Chimi Lhakhang Temple, Bhutan

     The People of Bhutan call their land “the land of the dragons”, but in the past it had many several names, such as: (Lu Moon) which means the dark countries of the South, (Lu Sind Yue Ng) which means the southern countries of Sindh, and (Lu Min Khazi) which means the southern countries with sprawling sides, And (Lu Min Young), which means the southern country of medicinal herbs, as it means for Tibetans (Puta Anta), meaning the end of Tibet, because it is located in the southern tip of the Tibetan plateau, and the word Bhutan dates back to the Sanskrit language meaning highlands.

       Buddhism is the official religion in Bhutan. As 90% of its population adheres to Buddhism, and 10% of them embrace the Hindu religion, as Buddhism spread in Bhutan during the seventh century AD; As a result of its location near the Himalayas, which host nearly 108 Buddhist temples; To spread Buddhism in all parts of Tibet. Bhutan has been greatly influenced by the Tibetan culture; Where the Bhutanese people descend in their origins from the origins of the church up, which are concentrated in the eastern side of the country and embrace Tibetan Buddhism, Drukpa Kagyu, and in the west of the country, the Nagalob dynasty is the most widespread in those regions, and it also traces its origins to the Tibetan plateaus. 

The “Dzkha language” is the national language of the country, which is similar to the Tibetan languages, which number 53 Tibetan languages, and the population also speaks other languages, such as Nepali and Hindus, as well as English is taught alongside the national language; To advance the state in all economic projects. "Bhutan" is the first country in the world to adopt the “National Happiness Index” to measure its gross national product and the first to coin the phrase "Gross National Happiness" in 1971.  

Jigme Singai Wangchuck was the fourth king of "the Kingdom of Bhutan", he emphasized that "National Happiness Gross” is more important than gross domestic product. From his completely unique viewpoint & the positively fresh yet different concept... “The happiness of the homeland is not associated with economic prosperity, not even with development and demographic growth, but with an appreciation of the meaning of life and the existence of man in this universe and on this earth.” That was the code by which he lived, Prioritizing the happiness of those who surrounded him over keeping up with countries With economic achievements or technological inventions in his kingdom. This, in turn, helped him to maintain the consolidation of the identity of the people of the "Kingdom of Bhutan"

    Regarding the temples and monasteries in Bhutan, most or even all of the temples are highly influenced by Buddhism, the first temple we are going tackle in this article is “Chimi Lhakhang” Temple or “Chimi Lhakhang “Monastery, it is the most famous temple in Bhutan which stands on a round hill in a village called “Punakha”. It is known as the “Temple of Fertility” and is often visited by a number of childless couples in and around Punakha. It has become a popular tourist destination as visitors flock from all over the world to witness the extraordinary traditional and cultural celebrations that are carried out here. The monastery is wonderfully built with ancient Thai architecture with paintings and carvings from the valleys on all the walls. The building site was built in 1499 on a hill that had been sacred by rogue Buddhist leader Drukpa Kunley, known as the “Divine Madman.” Drupa Kunley, also known as “The Saint of 5,000 Women”.

The second temple is “The Dechen Phodrang Temple. Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital is exploding &  full to the brim with beautiful temples and monasteries. Dechen Phodrang temple, which is translated as 'The Palace of Great Happiness,' is one of the most popular palaces in the north of Thimphu. The First time it was founded was during the 12th century, Dechen Phodrang houses a monastic school with around 450 students per year now. The third and the most beautiful temple is “The Tiger’s Nest Monastery”. The Tiger’s Nest monastery is known among the public as “Paro Taktsang”, it has been considered one of the most beautiful tourists’ spots in all Asia and the whole world. The Dechen Phodrang Temple is located above the Paro Valley, the Paro Taktsang has become the most iconic Bhutanese tourist attraction, and a trip to the country is incomplete without a visit. It was built in the seventeenth (at the end of the century) century and followed the Buddhist construction.