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The national flag of Bhutan is a bicolour, diagonally divided into equal yellow and orange fields. The yellow-orange fim...
17/07/2023

The national flag of Bhutan is a bicolour, diagonally divided into equal yellow and orange fields. The yellow-orange fimbriation runs from the lower hoist to the upper fly end. The yellow half stretches from the hoist to the upper fly end, and the orange half from the fly end to the lower hoist. It has a white dragon along the fimbriation, flying towards the upper fly end. The honour point of the flag is the fimbriation along which a dragon is located, stretching equally on the yellow and orange fields. The staff ornament or finial is a norbu (jewel).

The flag of Bhutan represents strength in unity and character. The Yellow Colour signifies His Majesty as the head of state. While the Organe colour signifies the spiritual traditions of Bhutan.

The dragon at the centre signifies purity, strength and independence. The jewels in the claws of the dragon represent wealth and protection, and the dragon’s snarls symbolize the protector deities of Bhutan.

The national tree is the cypress (Cupressus torolusa). This majestic evergreen tree holds significant cultural and spiri...
06/07/2023

The national tree is the cypress (Cupressus torolusa). This majestic evergreen tree holds significant cultural and spiritual importance in Bhutanese society. With its tall stature and graceful branches, the Cypress symbolizes longevity, strength, and resilience. Found abundantly in the pristine forests of Bhutan, the Cypress provides shelter to diverse wildlife and contributes to the country's rich biodiversity. Its durable wood is highly valued and used in traditional construction and furniture-making. As a cherished national symbol, the Cypress represents Bhutan's deep connection to nature and its commitment to sustainable forest management for future generations.

The national animal of Bhutan is the Takin. It is a unique and fascinating creature that represents the country's rich b...
03/07/2023

The national animal of Bhutan is the Takin. It is a unique and fascinating creature that represents the country's rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. With its blend of goat-like features and cattle-like appearance, the Takin holds a special place in Bhutanese folklore and mythology. This robust and muscular mammal is native to the Eastern Himalayas and can be found roaming the alpine forests and mountainous regions of Bhutan. As a symbol of Bhutan's commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship, the Takin serves as a reminder of the country's deep reverence for nature and its unique wildlife.

Dragon Valley Tours at service to a group of 11 Special Single Ladies from India!Pictured with our Director of Sales & M...
16/06/2023

Dragon Valley Tours at service to a group of 11 Special Single Ladies from India!

Pictured with our Director of Sales & Marketing Yugel TR Drukland!

Situated in a deep valley along the banks of the Paro Chhu river, it is located 6 km away from Paro. The airport poses s...
12/06/2023

Situated in a deep valley along the banks of the Paro Chhu river, it is located 6 km away from Paro. The airport poses significant challenges due to the surrounding peaks, some reaching heights of 5,500 m (18,000 ft). Consequently, only eight pilots hold the certification to land at this airport.

Operations at Paro Airport are permitted solely during daylight hours, from sunrise to sunset, and under favorable visual meteorological conditions. Before 2011, Paro Airport stood as the sole airport in Bhutan. It can be accessed via the Paro-Thimphu road, located 6 km from Paro city and 54 km (34 mi; 29 nmi) from Thimphu.

Dragon Valley Tours takes utmost pleasure in joing the Nation in wishing the 68th Auspecious Birth Anniversary of Her Ma...
10/06/2023

Dragon Valley Tours takes utmost pleasure in joing the Nation in wishing the 68th Auspecious Birth Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuchk for Her Majesty's longivity, good health & happiness!

Drukgyel Dzong, located in the upper part of Bhutan's Paro District, was once a fortress and Buddhist monastery. It is b...
08/06/2023

Drukgyel Dzong, located in the upper part of Bhutan's Paro District, was once a fortress and Buddhist monastery. It is believed that the dzong was constructed in 1649 by Tenzin Drukdra under the orders of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, to commemorate their triumph over an invasion from Tibet.

During the early 1950s, a devastating fire nearly wiped out Drukgyel Dzong, leaving it in ruins.

In 2016, in honor of the birth of The Gyalsey and two other significant events—the arrival of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to Bhutan in 1616 AD and the birth year of Guru Rinpoche—Prime Minister Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay made an announcement. He declared that the Dzong would be reconstructed and restored to its former glory. The announcement was made and a groundbreaking ceremony took place on the day following the birth of the Prince.

And now, it is being reconstructed to it's former glory!

On this joyous occasion of Her Royal Highness Ashi Euphelma Choden Wangchuck’s 30th Birth Anniversary, the Dragon Valley...
06/06/2023

On this joyous occasion of Her Royal Highness Ashi Euphelma Choden Wangchuck’s 30th Birth Anniversary, the Dragon Valley Tours join the Nation in offering our sincere felicitations & prayers for the good health & longevity of our Princess.

The National Museum of Bhutan, located in the town of Paro in western Bhutan, is a cultural museum. It was established i...
06/06/2023

The National Museum of Bhutan, located in the town of Paro in western Bhutan, is a cultural museum. It was established in 1968, under the command of His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third hereditary Monarch of Bhutan, and is housed in the renovated ancient Ta-dzong building, situated above Rinpung Dzong.

The museum was specifically designed to showcase the finest examples of Bhutanese art, including exquisite bronze statues and paintings. The construction of suitable galleries was undertaken to carefully display these works of art in a scientific and aesthetically pleasing manner.

At present, the National Museum holds an impressive collection of over 3,000 pieces of Bhutanese art, spanning more than 1,500 years of the country's cultural heritage. This extensive collection represents a remarkable fusion of the past and present, showcasing various creative traditions and disciplines. It serves as a major attraction for both local and foreign visitors.

Wishing our beautiful and humble Queen Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema the Happiest 33rd Birthday la 🙏
04/06/2023

Wishing our beautiful and humble Queen Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema the Happiest 33rd Birthday la 🙏

The Jowo Temple of Kyichu, one of Bhutan's oldest temples, was constructed in the 7th century by Tibetan Emperor Songtse...
01/06/2023

The Jowo Temple of Kyichu, one of Bhutan's oldest temples, was constructed in the 7th century by Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo. It is among the 108 border taming temples built by him.

Padmasambhava visited the temple in the 8th century and is said to have hidden many spiritual treasures there. During the 12th century, the Lhapa Kagyu tradition took care of the temple, and in the 13th century, it was handed over to a descendant of Nyima, the son of Phajo Drugom Zhigpo. Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) rediscovered and restored the temple as described in Jigdral Yeshe Dorje's book on The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Ngawang Namgyal took over the temple in 1644. It was restored and re-consecrated from 1836 to 1838 by the 25th Je Khenpo Sherab Gyaltshen. In 1971, Queen Kesang Choden Wangchuck built the Guru Temple adjacent to the old Jowo Temple, where annual rites for Vajrasattva, Palchen Heruka, and Vajrakilaya are held for the country's well-being. The courtyard of Kyichu Lhakhang is believed to have two orange trees that bear fruit all year. The temple was constructed to subdue the Demoness (Sin Mo).

Great Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan celebrating the 60th anniversary...
25/05/2023

Great Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan celebrating the 60th anniversary of fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The statue houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which, like the Great Buddha Dordenma itself, are made of bronze and gilded in gold. The Great Buddha Dordenma is sited amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of Sherab Wangchuk, the thirteenth Druk Desi, overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

Construction began in 2006 and was planned to finish in October 2010, however construction did not conclude until 25 September 2015. The completed work is one of the largest Buddha rupas in the world, at 169 feet (52 m) and contains 100,000 8-inch-tall and 25,000 12-inch-tall gilded bronze Buddhas.

The statue was constructed at a cost of US$47 million by Aerosun Corporation of Nanjing, China, which was sponsored by Rinchen Peter Teo a Singaporean businessman. The total cost of the entire project is well over US$100 million. The interior will accommodate respectively. Names of sponsors are displayed in the meditation hall which forms the throne of the Great Buddha Dordenma.

Apart from commemorating the centennial of the Bhutanese monarchy, it fulfills two prophecies. In the twentieth century, the yogi Sonam Zangpo prophesied that a large statue of either Padmasambhava, Buddha or of a phurba would be built in the region to bestow blessings, peace and happiness on the whole world. Additionally, the statue is mentioned in the ancient terma of Guru Rinpoche, a.k.a. Padmasambhava, himself, said to date from approximately the eighth century, and recovered some 600 years ago by terton Pema Lingpa.

Changangkha Lhakhang is a compact temple complex located on the tip of a ridge that juts towards central Thimphu from th...
22/05/2023

Changangkha Lhakhang is a compact temple complex located on the tip of a ridge that juts towards central Thimphu from the hills to the east. Founded in the 13th or 14th centuries, it is probably the oldest surviving temple in Thimphu. The main components and foundations of the monastery are extremely old, long predating the unification of Bhutan in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The temple is often frequented by parents with small children seeking to obtain blessings from the protective deity of the temple, Genyen Domtsangpa, who is considered to be the birth deity and protector of children born in JDWNRH national referral hospital in Thimphu.

The interior of the main temple is divided into two sections. The east side enshrining the principal sacred images, scriptures and other relics is not usually open to the general public - although the man image can be viewed from the other section, which is also where the lamas of the temple are seated while conducting rituals and prayers. Proper dress and decorum are required when visiting the temple.

Folk Heritage Museum also known as Phelchey Toenkhyim was established on July 28th, 2001 with the initiative of the Quee...
18/05/2023

Folk Heritage Museum also known as Phelchey Toenkhyim was established on July 28th, 2001 with the initiative of the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. It is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs and documentation of rural life. Her Majesty is also the founder and patron of the Museum.

Folk Heritage Museum is the oldest historical place in Bhutan. The Museum is more than 150 years old, and one can see that the rural setting and flavor has been well-preserved in addition to the paddy, wheat and millet fields that can be seen here. A traditional water-mill with mill stones, traditional style kitchen gardens with vegetables that were grown over the past 100 years and the famous traditional hot stone bath are also preserved. Native trees and plants that have domestic uses in Bhutanese rural households are being grown here in an effort to keep indigenous knowledge about the use of natural resources alive and to include a patch of greenery, right in the heart of the capital city of Thimphu.

The ground floor entrance to the farmhouse is accessible via a small, partially covered, stone courtyard used to store fire wood, farming equipment and grain. There is also an incense burner even today, for the daily burning of incense as an offering to the protective deities. The ground floor resembles a barn more than the entrance to a home as this is where farm animals are housed during the coldest periods of Bhutan’s harsh winters.

The next two levels of the house is accessible via steep, open-tread timber stairs in which visitors are advised to take caution while moving between floors. The second level of the farmhouse is used primarily as a safe store for grain and food. And on the third level, visitors will have reached the center of the family’s living and dining area. This is the only level of the homestead with heating, generated by a wood-fired stove set against an external wall in the separate kitchen area. Adjoining the kitchen is a living area and also where the entire, often large, family would have slept.

Visit to the Folk Heritage Museum is a unique experience because the principal exhibit of the museum itself is a restored three storied, traditional rammed mud and the timber house dating back to the mid 19th century. The form and the design of the house are that of a conventional; household in the Wang area of that era.

Motithang Takin Preserve is a wildlife reserve area for Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Originally a mini-zoo, it ...
15/05/2023

Motithang Takin Preserve is a wildlife reserve area for Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Originally a mini-zoo, it was converted into a preserve when it was discovered that the animals refrained from inhabiting the surrounding forest even when set free. The reason for declaring Takin as a national animal of Bhutan on 25 November 2005 (Budorcas taxicolor) is attributed to a legend of the animal’s creation in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley.

The local mythology related to declaring takin as the national animal of Bhutan is dated to the 15th century. A Tibetan saint by the name Drukpa Kunley, popularly called by the epithet “The Divine Madman” is credited with creating the tamin with unique features. Drukpa Kunley, who was not only a religious preacher but also a proficient ta***ic, was requested by the people of Bhutan during one of his religious lectures to conjure a miracle before them. The saint agreed to do so provided he was fed for lunch, a whole cow and a whole goat. Once served, he devoured the food of both animals and left out the bones.

He then took out the head of the goat and fixed it to the skeleton of the cow and uttered mantras and the magic worked. With a snap, he created a live animal, which had the head of the goat and the body of the cow. The animal sprang up and moved on to the meadows to graze. The animal was then given the name d**g gyem tsey (takin). Since then this animal has been a common sight in the hills of Bhutan. Because of this magical creation with high religious connotation, the animal has been adopted as the national animal of Bhutan.

On this auspicious occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen Mother Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, th...
11/05/2023

On this auspicious occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen Mother Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, the Dragon Kingdom would like to join the nation in offering our utmost prayers for Her Majesty's sound health & prosperity.

Simtokha Dzong ('dzong' means "castle-monastery") also known as Sangak Zabdhon Phodrang (Bhutanese language meaning: "Pa...
08/05/2023

Simtokha Dzong ('dzong' means "castle-monastery") also known as Sangak Zabdhon Phodrang (Bhutanese language meaning: "Palace of the Profound Meaning of Secret Mantras") is a small dzong. It was built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who unified Bhutan.

It is the first of its kind built in Bhutan. An important historical monument and former Buddhist monastery, today it houses one of the premier Dzongkha language learning institutes. The Simtoka Dzong, built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

It functions as a monastic and administrative centre and is the oldest Dzong which has survived in its original form Namgyal brought into vogue, for the first time in Bhutan, this concept of the "Dzong" as castle monastery. An attack on the dzong was made by five disgruntled lamas in collaboration with an invading army of Tibetans who were against the Buddhist practices of the Dzong under the control of Zhabdrung.

They were defeated and Palden Lama who was the leader of the invaders died in the battle. Another attack on the dzong in 1630 by the Tibetans was successful for a while till part of the Dzong caught fire and with the roof collapsing all the invading forces were killed.

Authentic Bhutanese Craft bazaar in Thimphu sits along the Norzin Lam stretching from the Taj Tashi hotel up till Royal ...
04/05/2023

Authentic Bhutanese Craft bazaar in Thimphu sits along the Norzin Lam stretching from the Taj Tashi hotel up till Royal Textile Academy.
The market consists of around 80 shops which are entirely made of bamboo huts aligned together along the Norzin Lam covering about half a kilometer of the road.

Bhutan had its first craft bazaar or handicraft market in 2011 in Thimphu.The craft bazaar was initiated to promote the young talented rural based artists who have mastered the arts and crafts of the age-old Bhutanese traditional arts which were passed down from generations. It offers a platform for these young entrepreneurs from remote communities, from all over the country to showcase their art and craftworks.

The most important and the foremost aim of this initiative is to improve the socio-economic status of these rural-based communities. The shoppers will enjoy the stroll through this bazaar and will find at least a thing or two to take with them as souvenirs to remind them of their enchanting Excrusions through Bhutan.

Tashichho Dzong: The fortress that houses the office of the King, Chief Abbot or Spiritual Leader of Buddhist Monasterie...
01/05/2023

Tashichho Dzong: The fortress that houses the office of the King, Chief Abbot or Spiritual Leader of Buddhist Monasteries and some Ministers. Built in the 17th century. Visitors are open for an hour in the evening and closed during official meeting or gathering.

It has traditionally been the seat of the Druk Desi (or "Deb Raja"), the head of Bhutan's civil government, an office which has been combined with the Kingship since the creation of the monarchy in 1907, and summer capital of the country. In old British documents, it is known as Tassisudon.

It was built by the first Dharma Raja, who also founded the Lho-Drukpa sect of Buddhism, which has remained the distinctive sect of Bhutan. The correct transliteration of the vernacular name Bkrashis-chhos-rdzong, meaning "the fortress of auspicious doctrine" is, according to Graham Sandberg, Tashichhoidzong.

Once you land in Bhutan, you will be always mesmerized with our locally hand-crafted artifacts. Every tourist gets compe...
27/04/2023

Once you land in Bhutan, you will be always mesmerized with our locally hand-crafted artifacts. Every tourist gets compelled and can’t hold back from buying a good numbers of souvenirs for their loved ones as they leave Bhutan. And some they take it as a memory of their visit to this heavenly county on Earth but some take it as a future return ticket back to Bhutan.

A tradition of arts & crafts has existed in Bhutan for centuries as many of these skills were needed to support the Buddhist culture and the creation of Dzongs, monasteries and temples. Artistic skills were also needed to paint and decorate not only the interiors of these important buildings, but also the homes (inside and out) of ordinary folk.

The Royal Government of Bhutan has a clear mission of promoting sustainability, inclusiveness, and resilience in the Bhutanese handicraft sector & supports local artisans by providing them with resources, training, and policy interventions to help improve their skills and increase their chances of success in both the local communities and the tourism industry.

If you would like to purchase handicrafts and textiles whilst in Bhutan then Thimphu or Paro are your best bet. Thimphu has an excellent weekend market, as well as shops that are attached to the School of Traditional Arts and the Textile Museum. Paro also has a number of shops that sell Bhutanese arts & crafts which your guide will be happy to include in your tours of the town.

The Black-necked Crane is a medium-sized crane in Asia that breeds on the Tibetan Plateau and remote parts of India and ...
24/04/2023

The Black-necked Crane is a medium-sized crane in Asia that breeds on the Tibetan Plateau and remote parts of India and Bhutan. It is 139 cm long with a 235 cm wingspan, and it weighs 5.5 kg. It is whitish-gray, with a black head, red crown patch, black upper neck and legs, and white patch to the rear of the eye.

The Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) is the last discovered of 15 species of cranes in the world. This majestic bird is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and migrates to lower altitudes, including several areas of Bhutan, towards late October to mid-February.

They arrive from the Tibetan Plateau, where they breed in the summer. They visit the Phobjikha Valley in large numbers, which is a declared protected area for the cranes, and also to other valleys in smaller numbers in central and eastern parts of Bhutan.

Implausibly, on arrival at Phobhjikha they are seen circulating Gangteng Monastery three times as if practicing kora - the "circumambulation", and repeat the same when they begin their return to the Tibet Autonomous Region in early spring.

Dochu La is a mountain pass in the snow covered Himalayas within Bhutan on the road from Thimphu to central Bhutan where...
20/04/2023

Dochu La is a mountain pass in the snow covered Himalayas within Bhutan on the road from Thimphu to central Bhutan where 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as "Druk Wangyal Chortens" have been built by Her Majesty The Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk.

These were built as a memorial in honour of the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed in the December 2003 battle against Assamese insurgents from India. It particularly marks the victory of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck who dislodged the rebels from their camps (there were 30 camps) in Bhutanese territory.

The forest cover on the slopes of the pass consists of cypress trees. The hill slopes around the pass are festooned with a profusion of colourful religious flags fixed by the Buddhist people as a mark of veneration. The flags, made in five colours representing the natural forces:-"blue (sky), white (air), red (fire), green (water) and yellow (earth)" – are inscribed with Buddhist scriptural prayers to usher prosperity and peace around the globe.

Bumthang is the most historic Dzongkhag/State in Bhutan if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted. Bu...
17/04/2023

Bumthang is the most historic Dzongkhag/State in Bhutan if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted. Bumthang consists of the four mountain valleys of Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor, although occasionally the entire district is referred to as Bumthang Valley.

These picturesque valleys are carved by ancient glaciers. It's a peaceful place with potatoes, rice and buckwheat fields. Hence, the name Bumthang translates directly to 'beautiful fields'. Bumthang has many sacred places making it one of the top most pilgrimage destinations even for the Bhutanese.

Among them one is the Jampa Temple or Temple of Maitreya which is said to be one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in 659 CE on a single day, to pin down an ogress to earth forever. It was divined that the supine demon was causing obstruction to the spread of Buddhism, and temples were constructed on her body parts that spread across Tibet & Bhutan.

The Burning Lake is another sacred site which looks more like a pool along the river of Tang Valley. Local legend says that the water contained a hidden holy treasure uncovered through divination by one of Bhutan’s most important religious figures, Terton Pema Lingpa, in the late 1400s.

Taktsang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest is one of the thirteen Tiger's Nest caves in historical Tibet in which Guru Padmasamb...
13/04/2023

Taktsang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest is one of the thirteen Tiger's Nest caves in historical Tibet in which Guru Padmasambhava practiced and taught Vajrayana. Taktsang which literally means "Tiger’s lair" was established in 8th century by Guru Padmasambhava as a meditation cave for him. This place was consecrated to tame the Tiger demon.

Years later, Zhabdrung Rinpoche wanted to establish an edifice at the Taktsang Pel P**k site. It was during a Tibetan invasion of Bhutan in 1644-46 that Zhabdrung and his Tibetan Nyingmapa teacher had invoked Padmasambhava and the protective deities at Taktsang to give them success over the invaders. However; Zhabdrung was not able to build a temple at Taktsang to celebrate the event, even though he very much wanted to do so.

Later, the wish of Zhabdrung to build a temple here, however, was fulfilled during the 4th Druk Desi Tenzin Rabgye (1638–96), the first, and only successor of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal "a distant cousin from a collateral line descending from the 15th century ‘crazy saint’ Drukpa Kunley".

During his visit to the sacred cave of Taktsang Pel P**k during the Tsechu season of 1692 he laid the foundation for building the temple dedicated to Guru Rinpoche called the ‘Temple of the Guru with Eight Names’ (’gu ru mtshan brgyad lha-khang).

Phobjikha Valley, sometimes referred to as Gangtey Valley, is a wide glacial valley that is a protected area, managed by...
10/04/2023

Phobjikha Valley, sometimes referred to as Gangtey Valley, is a wide glacial valley that is a protected area, managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature, and as such seems halted in time.

A magical glacial valley enchanted with the Black Mountains as its backdrop, Gangtey Valley or the Phobjikha Valley in Bhutan is a dream come true destination for the visitors. Whether wanderlust or a nature lover, leisure traveller or backpacker, or even if you are planning for your honeymoon trip, this gorgeous valley can be your ideal spot in the Land of Thunder Dragons.

Extremely rich and diverse, Phobjikha Valley is the home to some of the most exotic as well as endangered wildlife species. Its untouched beauty and tranquil ambience, varied trails and the list of things to do in Gangtey Valley makes it a must visit place for visitors from all the walks of life.

The black-necked cranes are among the endangered birds that migrate to Bhutan during the winter season. Though these endangered birds can be found in other Bhutanese regions like Bumthang Valley, Lhuntse, and others, Phobjikha Valley hosts the maximum number of black-necked cranes every year.

Haa is situated in the west of the Bhutan at an altitude of 2,670 meters above the sea level bordering Sikkim with ethni...
06/04/2023

Haa is situated in the west of the Bhutan at an altitude of 2,670 meters above the sea level bordering Sikkim with ethnic Tibetan and Han majority. The major economic activity is rice production, yak herding and trade with neighboring China, Haa is unmistakably a quiet and peaceful high altitude paradise of Bhutan

Haa has its own wonders like Katsho Goenpa Lhakhang / Temple was established by Lam Choney Dorji about 200 years ago, at around 19 th century. Lam Choney Dorji had a vision that his destiny was at this place and it will be good for the people living in this area, he also dreamed before the construction that the sky was full of stars shining brightly and named it as Kartsho. The Lhakhang was two storied before, but after the fire burned down twice by the about 50 years ago. But now the Lhakhang is only one storied.

The Jana Dingkha is a small yet beautiful monastery with a temple on its second floor. A popular tourist attraction and trekking site in the Haa Valley in Bhutan. The trail to this spiritual abode is a difficult one with a steep and spiral climb to the top. It is advised that tourists must carry a map of this place as the route is full of tricky diversions

Wangchulo Dzong is situated at the entrance to the breathtaking Haa Valley; the magnificent fortress greets the tourists with its exquisite modern construction. Unlike other Dzongs of Bhutan which were built as defensive structures against invasion, the Wangchulo Dzong was built to be the administrative center of the Royal Government. According to a local legend, this Dzong was constructed to protect the people and their livestock from the evil influences of the 108 serpent deities that live around this area.

• Name: Dochula or Druk Wangyal Chortens• Distance: 30KM (18.64 m) from Thimphu• Elevation: 3,100 m (10,171 ft)• Hiking ...
20/03/2023

• Name: Dochula or Druk Wangyal Chortens
• Distance: 30KM (18.64 m) from Thimphu
• Elevation: 3,100 m (10,171 ft)
• Hiking Hours: Just by the road on the way

The landmarks around the pass include 108 Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortens or Stupas, the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang (temple), and the rhododendron garden which is part of the 47KM Royal Botanical Park.
The Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortens are red-band or Khang Zhang Chortens, 108 in numbers, built in a central hillock at the pass, under the patronage of the Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk. In local language they are called gYul Las rNampar Gyal wai' Chortens or Chortens of victory. These were built as a memorial in honour of the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed in the December 2003 battle against Assamese insurgents from India. It particularly marks the victory of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck who dislodged the rebels from their camps (there were 30 camps) in Bhutanese territory from where they raiding Indian Territory of Assam. After the war the King went back to Thimphu on 28 December 2003 and at this stage the 108 Chortens were being built. They were completed in mid-June 2004 and formally consecrated and sanctified with religious rites held on 19–20 June.
The forest cover on the slopes of the pass consists of cypress trees. The hill slopes around the pass are festooned with a profusion of colourful religious flags fixed by the Buddhist people as a mark of veneration. The flags, made in five colours representing the natural forces:-"blue (sky), white (air), red (fire), green (water) and yellow (earth)" – are inscribed with Buddhist scriptural prayers to usher prosperity and peace around the globe. After the Losar festival in February, which marks the Bhutanese New Year, and as the snow melts, the pass provides a spectacle of many species of flowers such as the Primula denticulate, Primula bracteosa and in the subsequent month rhododendrons bloom in profusion. Magnolia campbellii also bloom on the pass during this period. Another fragrant plant, which people come to enjoy, is the Daphne which is a small shrub which blooms with white flowers amidst an array of prayer flags that are fixed on the slopes. The bark of this plant is used to make paper which is a traditional paper used for writing religious scriptures as it is termite free.
Dochula is one of the top visited places by both Tourists and Bhutanese in Bhutan.

Address

Centenary Farmers Market
Thimphu
11001

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00
Saturday 09:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+97517122652

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