BHUTAN

TASHICHHO DZONG: It delights the eyes with its balanced proportions and air of majesty. Its history is very old dating
back to the 13th century. It was located on the hills and a second one was made in 1641. The present dzong was initially erected
in 1702 by Sherub Wangchuk, after moving the capital to Thimphu from Punakha and was redesigned in 1969 using traditional
methods. It is the main administrative and religious center of the country. Its hundred-odd spacious rooms house the Ministry
of Home Affairs and the Finance Ministry government departments, the Throne Room of the King, and it is the country’s largest
monastery.
NATIONAL LIBRARY: Holding ancient books both in Dzongkha (Bhutanese) and Tibetan Languages, it has four floors.
Each floor has a small traditional altar with images and mural paintings to provide appropriate spiritual environment for the
volumes of Buddhist scriptures and other. Most historical writing in Bhutan has been religious. A religious book is sacred because
it represents the speech of Buddha and must be treated with respect, since blessings come from it. The sheets of paper are
cut to the size of book pages and the text is then, either written by a calligrapher, or printed by xylography. When the printing
or calligraphy of the whole text is completed the pages are not bound but are simply pressed between two wooden boards.
FOLK HERITAGE MUSEUM: Serves as an account of everyday rural life for the young urbanized generations and as
a place for preserving objects related to this life. The principal exhibit of the museum is a restored three storey traditional mud
and timber house, which dates back to the mid 19th century. The age of structure demonstrates the durability and performance
of the building materials.
SCHOOL OF ARTS & CRAFTS: Bhutan’s young artisans are trained here at the school of traditional arts and crafts
which are 13: woodwork, blacksmithing, stone work, metalwork, wood/slate/stone carving, bamboo/cane crafts, painting, papermaking
, clay, embroidery sword making, weaving and leather work.
ZILUKHA NUNNERY: One of the few women monasteries in Bhutan.
TAKIN SANCTUARY: Home to the moose-like national animal, the takin.
SIMTOKHA DZONG: Was built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and houses also the school for Buddhist
studies. The site is said to have been chosen to guard over a demons that had vanished into the rock, hence the name Simtokha
“Sinmo” meaning demoness and “do” meaning stone. The Institute of Language and Cultural Studies (ILCS) is located just above
the dzong.
THIMPHU, THE CAPITAL
Thimphu town: Was established as the capital in 1961 and has a population of about
100,000. The central monk body, known as Drakshang, resides in the summer here and
it is also the location of various government offices and home of the Bhutanese Royal
Family. Thimphu lies at a height of 2320m in the fertile valley traversed by Wangchu
River. It seems still more like a village than a city, with low buildings traditionally made
and all of them painted with nice frescoes, as you see in the country side of Bhutan.
1980’s brought a real-estate boom fuelled by private and government initiatives. It
is the world’s only capital without traffic lights. A set was installed but the residents
complained that it was impersonal so they have a white gloved policeman to direct the
traffic, standing on pedestals.