TRAVEL
A
S A RECENTLY OPENED nation, Bhutan inspires feelings of awe and wonder. The land of monasteries, fortresses called
dzongs, plains, cliffs, peaks and valleys is sandwiched between China and India. Officially known as the Kingdom of Bhutan, it is also referred to as the Land of the Thunder Dragon reflecting its strong Buddhist faith. Its capital city is Thimphu. When you fly to Bhutan, you will arrive at the Paro International Airport, which is the only international airport in the country. It’s also an exciting one—Paro International Airport has been named one of the Ten Most Dangerous Airports in the World. On a clear day, you can marvel at the astonishing sights as the plane approaches. Two hours from the airport, Thimphu is the modern capital, which offers a number of interesting stops along the way. After we arrived at the hotel, we took care of our accommodations and enjoyed lunch at the hotel, where we had our first taste of Bhutanese food. BUDDHA POINT Our next stop was the Kuensel Phodrang, the largest statue in the country, built on top of the mountain. The statue is 51.5 meters high and holds several chapels and thousands of smaller Buddha statues. In addition to offering prayers to Buddha, the site offers an excellent view of the valley below, as well as the opportunity to walk around. KING’S MEMORIAL CHORTEN It is one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu, and for many Bhutanese, it is the focus of their daily worship. The King’s Memorial Chorten is a large Tibetan-style chorine that literally means ‘seat of faith’. It was constructed in 1974 as a memorial to Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and as a monument to peace. Throughout the day, people circumambulate the chorine, spin red prayer wheels, and pray at a small shrine inside the gate.
THIS SPREAD CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Pilgrims circle the Memorial Chorten with it’s golden spire and bells offering prayers; Bodhisattva of Buddha Point; Mural of the four harmonious friends; Rinpung Dzong in Paro valley; View overlooking the town of Thimphu, Bhutan and the Tashichho Dzong; Karchu Dratsang Monastery, three monks; National Institute of Zorig Chusum, Thimpu.
EC Magazines | London-L.A. Edition 2023 66
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