often call such monuments, the ‘Mind of Buddha’. The chorten is an extraordinary example of Buddhist architecture and artwork with its gorgeous paintings and intricate sculptures.

The chorten is a large white structure crowned with a golden spire. It is located close to the center of Thimphu city and is one of its most iconic monuments.

26 Nov 2016

Buddha DordenmaStatue

Thimphu District

This gigantic statue of Buddha Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5 meters, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. The statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold. The throne that the Buddha Dordenma Statue sits upon is a large meditation hall.

The statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold. 125,000 smaller Buddha statues have been placed within the Buddha Dordenma statue, 100,000 8 inch tall and 25,000 12 inch tall statues respectively. Each of these thousands of Buddhas have also been cast in bronze and gilded.

The Buddha Dordenma is located atop a hill in Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park and overlooks the Southern entrance to Thimphu Valley. The statue fulfills an ancient prophecy dating back to the 8th century A.D that was discovered by Terton Pema Lingpa (Religious Treasure Discoverer) and is said to emanate an aura of peace and happiness to the entire world.

The statue was constructed at a cost of US$47 million by Aerosun Corporation of Nanjing, China, while the total cost of the entire project is well over US$100 million. The interior will accommodate respectively. Names of sponsors are displayed in the meditation hall which forms the throne of the Great Buddha Dordenma.

26 Nov 2016

Tashichho Dzong

Thimphu District

Tashichho Dzong means ‘fortress of the glorious religion’. It was built in 1641 and rebuilt into present structure by late king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (Father of Modern Bhutan) in the year 1962-1969. It is located along the bank of Wangchu (Thim Chhu), is an architectural delight and houses the throne room, and the office of His Majesty the king and the ministries of home affairs and finance. It is also the summer residence of our central monastic body. This fortress was built without the use of any nails. By nightfall, the dzong is lit up in white and red lights, illuminating it an elegant glow.

It is one the most important attractions for tourist in the capital city, Thimphu. Almost every visitors make visit to this Dzong (fortress). It is open to visitors after the office hours on week days and is open in daytime on weekends and government holidays. The large open air courtyard hosts the annual Thimphu dromche festival now. The Thimphu Tsechu festival is now held at the Tendrel Thang instead of courtyard. Everyone is welcome to Bhutan and make visit to this religious fortress and learn more about the Bhutanese traditional method of construction of dzongs, house and bridges others in Bhutan.

26 Nov 2016

Tachogang Lhakhang

Paro District

Tachogang Lhakhang is located near the Paro-Thimphu highway and was built by the renowned iron bridge builder Drupthob Thangtong Gyalpo in the 14th century. One can also see and iron bridge, a masterpiece of the great iron builder himself.He built many iron bridges in Bhutan.
Tachhogang Lhakhang was constructed around 1420. Tachogang means ‘temple of the hill of the excellent horse’. It is believed that while Thangtong Gyalpo was meditating here, he had a vision of the spiritual horse Balaha-an emanation of wrathful form of Avalokiteshvara and decided to built a temple as well as an iron suspension bridge at this location. The temple is privately run by the descendents of Drupthop Thangtong Gyalpo.

A new temple at Tachogang was built in the seventeenth century by the Fourth Druk Desi Tendzin Rabgye, as the original was destroyed after it served as the main seat for the Five Groups of Lamas, a coalition of local leaders who had opposed the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.

Today many visitors to Bhutan visit to this temple and try to walk over the iron bridge that lies at the base of the temple. You will surprised to see how this man has made the iron at the time and built many iron bridges in the Himalayan region.

26 Nov 2016

Paro National Museum

Paro District

Paro National Museum was one time a watchtower built to defend the Rinpung Dzong during inter-valley wars of the 17th century. Ta Dzong has been functioning as the National Museum since 1967. It holds fascinating collections of art, relics, religious Thangka paintings and Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps.

The National Museum performs an essential role as a preserver and promoter of Bhutanese cultural values.A visit through the galleries shows the country’s transition from the Stone Age to a modern Mahayanist Buddhist and multicultural kingdom with its cultural heritage intact. The Museum is designed with connoisseurs, students, scholars and tourists in mind, and seeks to provide each visitor with a rich and colourful experience.

The National Museum is open throughout the week except on government holidays.

  • Summer opening hours (April – October) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Winter opening hours (November –March) 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photography and videography are not permitted inside the museum. Lockers located at the Museum entrance where you can keep your cameras and other bags. Photography is permitted outside the museum building and on the grounds.

There is a museum shop and items sold here mainly the replicas of artifacts found in the Museum and are only available for purchase from the Museum.