Mon., 10/22/12 - Punakha
We started this morning with a visit to the "most beautiful" Punakha Dzong (Pungthang Dewachen Phodrang - Palace of Great Happiness) originally built in the 17th c. It contains the temple where the coronation of all five kings took place and the wedding of King #5 last year. In 1994 a glacial flood wiped out the dzong as it is built on a point where two rivers meet (the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers). It has been completely restored to its original beauty. This dzong has been destroyed and rebuilt five times including after an 8.2 earthquake in 1887. Half of the dzong is for government administration for this district and the back half is a monastery for monks, with a beautiful large temple.
A local secondary school
|
Punakha Dzong and the Mo Chhu river |
Punakha Dzong
|
Punakha Dzong |
Covered bridge over the river giving access to the dzong |
Rhododendron
|
Steep stairs entrance to the Punakha Dzong
|
Bee hives over the entrance to the dzong |
Our group going up the steep, shallow steps
|
Namthosey, guardian deity of the North |
Yulkhorsung, guardian deity of the East
|
The Four Harmonious Friends |
Buddha with no teeth representing longevity |
Puzzle created by the monk who built the original dzong - there is no known solution
|
Wheel of life with the 12 animals of the Zodiac
|
Sacred Bodhi tree - this ficus or Bodhi tree represents the tree under which Siddartha Gautama (original Buddha) achieved enlightenment
|
Choeten of the first courtyard
|
Inner courtyard |
Facade details |
Steep steps into a temple
|
Facade details |
Facade details
|
Temple entrance
|
Mandala on the wall outside the temple |
Wheel of Life held by Yama, the Lord of Death
|
We were certainly inside a lot of Buddhist temples on this trip. Since no picture-taking is allowed, I went on-line to see what I could find. Below are two pictures taken by someone -who probably wasn't supposed to take them. The interiors of the temples we saw contained statues and altars much like those in the photos. The interior of the temples is usually very ornate (especially in the older temples) with many statues and paintings on all the walls and ceiling. The altars contain burning butter lamps and butter sculptures made by shaping butter. On the whole, these temples were beautiful.
|
Buddhist temple interior (from an internet picture)
|
Buddhist temple interior (from an internet picture) |
|
Ornate butter sculptures |
Ornate building facade
|
Facade closer up |
Facade details
|
Facade details |
