Gudrun's photos with the keyword: Western Bhutan

Chele La is Bhutan's highest road pass, connecting Paro and Haa valleys. The Dantak sign is a shameless exaggeration as can be seen from the corrections, the actual altitude is a bit over 3800m. As usual, the pass is adorned by lots of prayer flags, a prayer wheel and an incense burner which was fed by our driver. Chele La ist Bhutans höchste Passstraße, die die Täler von Paro und Haa verbindet. Das Dantak-Schild ist eine freche Übertreibung, wie man aus den Korrekturen sehen kann, die korrekte Höhe liegt etwas über 3800m. Wie üblich befinden sich auf der Passhöhe viele Gebetsfahnen, eine windbetriebene Gebetsmühle und ein Räucherofen, der von unserm Fahrer gefüttert wurde.

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

Bhutanese women at Gangtey, the right one in traditional dress for the Gangtey tsechu (religious festival).

Good to see Ipernity back on its feet:-) HFF everybody, have a good weekend and stay safe!

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.

Bhutan's only international airport is challenging, only specially licenced pilots with a long special training are allowed to start and land there. Flights are with manual approach under visual meteorological conditions during daylight hours only. The airlines flying to and from Paro are Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) and the private Bhutan Air. In starting and landing the pilots have to manage sharp curves and weave their way between the mountains. We flew out from Paro and at times the wings nearly touched the mountainside;-) Two links with the approach filmed from the cockpit show what pilots have to deal with: Approach from the north www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0KIlFqjams Approach from the south www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-b5uJ2vtdA Bhutans einziger internationaler Flughafen ist anspruchsvoll, nur wenige speziell lizensierte Piloten mit langjähriger Sonderausbildung dürfen dort starten und landen. Flüge können nur tagsüber manuell im Sichtflug stattfinden. Paro wird von Druk AIr (Royal Bhutan Airlines) und der privaten Bhutan Air angeflogen. Bei Start und Landung müssen die Piloten scharfe Kurven fliegen und sich zwischen den Bergen durchschlängeln. WIr starteten von Paro und manchmal sah es aus, als ob wir mit den Flügeln die Bergflanken mitnehmen würden..

Boy in Paro Valley carrying rice straw- inspired by poly's "heavy load" www.ipernity.com/doc/polytropos/50326894

HFF folks, have a good weekend!

Bhutan's best known monastery is at 3120m and hangs 900m above the valley floor. A steep footpath leads up to it but as we didn't have permission for a visit I only went about halfway as far as the "cafeteria". The notes show the view from along the footpath and a tele view from the cafeteria. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paro_Taktsang Bhutans bekanntestes Kloster liegt auf 3120m Höhe und klebt an einem steilen Felsen 900m über der Talsohle. Ein steiler Fußweg führt hinauf zum Kloster. Wir hatten keine Genehmigung für den Besuch, deshalb begnügte ich mich damit, den halben Weg zur "Cafeteria" zu gehen. In den PiPs eine Ansicht vom Fußweg aus bzw. eine Teleaufnahme von der Cafeteria aus. de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taktshang

Market in the hamlet of Nubding, farmers selling their produce

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

At Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples said to have been built by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. The old man wears the traditional Bhutanese gho but his beard suggests he may be of Tibetan origin. The vest (and hat?) are obviously scrounged from Western tourists;-)

These visitors to the Gangtey Tsechu (religious festival) asked to have their photo taken:-) Gangtey Gomba was founded in 1613 by Gyalsé Rinpoche and is the westernmost Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan.

Punakha Dzong, situated at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers was founded in 1637/ 38 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal . Until 1955 it was the seat of the Bhutanese government. A few days after this photo was taken, the royal wedding took place in the Dzong.

Rinpung Dzong was founded as a small fortess in the 15th century. In 1644 it was renovated and extended by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to become the administrative amd monastic centre of the western region.