Gudrun's photos with the keyword: Thimphu

The 108 memorial chortens on Dochu La pass were erected by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. Early in the morning in good weather the main Himalayan chain with 7570m high Gangkhar Puensum can be seen from there. Once the sun is up the clouds creep in so we only caught brief glimpses of the high peaks (see note).

Dochu La is ca. 3100m high pass connecting Thimphu and Punakha. The 108 memorial chortens (stupas) are a relatively recent addition. HFF everybody!

This 54m high Buddha Shakyamuni statue towers on a hill just outside Bhutan's capital Thimphu. On our visit work on the site was still ongoing. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Dordenma_statue www.skr.de/bhutan-reisen/sehenswuerdigkeiten/buddha-dordenma

Atsaras are (very) bawdy comic relief during Bhutanese Tsechus (religious dance festivals). The term Atsara derives from the Sanskrit Acharya (holy teacher), Atsaras are said to have been among the 80 disciples of the Buddha, they are Dupthobs (enlightened beings) who defy contemporary norms and socially accepted human behaviour thereby holding a mirror to people's hypocrisy and self importance. Atsaras sind die Clowns der religiösen Tanzfeste (Tsechus) in Bhutan, ihr Auftreten lockert die strengen Tänze auf und ist ziemlich robust und zotig;-) Der Begriff Atsara kommt aus dem Sanskrit Acharya (heiliger Lehrer). Atsaras sollen zu den 80 Schülern des Buddha gehört haben, sie sind Drubthobs, erleuchtete Wesen, die sich gängigen Normen und sozial akzeptiertem Verhalten entziehen und dadurch den Menschen ihre Selbstgefälligkeit und Scheinheiligkeit vor Augen führen.

Ema Datshi is the national dish of Bhutan: Chilies (as a vegetable!) in cheese sauce eaten with rice. Recipe: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKUz4OQyx4A This was lunch at the Yeedzin Guesthouse in Thimphu- Ema Datshi with red rice, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, momos and dhal Inset: drying red chilies on a corrugated iron sheet

Boys posing for photos at the Thimphu tsechu (religious festival). The dances hadn't started yet so they were looking for other entertainment;-)

Semthokha Dzong ist the oldest dzong in Bhutan. It was built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal .

This is a rather unusual version of a cosmic mandala. Mount Meru can be seen in the middle and the movement of the planets. 10-Week Picture Projects: Shapes, Week 2: Square/Cube

Lateral road from Wangdue Phodrang to Thimphu climbing towards Dochula pass (3100m).