Bhutan, the hidden Himalaya paradise
In this set I post my favorites photos from three visits in Bhutan 1996, 1998 and 2000. On all my trips in Bhutan I value again the kindness of the beautiful people, their honest smiling, the cooperativeness, and the nice educated kids who have much fun when I captured them without asking me for money like in other countries people do it every time. The mentality isn't spoilt from this bad side ef…
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View back to the small village
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Old nun spins her mala
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Our group to the Labatama trekking tour
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This is our group to the Labatama plateau:
The horseman, myself, Mithe our tour assistent who passed away one year later in a disco brawl, then our cook, my wife Salama, the second horse man and Pima the organizer and tour guide.
Traditional masks sold at DochuLa
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This mask was to sell for foreign visitors. The phallus nose is a symbolic meaning for indicating a balance between male and female creative energies.
The phallic symbol is as popular as it has ever been.
It comes in different shapes and sizes, carved in wood, metal, stone and cloth. It is painted on walls and hung from the eaves of houses and displayed in various forms during some traditional ceremonies.
In Bhutan the phallus is an integral part of ceremonies observed by communities, commonly used to ward off evil spirits and counter evil.
It is sometimes called Kharam shing or Mikha, meaning a piece of wood to counter the evil tongue and eye, Gulang or Wangchu Chenpo, a reference to Lord Shiva, Wangchu Chenpo pho taag, meaning the male symbol of Lord Shiva, or simply Zur shing, meaning a piece of wood that hangs from the eaves.
But contrary to the popular perception, the phallus has a world of meaning beyond its obvious symbolism to ward off evil influences.
Speaking to Kuensel, a Bhutanese scholar said that the real significance of the phallus has been perverted by popular belief.
“The phallus is nothing but an artistic folk device by which human beings confront the issue of male ego,” he said. “In plain terms it is an attempt to do away with the male ego since the phallus in its warped form reminds of problems of male ego.”
A demon figure fixed for tourists
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This strange figure was fixed together with all the souvenir parts to be sold out in this shop at the DochuLa (the word La means pass). Every part you could buy separate: the boots, the scarf, the kerchief or the rob, the demon mask and the headdress.
At the confluence of Mo Chhu and Po Chhu
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The mother river and the father river flow together. At the background can see the Punakha Dzong behind the forest.
Punakha Dzong
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The dzong is located at the confluence of the two rivers Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu which means the mother and father river. Its the second oldest dzong in Bhutan, it was begun in 1637 also on the order of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
The rope bridge across the Mo Chhu (river)
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To reach the entrance of the Punakha Dzong, one of my favorites places in Bhutan, We enjoyed this view in a beautiful sunset light.
Dzongchung, the little dzong
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A saint, Ngagi Rinchen, built this temple 1328 which can still be seen today opposite the great dzong and which is called Dzongchung, meaning, 'the little dzong'.
The door into the Punakha Dzong
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Large volumes of timber were extracted and seasoned, including the spectacular giant cypress logs for special features like the solid kachen (pillars), dung (beam), cham (joist), and roof posts. Rocks were ferried to the site where masons chipped them into fine blocks. Metal workers shaped copper, brass, and iron into structural and artistic products. Sculptors molded dozens of religious images of all sizes to be installed in the Lhakhangs.
The construction of the Punakha Dzong greatly contributed to the revival of the 13 traditional arts of the zorig chusum. Artisans from all parts of the country were called on to hone their skills and a new generation of Bhutanese craftsmen was trained in the traditional skills and arts of the zorig chusum, under the supervision of the best craftsmen in the country.
Dzongchung at Punakha Dzong
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Its located beside the Punakha Dzong and is older then the all Dzongs in Bhutan which were built in 17th Century by Lama Zhamdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
In 1994 a catastrophic flood damaged the Dzongchung although the Jhou (Buddha image) was miraculously saved. Originally built in 1374 by the great sage Dupthop Ngagi Rinchhen, the Dzongchung was restored in 1996 and consecrated by His Holiness, Geshe Gueden Rinchhen, the 69th Je Khenpo. Besides enlarging the plinth area to 1,500 square feet from the previous 590 square feet a large retaining wall, 25 to 35 feet in height, was constructed around the Dzongchhung, using stone masonry and cement mortar.
Punakha Dzong in the sunset light
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By tradition, dzongs are constructed without the use of architectural plans. Instead construction proceeds under the direction of a high lama who establishes each dimension by means of spiritual inspiration.
In previous times the dzongs were built using corvee labor which was applied as a tax against each household in the district. Under this obligation each family was to provision a decreed number of workers to work for several months at a time in the construction of the dzong.
Trongsa Dzong
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Trongsa Dzong also called Choekor Rabtentse Dzong was built in 1648, it was the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan. Both the first and second kings of Bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat. All four kings were invested as Trongsa Penlop (“governor”) prior to ascending the throne, and the present Crown Prince now holds the post. The Dzong is a massive structure with many levels, sloping down the contours of the ridge on which it is built. Because of the Dzong’s highly strategic position, on the only connecting route between east and west, the Trongsa Penlop was able to control effectively the whole of the central and eastern regions of the country from here.
Long mani wall in Thankabi
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This long Mani wall we had to pass on the left side. It was fixed with many mani stones in the Bhutanese Buddhism style. Mani stone are stone plates, rocks and/or pebbles inscribed, usually, with mantra or ashtamangala, as a form of prayer in Bhutanese Buddhism. Mani stones are intentionally placed along the walk sides.
Landscape near Ujen Chholeng
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Ujen Chholeng was the second destination on our trekking tour. A long way to walk. But we enjoyed the very beautiful landscape and were very lucky with the weather condition.
Painting inside the chorten
Jampey Lhakhang monastery
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Located above Jampel Lhakhang, the Kurje Lhakhang consists of three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 on the rock face where Guru meditated in the 8th century. Second temple is built on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of Guru's body and is therefore considered the most holy. The present Royal Queen Mother recently built the third temples. These three temples are surrounded by 108 chorten wall, symbolic of each joint of the human body.
Prayer wheels at Jampey Lhakhang monastery
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