- View from Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
In Yambesa, 7km north of Punakha, is the huge Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, perched high on a hill on the opposite bank of the river. The 30m-tall chorten (also known as the Nyzergang Lhakhang) took eight years to build and was consecrated in 1999. The chorten is dedicated to the fifth king and serves to protect the country, so it is stuffed with a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of Bhutanese demonography; some with raven or elephant heads, others riding snow lions or garudas, and most covered in flames. Look in the ground-floor stairwell for one protector riding a brown, hairy migoi (yeti). Go to the roof for fine views of the valley. Lonely, Planet (2012-06-21). Bhutan Travel Guide (Country Travel Guide) - Temple in Bhutan
Temple in Bhutan - Temple in Bhutan
Temple in Bhutan - Temple in Bhutan
Temple in Bhutan - Temple in Bhutan
Temple in Bhutan - Temple in Bhutan
Temple in Bhutan - Temple in Bhutan
- Shrines in the clouds
Shrines in the clouds - Shrines in the clouds
Shrines in the clouds - School Girls in Punakha
School Girls in Punakha - Satelite Antenna on Roof in Punakha
Satelite Antenna on Roof in Punakha - Restaurant with Phallus
Restaurant with Phallus - Punakha Valley
Punakha Valley - Punakha Dzong Bridge
Punakha Dzong DZONG This dzong ( 8am-5pm) 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. Guru Rinpoche foretold the construction of Punakha Dzong, predicting that ‘…a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant’. When the Zhabdrung visited Punakha he chose the tip of the trunk of the sleeping elephant at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu as the place to build a dzong. Lonely, Planet (2012-06-21). Bhutan Travel Guide (Country Travel Guide) - Punakha Dzong Bridge
Punakha Dzong DZONG This dzong ( 8am-5pm) 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. Guru Rinpoche foretold the construction of Punakha Dzong, predicting that ‘…a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant’. When the Zhabdrung visited Punakha he chose the tip of the trunk of the sleeping elephant at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu as the place to build a dzong. Lonely, Planet (2012-06-21). Bhutan Travel Guide (Country Travel Guide)