Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan (1300m a.s.l.)
Punakha district is a significant place in Bhutanese history. It was once the capital of Bhutanfrom 1637 till 1955 and the first National Assembly Bhutan was held in this district. The whole area is spread over 1,096 square kilometers, with 1,891 households and a population of around 21,674 people. Punakha is relatively warmer compared to many other places in Bhutan. In Punakha, the temperature varies from 35 degree Celsius during summer to negative 4 degree Celsius during winters. Punakha is the winter residence of the central monk body, the summer residence being Thimphu. With Phochhu (male) and Mochhu (female) rivers flowing through the valley, the fertile land of Punakha is popular for growing organic vegetables, fruits and rice. Khuruthang is the main town of Punakha which is about four kilometers from the dzong. Source: www.littlebhutan.com
Punakha district is a significant place in Bhutanese history. It was once the capital of Bhutanfrom 1637 till 1955 and the first National Assembly Bhutan was held in this district. The whole area is spread over 1,096 square kilometers, with 1,891 households and a population of around 21,674 people. Punakha is relatively warmer compared to many other places in Bhutan. In Punakha, the temperature varies from 35 degree Celsius during summer to negative 4 degree Celsius during winters. Punakha is the winter residence of the central monk body, the summer residence being Thimphu. With Phochhu (male) and Mochhu (female) rivers flowing through the valley, the fertile land of Punakha is popular for growing organic vegetables, fruits and rice. Khuruthang is the main town of Punakha which is about four kilometers from the dzong. Source: www.littlebhutan.com
Punakha Dzong
Unesco World Heritage
This dzong was the second dzong to be built in Bhutan and it served as the capital and seat of government until Thimphu was promoted to the top job in the mid-1950s. It’s arguably the most beautiful dzong in the country, especially in spring when the lilac-coloured jacaranda trees bring a lush sensuality to the dzong’s characteristically towering whitewashed walls. Elaborately painted gold, red and black carved woods add to the artistic lightness of touch. The Punakha Dzong was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637, 590-foot long, 236-foot wide which is mainly divided in three courtyards as it stands majestically at the junction of the two rivers- Pho Chu and Mo Chu to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. Mo Chu river originating in the mountainous hills of Northern Bhutan and Pho Chu river fed by glaciers in upper Punakha glacial valley. After the confluence of these two rivers near Punakha Dzong, the main river is known as Puna Tsang Chu. Punakha Dzong stands tall, restored in its original splendor even after it was damaged over the centuries by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake. Punakha Dzong hosts an annual festival called Demoche in the months of February/March. Source: http://happyul.com
Unesco World Heritage
This dzong was the second dzong to be built in Bhutan and it served as the capital and seat of government until Thimphu was promoted to the top job in the mid-1950s. It’s arguably the most beautiful dzong in the country, especially in spring when the lilac-coloured jacaranda trees bring a lush sensuality to the dzong’s characteristically towering whitewashed walls. Elaborately painted gold, red and black carved woods add to the artistic lightness of touch. The Punakha Dzong was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637, 590-foot long, 236-foot wide which is mainly divided in three courtyards as it stands majestically at the junction of the two rivers- Pho Chu and Mo Chu to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. Mo Chu river originating in the mountainous hills of Northern Bhutan and Pho Chu river fed by glaciers in upper Punakha glacial valley. After the confluence of these two rivers near Punakha Dzong, the main river is known as Puna Tsang Chu. Punakha Dzong stands tall, restored in its original splendor even after it was damaged over the centuries by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake. Punakha Dzong hosts an annual festival called Demoche in the months of February/March. Source: http://happyul.com
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Standing regally on the hill above the Punakha valley, is a classic example of gorgeous traditions and architecture of Asian country. This chorten, however, is unique. It is not designed for community worship or for monastic retreat or education like other Buddhist Institute and Colleges. It is designed as a magical tool. It was built by the Queen Mother for heading off the negative forces and transportation peace and harmony for all the living beings. Most Buddhist temples, you walk in the front, there’s open space where people sit to pray or meditate or study, and a big shrine in the back with a serene Sakyamuni Buddha. Here, walking in the north door, you are immediately face-to-multiple-faces with the multiplex wrath of Vajrakilaya, the most wrathful of protective deities. This is a huge sculpture, 15 or 20 feet high, filling the whole room and encased in glass. There are 103 complete 3-D sculptures, each an aspect of the deity and emerging bodily from his main mass, all in brilliant colors. There is another shrine room, and another wrathful deity statue, not as overwhelming in size and complexity, but still ferociously powerful. In another stair to the third level finds third wrathful deity, perhaps even more ferocious and energetic. His consort clasps his waist, totally subsumed in energy. She transforms his wrath into acceptance as fully as she can, but there is plenty more beyond her reach, so his potency reaches everywhere. In each of these temples, the walls are also covered with a series of responding deities. There are of more Yab-Yum figures, peaceful deities of all colors, each locked in embrace with their consorts. The sexually-charged energy that starts with the wrath at the center has now become available for peaceful enjoyment at the periphery. Finally, at the third stairway, and emerge on the temple’s roof. Is a modestly-sized, classically-posed, golden Sakyamuni Buddha, facing southward toward the sun, peaceful and welcoming. Having survived all the transformational challenges of the wrathful deities, one can truly feel the peace. Source: www.drukasia.com
Standing regally on the hill above the Punakha valley, is a classic example of gorgeous traditions and architecture of Asian country. This chorten, however, is unique. It is not designed for community worship or for monastic retreat or education like other Buddhist Institute and Colleges. It is designed as a magical tool. It was built by the Queen Mother for heading off the negative forces and transportation peace and harmony for all the living beings. Most Buddhist temples, you walk in the front, there’s open space where people sit to pray or meditate or study, and a big shrine in the back with a serene Sakyamuni Buddha. Here, walking in the north door, you are immediately face-to-multiple-faces with the multiplex wrath of Vajrakilaya, the most wrathful of protective deities. This is a huge sculpture, 15 or 20 feet high, filling the whole room and encased in glass. There are 103 complete 3-D sculptures, each an aspect of the deity and emerging bodily from his main mass, all in brilliant colors. There is another shrine room, and another wrathful deity statue, not as overwhelming in size and complexity, but still ferociously powerful. In another stair to the third level finds third wrathful deity, perhaps even more ferocious and energetic. His consort clasps his waist, totally subsumed in energy. She transforms his wrath into acceptance as fully as she can, but there is plenty more beyond her reach, so his potency reaches everywhere. In each of these temples, the walls are also covered with a series of responding deities. There are of more Yab-Yum figures, peaceful deities of all colors, each locked in embrace with their consorts. The sexually-charged energy that starts with the wrath at the center has now become available for peaceful enjoyment at the periphery. Finally, at the third stairway, and emerge on the temple’s roof. Is a modestly-sized, classically-posed, golden Sakyamuni Buddha, facing southward toward the sun, peaceful and welcoming. Having survived all the transformational challenges of the wrathful deities, one can truly feel the peace. Source: www.drukasia.com
Chimi Lhakhang Village
Chimi Lhakhang Temple
dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the Divine Madman, the temple is popularly considered to be a temple of fertility. On a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina is the yellow-roofed Chimi Lhakhang, built in 1499 by the cousin of Lama Drukpa Kunley in his honour after the lama subdued the demoness of the nearby Dochu La with his ‘magic thunderbolt of wisdom’. A brisk 15-minute walk through the village of Sosokha will lead a visitor straight to the temple. A sense and feeling of fertility and contentment is indeed in the air as one passes through the rich alluvial paddy fields. All crops grow and thrive well here. Farmers of this region are in fact among the most well-to-do in Bhutan. They attribute this to the blessings of Lam Drukpa Kuenley. A wooden effigy of the lama’s thunderbolt is preserved in the lhakhang, and childless women go to the temple to receive a wang (blessing or empowerment) from the saint. Newborns are also brought here to be named. There are a few monks at the temple, which is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and some beautiful slate carvings. The bodhi tree here is believed to have been brought from Bodhgaya. Source: http://happyul.com
dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the Divine Madman, the temple is popularly considered to be a temple of fertility. On a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina is the yellow-roofed Chimi Lhakhang, built in 1499 by the cousin of Lama Drukpa Kunley in his honour after the lama subdued the demoness of the nearby Dochu La with his ‘magic thunderbolt of wisdom’. A brisk 15-minute walk through the village of Sosokha will lead a visitor straight to the temple. A sense and feeling of fertility and contentment is indeed in the air as one passes through the rich alluvial paddy fields. All crops grow and thrive well here. Farmers of this region are in fact among the most well-to-do in Bhutan. They attribute this to the blessings of Lam Drukpa Kuenley. A wooden effigy of the lama’s thunderbolt is preserved in the lhakhang, and childless women go to the temple to receive a wang (blessing or empowerment) from the saint. Newborns are also brought here to be named. There are a few monks at the temple, which is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and some beautiful slate carvings. The bodhi tree here is believed to have been brought from Bodhgaya. Source: http://happyul.com
Wangdue Dzong
Unesco World Heritage
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel was supposedly at Chimi Lhakhang in Punakha when he met a decrepit old man. He described a ridge in the present-day Wangdue Phodrang as a ’sleeping elephant’ and told Zhabdrung that he would unite the country by building a Dzong on the ’neck’ of the ridge. The Zhabdrung, surmising the old man to be Yeshey Gonpo (Mahakala), took his suggestion and sent forth a noble to study the area. As the emissary drew close to the area, he saw four ravens circling above the ridge. Upon reaching the ridge, the birds flew in four directions. On returning to Chimi Lhakhang, he made his report. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel took this as a good omen and immediately outlined in 1638 to construct Dzong overlooking the convergence of the Dongchu and Punatshangchu. Wangdue Dzong has 14 temples, including Kunrey (assembly hall of monks). The Goenkhang has a figure of gonpo (Mahakala) carved on a stone slab. Wangdue Dzong was razed to the ground on 26 June 2012. It is believed that an electrical short circuit causes the fire. Source: www.drukasia.com
Unesco World Heritage
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel was supposedly at Chimi Lhakhang in Punakha when he met a decrepit old man. He described a ridge in the present-day Wangdue Phodrang as a ’sleeping elephant’ and told Zhabdrung that he would unite the country by building a Dzong on the ’neck’ of the ridge. The Zhabdrung, surmising the old man to be Yeshey Gonpo (Mahakala), took his suggestion and sent forth a noble to study the area. As the emissary drew close to the area, he saw four ravens circling above the ridge. Upon reaching the ridge, the birds flew in four directions. On returning to Chimi Lhakhang, he made his report. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel took this as a good omen and immediately outlined in 1638 to construct Dzong overlooking the convergence of the Dongchu and Punatshangchu. Wangdue Dzong has 14 temples, including Kunrey (assembly hall of monks). The Goenkhang has a figure of gonpo (Mahakala) carved on a stone slab. Wangdue Dzong was razed to the ground on 26 June 2012. It is believed that an electrical short circuit causes the fire. Source: www.drukasia.com