Shingkarap

We left our basic Hotel Pema Karpo - which reminded me of a communist all inclusive hotel - to head towards Paro via Do Chula Pass and Thimpu. Again a very relaxed lovely 3.5h ride and we could enjoy the scenery of Bhutan.
First stop in Paro was Kiychu Lhakhang. It is one of Bhutan's oldest and most beautiful temples. The main chapel has roots as far back as the 7th century, with additional buildings and a golden roof added in 1839. The original temple is said to have been built overnight on the left foot of a colossal demoness—who intercepted the spread of Buddhism as she lay across the land. It’s thought to be one of 108 temples established to overpower her so Buddhism could flourish far and wide. In the 8th century, there was a popular revival under the guidance of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who was credited with bringing Tantric Buddhism to Bhutan followed by a revered Bhutanese luminary named Je Sherub Gyeltshen gave it a boost in the 19th century. The inner shrine of Kyichu Lhakhang is decorated with beautiful paintings and paintings depicting Buddhist deities and myths. These objects shine with their vivid colours and intricate patterns, enriching the historical and spiritual fabric of the temple. During our visit the monks did their mantras which added additional speciality to the visit.
2nd stop was Ta Dzong (watchtower), built in 1649 to protect the undefended Dzong and renovated in 1968 to house the National Museum. The unusual round building is said to be in the shape of a conch shell, with 2.5m-thick walls. The Ta Dzong suffered damage in the 2011 earthquake but reopened in 2019 as the National Museum of Bhutan. It’s housing more than 3000 artifacts dating back to 1500 years. No camera was allowed. It gave us a good understanding about the history of Bhutan.
After visiting, we walked down a path from the museum to the Rinpung Dzong. It was constructed in 1646 under the guidance of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the unifier of Bhutan. It was strategically built on a hill overlooking the Paro Valley to serve as both a fortress and a monastery. The site was chosen for its defensive advantages, protecting the region from Tibetan invasions. It houses the district Monastic Body as well as government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag. According to the history of Paro Dzong, written by Drungchen Dasho Sangay Dorji, the rock face below the dzong was named 'Ringpung' by Guru Rinpoche in the eighth century, hence when the Dzong was later built here, it came to be known as 'Ringpung Dzong'. It is a masterpiece of traditional Bhutanese architecture, showcasing the country’s unique building techniques. The fortress is adorned with intricate wood carvings, bright murals, and exquisite paintings that narrate Buddhist legends. Inside Rinpung Dzong are fourteen shrines and chapels. We visited the Temple of the Guru's Eight Manifestations. That was one of the most impressive temples during our time in Bhutan.
In the evening we met the son of one of Junita’s school friends from the time Junita was 14 years old. The son is studying in the USA and is doing an internship about sustainability at the local university in Paro. When we met there was a 1hour power cut in Paro and we had Momos with candles in a nice local restaurant. Nice evening!Read more