Bhutan, Nepal & the Mystical Himalayas
October 5-27, 2011
BHUTAN - October 7-13, 2011
Page Four - Punakha, Bhutan & nearby nunnery
In the town of Punakha, the former winter capital of Bhutan, we stayed at the Meri Phuensum Lodge and had this fantastic view of
the valley.
Punakha valley is famous in Bhutan for rice farming. Both red and white rice
are grown along the river valley of Pho and Mo Chu, two of the most prominent rivers in Bhutan
One of the many beautiful flowers we saw in Bhutan. Don't ask me the name.
Another beautiful flower
Yet another beautiful flower. The name of this one is Ipomoea purpurea, or purple morning glory.
Another view of the Punakha Valley from our hotel
A stupa at Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendup Lhakhang (temple). This temple was completed and consecrated by the current King of Bhutan
in 2010.
The Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendup Lhakhang complex houses a permanent higher learning and meditation center for Buddhist nuns,
where, apart from the religious training, the center also provides life skills training such as tailoring, statue making and thanka paintings.
Thanka paintings are
paintings with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhits deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort.
The nunnery also includes a computer center.
The main bronze statue of the temple
inside this building is 41 feet high. The inside is quite elaborate. Like everywhere else in Bhutan at religious sites,
we could not take photos inside. Too bad, because it was impressive.
Some of the young nuns at the temple
Part of the highly decorated roof of the temple
In front of the main lhakhang (temple) is a large square Chorten or stupa modeled on the impressive Boudhanath Stupa of Kathmandu, Nepal,
which we later saw when we were in Nepal. The latter is one of the largest stupas in the world. On virtually every Buddhist stupa in Nepal,
there are giant pairs of eyes staring out from the four sides of the main tower. These are Buddha Eyes (also known as Wisdom Eyes),
and they look out in the four directions to symbolize the all-seeing of a Buddha.
Top of the Chorten at Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendup Lhakhang
Jan, Vanie, & June in front of the stupa. Jan and June are from Delaware; Vanie is from Little Rock. June is talking to our tour leader
in Bhutan,
Tsering.
Pat in front of the stupa.
Two of the nuns posed for me.
Here workers are trying to lift a pole containing prayer flags to vertical upright position and secure it in the ground. They were
getting ready for the wedding of the King and his bride on October 13.2011.
This site, popularly known as Omolatsekha, is on a ridge overlooking the three valleys of Toebesa, Punakha, and Wangdue.
The prophecy that a temple would be built on this spot was made by the 69th Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) of Bhutan,
the religious leader.
One of the nuns is looking in amazement and reacting to what was happening with the lifting of the pole with the prayer flags.
Here's what was happening. Instead of getting it into vertical position and securing it, the pole reached vertical and then continued
to fall the other way to the ground. We didn't wait around to see them try to get it back up again, which I am sure they eventually did.
Another gorgeous flower
The Punakha area is known for its fruit trees.
Link to Page Five - Bhutan Continued - Wangdue Phodrang town & Chimi Lhakhang Monastery
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