Bhutan Day 4

March 18, 2018

After breakfast we traveled a narrow, bumpy, and winding road up the mountain side to reach Sangchen Dorj Lhundrup Choeling (Nunnery). It was built in 2015 by the Queen Mother in celebration of the king’s (Fourth Druk Gyalpo) 60th birthday. The temple complex serves as an educational and training center for women who are also training to be monks. They study basic school subjects as well as training in embroidery, painting, sculpture, and statue making. It is a beautiful setting on top of the hillside.

Looking back into the valley as we traveled up to the nunnery 

 

The decorative woodwork shows beautiful craftsmanship 

 

  

Dormitories where the students live.

 

They were having a ceremony in the temple to recognize the students progress with their studies.

We stood outside and listened for a while and then went inside to observe the ceremonies.

 

Thought it was interesting that there were skeletons painted on the door panels.

Shoes of the students were waiting outside.

One of the garden areas.

 

We then proceeded back down to the town to visit Punakha Dzong (fort). It is known as the “Palace of Great Happiness “. Built in the 17th century around 1637, it serves as the administration center of Punakha District as well as housing a monastery.

The foot bridge over the river.

 

To enter we had to climb these steps.

 

There are some great paintings adorning the entrance.

A prayer wheel.

 

Recognize the Four Harmonious Friends (bird, rabbit, monkey, and elephant). 

There is a very important religious relic kept in this building concerning the establishment of Buddhism in Bhutan.

 

The temple entrance.

The first king of Bhutan was coronated at this Dzong in 1907 and it served as the center of government until 1955.

Painting of the Buddhist Wheel of Life (Bhavacakra). In short, it depicts the continuity of becoming and reincarnation into one of the different realms of existence. It is too complicated to try and explain all of the different realms here.

 

From the Dzong we took a short hike to the suspension bridge over the Po Chu river. It is the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. It does shake a little as you walk across. There was a group of young boys on the bridge making it swing and bounce so Amanda scolded them and they stopped. 

Some monks chilling out under the tree.

You can see how long the bridge is expanding the river.

 

Monks washing by the river.

The bridge was lined with prayer flags.

After our bridge walk we went to town and had lunch before heading to a small village village located on a hillside. The village, Renchen, was established in the 1600’s to house workers that were brought in from the southern part of the country to build a huge Dzong. The Dzong is located across the river on a bluff. There are still many original houses being used today. Living situation is still sort of basic with a community water spigot and the use of outhouses. 

  

These children were sort of shy at first but began to talk to us.

 

An old stupa

 

There are mainly farmers living in the village. I love how they have terraced the hillside for their crops.

You can see the old Wangdue Phodrang Dzong built in 1638 on the river bank. Unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 2012. They are currently working to rebuild it.

 

A beautiful garden 

Some old houses that have been abandoned.

Women working with rice planting.

There was a nice towel sculpture on my bed when I returned to my room. 

Well that wraps up our visit to the Punakha Valley. Tomorrow morning we go back across the Dochula Pass to Paro.