Bhutan, Punakha
Punakha (Tibetan alphabet: སྤུ་ན་ཁ་) located 1,200 metres above sea level is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu which is about 72 km away taking about 3 hours by car.
Bhutan - the land of the thunder dragon is also a land from a different time. Steeped in tradition and culture the only way to truly appreciate it is by visiting it. "The land of the Thunder Dragon" - Druk Yul, as its called in Tibetian is indeed, the Last Shangrila protected by the mighty Himalayas from the rest of the world. Bhutan is only country where the Monarch rule is still in existence and the Kingdom is blissfully untouched. Hidden in the Eastern Himalayas between India and Tibet and as big as Switzerland, but sparsely populated, Bhutan is as pristine as it gets.
The path to Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), it is not uncommon to see phallus or phallic symbols on the house or gift items.
14112196tonemappedBhutanBTNgeolat27.52310777geolon89.87338141geotaggedYuwak
Path to the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), it is not uncommon to see phallus or phallic symbols on the house or gift items.
14112223tonemappedBhutanBTNgeolat27.52348077geolon89.87510235geotaggedLobeysaThimphu
Near the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), it is not uncommon to see phallus or phallic symbols on the house or gift items.
phallusphallicpenissexualsexChimi L'hakhang TempleTemple of FertilityBhutanBTNgeolat27.52139300geolon89.86964640geotaggedYuwak
Near the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), it is not uncommon to see phallus or phallic symbols on the house or gift items. The small 16th century temple of fertility is dedicated to the Lama Drukpa Kunley, the ‘Divine Madman’, decorated with colourful phalluses and visited by childless couples seeking a special blessing to beget children. This is one of the highly revered temples in all of Bhutan.
penisphallicphallussexualejaculationfertilityTemple of FertilityChimi L'hakhang TempleBhutanBTNgeolat27.52299084geolon89.87359114geotaggedYuwak
Near the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple).
Near the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple).
Near the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple).
Near the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple).
The Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site. The Lhakhang is of modest size, square in shape with a golden spire. It is a golden yellow roofed building. It has a row of prayer wheels and its exterior walls are embedded with slates carved with images of saints. Near the entrance to the Lakhang, there is this small chorten which marks the location where the demoness was subdued by Lama Kunley. This small 16th century temple of fertility is dedicated to the Lama Drukpa Kunley, the ‘Divine Madman’, decorated with colourful phalluses and visited by childless couples seeking a special blessing to beget children. This is one of the highly revered temples in all of Bhutan.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52715743geolon89.87800577geotaggedPajoPunakha
The Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52706806geolon89.87818333geotaggedPajoPunakha
The Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site. In founding the site it is said that Lama Kunley subdued a demon of Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom†and trapped it in a rock at the location close to where the chorten now stands. He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman†for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humour and outrageous behaviour, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a 10 inch (25 cm) wooden phallus (erect penis). Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52714877geolon89.87841337geotaggedPajoPunakha
The Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site. In founding the site it is said that Lama Kunley subdued a demon of Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom†and trapped it in a rock at the location close to where the chorten now stands. He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman†for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humour and outrageous behaviour, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a 10 inch (25 cm) wooden phallus (erect penis). Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52715032geolon89.87828820geotaggedPajoPunakha
The Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site. In founding the site it is said that Lama Kunley subdued a demon of Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom†and trapped it in a rock at the location close to where the chorten now stands. He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman†for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humour and outrageous behaviour, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a 10 inch (25 cm) wooden phallus (erect penis). Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52715706geolon89.87826447geotaggedPajoPunakha
The Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52717539geolon89.87818632geotaggedPajoPunakha
Monks at the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52714636geolon89.87803474geotaggedPajoPunakha
Monks at the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site. In founding the site it is said that Lama Kunley subdued a demon of Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom” and trapped it in a rock at the location close to where the chorten now stands. He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman” for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humour and outrageous behaviour, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a 10 inch (25 cm) wooden phallus (erect penis). Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip. Temple of fertility is dedicated to the Lama Drukpa Kunley, the ‘Divine Madman’, decorated with colourful phalluses and visited by childless couples seeking a special blessing to beget children. This is one of the highly revered temples in all of Bhutan.
14112238tonemappedBhutanBTNgeolat27.52744718geolon89.87807232geotaggedPajoPunakha
Student monks at the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site. In founding the site it is said that Lama Kunley subdued a demon of Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom†and trapped it in a rock at the location close to where the chorten now stands. He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman†for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humour and outrageous behaviour, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a 10 inch (25 cm) wooden phallus (erect penis). Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.
BTNBhutanPajoPunakhaasiageolat27.52706022geolon89.87822075geotagged
Student monks at the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site. In founding the site it is said that Lama Kunley subdued a demon of Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom†and trapped it in a rock at the location close to where the chorten now stands. He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman†for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humour and outrageous behaviour, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a 10 inch (25 cm) wooden phallus (erect penis). Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52701699geolon89.87808064geotaggedPajoPunakha
Student monks at the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan. The site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site. In founding the site it is said that Lama Kunley subdued a demon of Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom†and trapped it in a rock at the location close to where the chorten now stands. He was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman†for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humour and outrageous behaviour, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. The monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children. The tradition at the monastery is to strike pilgrims on the head with a 10 inch (25 cm) wooden phallus (erect penis). Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52703920geolon89.87808350geotaggedPajoPunakha
Monks at the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52711964geolon89.87809010geotaggedPajoPunakha
Monks at the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52712613geolon89.87807229geotaggedPajoPunakha
Monks at the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple), Punakha, Bhutan.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52680556geolon89.87853195geotaggedLobeysaThimphu
Now that's one way to welcome. Cutting through the villages off the main road on the way to the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple) in Punakha, Bhutan.
penis signpenileprickmale anatomyphalluserect wooden penismaskswoodenwoodBhutanBTNgeolat27.52413640geolon89.87587273geotaggedLobeysaLobesaPunakhanorbu puensum arts crafts
Cutting through the villages off the main road on the way to the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple) in Punakha, Bhutan, Yeshi Nima General Shop allows you to refresh yourself.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52383417geolon89.87562136geotaggedLobeysaPunakhaYeshi Nima General Shop
Cutting through the villages off the main road on the way to the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple) in Punakha, Bhutan.
14112420tonemappedBhutanBTNgeolat27.52314665geolon89.87490516geotaggedLobeysaThimphu
Cutting through the villages off the main road on the way to the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple) in Punakha, Bhutan.
14112426tonemappedBhutanBTNgeolat27.52309304geolon89.87473750geotaggedLobeysaThimphu
Cutting through the villages off the main road on the way to the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple) in Punakha, Bhutan.
BTNBhutanYuwakasiageolat27.52303059geolon89.87433225geotagged
Villages in Punakha, Bhutan.
Villages in Punakha, Bhutan.
BTNBhutanYuwakasiageolat27.52302234geolon89.87338940geotagged
Old abandoned house in a village in Punakha, Bhutan.
BhutanBTNgeolat27.52292771geolon89.87213996geotaggedPunakhaYuwak
Young girl returning from school to her home in the village in Punakha, Bhutan wearing her school uniform and with her school bag.
school girluniformyoung girlschool bagPunakhaBhutanBTNgeolat27.52258934geolon89.87176659geotaggedYuwak
Drying red chillies can be seen everywhere. They are super hot & spicy. Chillies hang outside a house in a village in Punakha, Bhutan.
chilliesred chillyspicy chilliesBhutanBTNgeolat27.52344751geolon89.87296972geotaggedPunakhaYuwak
Lady in her village in Punakha, Bhutan.
ladytraditional clothesPunakhaBhutanBTNgeolat27.52178703geolon89.87041233geotaggedYuwak
Red chillies put out to dry in a village in Punakha, Bhutan.
chilliesred chillyPunakhaBhutanBTNgeolat27.52152761geolon89.86987494geotaggedYuwak
Cutting through the villages off the main road on the way to the Temple of Fertility (Chimi L'hakhang Temple) in Punakha, Bhutan.
Entrance to the Dhensa Boutique Resorts. Dhensa Boutique Resorts opened its first resort in Bhutan's Punakha Valley in March 2014. Dhensa Resort is a boutique property, located in the heart of Bhutan’s verdant and lush Punakha Valley. Flanked by thick pine forests, it overlooks the Punakha River and is surrounded by several walking and trekking trails.
DhensaDhensa Boutique ResortshotelspaHotel DHENSABhutanBTNgeolat27.53523856geolon89.86394793geotaggedPajoPunakha
Evening view at Dhensa Boutique Resorts. Dhensa Boutique Resorts opened its first resort in Bhutan's Punakha Valley in March 2014. Dhensa Resort is a boutique property, located in the heart of Bhutan’s verdant and lush Punakha Valley. Flanked by thick pine forests, it overlooks the Punakha River and is surrounded by several walking and trekking trails.
DhensaDhensa Boutique ResortshotelspaHotel DHENSABhutanBTNgeolat27.53558071geolon89.86407353geotaggedPajoPunakha
Lovely staff at the Dhensa Boutique Resorts.
Dhensa Boutique Resorts opened its first resort in Bhutan's Punakha Valley in March 2014. Dhensa Resort is a boutique property, located in the heart of Bhutan’s verdant and lush Punakha Valley. Flanked by thick pine forests, it overlooks the Punakha River and is surrounded by several walking and trekking trails.DhensaDhensa Boutique ResortshotelspaHotel DHENSAstaffBhutanBTNgeolat27.53548751geolon89.86367128geotaggedPajoPunakha
Lovely staff at the Dhensa Boutique Resorts.
Dhensa Boutique Resorts opened its first resort in Bhutan's Punakha Valley in March 2014. Dhensa Resort is a boutique property, located in the heart of Bhutan’s verdant and lush Punakha Valley. Flanked by thick pine forests, it overlooks the Punakha River and is surrounded by several walking and trekking trails.DhensaDhensa Boutique ResortshotelspaHotel DHENSAstaffBhutanBTNgeolat27.53548751geolon89.86367128geotaggedPajoPunakha
Evening view at Dhensa Boutique Resorts. Dhensa Boutique Resorts opened its first resort in Bhutan's Punakha Valley in March 2014. Dhensa Resort is a boutique property, located in the heart of Bhutan’s verdant and lush Punakha Valley. Flanked by thick pine forests, it overlooks the Punakha River and is surrounded by several walking and trekking trails.
DhensaDhensa Boutique ResortshotelspaHotel DHENSABhutanBTNgeolat27.53569823geolon89.86403019geotaggedPajoPunakha
View from our room. Dhensa Boutique Resorts opened its first resort in Bhutan's Punakha Valley in March 2014. Dhensa Resort is a boutique property, located in the heart of Bhutan’s verdant and lush Punakha Valley. Flanked by thick pine forests, it overlooks the Punakha River and is surrounded by several walking and trekking trails.
DhensaDhensa Boutique ResortshotelspaHotel DHENSABhutanBTNgeolat27.53548751geolon89.86367128geotaggedPajoPunakha
Our room. Dhensa Boutique Resorts opened its first resort in Bhutan's Punakha Valley in March 2014. Dhensa Resort is a boutique property, located in the heart of Bhutan’s verdant and lush Punakha Valley. Flanked by thick pine forests, it overlooks the Punakha River and is surrounded by several walking and trekking trails.
DhensaDhensa Boutique ResortshotelspaHotel DHENSABhutanBTNgeolat27.53548751geolon89.86367128geotaggedPajoPunakha
Bowl of dry hot red chillies, milk containers, and other utensils on display at the restuarant.
Dhensa Boutique Resorts opened its first resort in Bhutan's Punakha Valley in March 2014. Dhensa Resort is a boutique property, located in the heart of Bhutan’s verdant and lush Punakha Valley. Flanked by thick pine forests, it overlooks the Punakha River and is surrounded by several walking and trekking trails.BTNBhutanDhensaDhensa Boutique ResortsHotel DHENSAPajoPunakhaasiageolat27.53548751geolon89.86367128geotaggedhotelspa
Dochula Resort Restaurant at Dochu La pass.
Dochu La pass with its fluttering prayer flags and views over the majestic Himalayas, takes your breath away on a clear day. The highly ornate Drukwangyal Lhakhang (temple) and the 108 chortens, was built by the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to honour the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed when fighting Indian naxals/rebels in 2003.
Dochula pass is located on the way to Punakha from Thimphu. With its fluttering prayer flags and views over the majestic Himalayas, takes your breath away on a clear day. The highly ornate Drukwangyal Lhakhang (temple) and the 108 chortens, was built by the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to honour the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed when fighting Indian naxals/rebels in 2003. Walking around the 108 Chortens at the pass is a surreal experience and due to its significance the visitors are very respectful of the spiritual nature of this place.
Dochula pass is located on the way to Punakha from Thimphu. With its fluttering prayer flags and views over the majestic Himalayas, takes your breath away on a clear day. The highly ornate Drukwangyal Lhakhang (temple) and the 108 chortens, was built by the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to honour the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed when fighting Indian naxals/rebels in 2003. Walking around the 108 Chortens at the pass is a surreal experience and due to its significance the visitors are very respectful of the spiritual nature of this place.
Dochula Resort Restaurant at Dochu La pass.
Dochu La pass with its fluttering prayer flags and views over the majestic Himalayas, takes your breath away on a clear day. The highly ornate Drukwangyal Lhakhang (temple) and the 108 chortens, was built by the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to honour the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed when fighting Indian naxals/rebels in 2003.14112681tonemappedBhutanBTNgeolat27.49108203geolon89.74929019geotaggedThimphu
Enroute Punakha to Paro, Bhutan a local shop which also serves as a small restuarant. Most of the food in Bhutan comes from India and some from Nepal and Bangladesh.
groceryshoprestuarantBhutanBTNgeolat27.48090163geolon89.72396490geotaggedThimphu