Thimphu - the capital of Bhutan
There are cities on the planet that are extremely difficult to get to, but the journey is worth it. One of them is the amazing Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, hidden in the heart of the Himalayas. In this city, modern life and millennial traditions are amazingly combined..
The city surprises at every step; here you can meet meditating monks and a talkative crowd of tourists, unique religious buildings and beautiful mountain landscapes. What you can't find in Thimphu is a traffic light. There was an attempt to install it, but at the request of local residents, a soulless monster - a traffic controller, was replaced by a living policeman doing his job with a soul.
Iconic landmarks
Among the religious buildings of historical and cultural importance, the most notable are: Tashicho-dzong - the former royal residence; memorial stupa of the third king of Bhutan; Changangha Lhakhang is the oldest temple located in the Thimphu Valley.
In the north of the capital is the Buddhist monastery Tashicho-dzong, built in the 13th century. Its original meaning is a fortress and a monastery. In the middle of the twentieth century, the building was restored, and now the government of Bhutan is located here. In summer, Tashicho-dzong is the seat of Je Kenpo, the country's religious leader, and the King of Bhutan also has his own office..
Another tourist attraction is the memorial stupa (chorten) in honor of the third king of Bhutan. Since this leader of the country, according to many indigenous people, was a saint and knew how to work miracles, the attitude towards him and the stupa is special. True, there is also a difference, in this cult place there are no remains of the third king (as is customary in other stupas), but his photo is kept.
Treasury of cultural heritage
Ancient knowledge is in eternal storage in the National Library of Bhutan, which first found shelter in one of the towers of the former Tashicho-dzong monastery. It was opened in 1967, initially a very small amount of precious texts were placed here..
Due to the significant increase in the number of priceless manuscripts, books and texts, it was decided to build a new building. Today, the octagonal complex, built in the traditional Dzong style of Bhutan, preserves the country's ancient written monuments..
Buddha statues
It is clear that this is the most revered deity in Bhutan, statues, sculptures and figurines can be seen at every step. Among them there are real architectural and cultural masterpieces, for example, Buddha Dordenma.
Inside the giant monument is a magnificent temple that houses thousands of Buddha statues. All of them, like the main statue, are made of bronze, but covered with gold, and they also offer a magnificent view of Thimphu.
