Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [79]
Most tour operators include a visit to the school in their sightseeing program. Though large groups of visitors disrupt the classes, you will be astounded at the skill and discipline of the young students. The images of the Buddhist deities on Click here were painted by senior students of the school.
Don’t be surprised if you are accosted by one or two entrepreneurial types selling their wares. If you want to peruse a wider selection of the students’ art, see Shopping.
National Memorial Chorten
This large Tibetan-style chorten (Map; Chorten Lam) was built in 1974 to honour the memory of the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The whitewashed chorten is decorated with richly carved annexes facing the cardinal directions, and features elaborate mandalas, statues and a shrine dedicated to the popular third king. There are numerous religious paintings and complex tantric statues housed inside reflecting both peaceful and wrathful aspects of Buddhist deities.
The memorial chorten, with its sun-catching golden finial, is one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu, and for many people it is the focus of their daily worship. Throughout the day people circumambulate the chorten, whirl the large red prayer wheels and pray at a small shrine inside the gate. The early morning is particularly tranquil as elderly people shuffle in, and spruced-up kids on their way to school whiz in and out to pay homage.
Folk Heritage Museum
A restored three-storey, rammed-earth and timber building houses the Folk Heritage Museum (Phelchey Toenkhym; Map; 327133; Pedzoe Lam; SAARC national/adult Nu 25/150; 9am-5pm Tue-Sat). The house replicates a traditional farmhouse and is furnished as it would have been about a century ago. A guided tour of this almost-living museum is included in the admission and provides a glimpse into traditional Bhutanese life. The house design and many of the implements are also reminders of how many rural Bhutanese still live today. Bring a torch (flashlight) as some of the rooms are quite dimly lit.
National Library
West of the golf course is the National Library (Map; 322885; Pedzoe Lam; 9.30am-1pm & 2-5pm Mon-Fri). It was established in 1967 to preserve many ancient Dzongkha and Tibetan texts, and is a lavishly decorated and vibrant example of Bhutanese architecture.
Pride of place on the ground floor is a copy of the largest published book in the world. Entitled Bhutan, this mega tome would crush any coffee table and defy any bookshelf. Its illustrated pages are turned one page per month. Details on the book and how to buy a copy can be found at www.friendlyplanet.org. Also on the ground floor are the English-language books. There are a few travel books about India and Tibet, and many about Buddhism and Himalayan history, but it’s an eclectic collection where you might find anything. There is a collection of bound volumes of Kuensel and another collection of the many reports produced by agencies that have undertaken development or research projects. There is also a small collection of books about Bhutan on a shelf behind the checkout desk.
Traditional books and historic manuscripts are kept on the top floor – it’s worth the climb. Many of these books are Tibetan-style, printed or written on long strips of handmade paper stacked between pieces of wood and wrapped in silken cloth. There are displays of several significant documents which are well labelled in English. In another section is an old printing press and wooden blocks used for printing books and prayer flags.
Sometimes you will see people circumambulating the National Library building and chanting mantras. This is because the building houses many holy books. An altar on the ground floor, with statues