National Memorial Chorten Thimphu

Embrace Bhutan Cultural Tour

Thimphu | Bhutan

08 Nov 2019 | Fri

Day 02 of 13

Exploring Capital City Thimphu Bhutan
Bamboo Supported Construction Site Thimphu
National Memorial Chorten Thimphu
Institute of Traditional Medicine
Bhutan Gross National Happiness (GNH) Centre
Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan
Lunch in Thimphu
Motithang Takin Preserve Thimphu
Tashichho Dzong Viewpoint Thimphu
Centenary Farmers Market Thimphu
Evening Lecture with Kuenzang Dechen

National Memorial Chorten Thimphu

Our First Stop of the Day

After a group breakfast at our hotel (Norkhil Boutique Hotel and Spa), it was time to venture to our first tourist destination stop of the day, the National Memorial Chorten in Thimphu. As it turns out it was only a few minutes away from our hotel (along the same road, Doebum Lam).

National Memorial Chorten (Tibetan style Stupa), a monument to world peace and a memorial to the Late King (3rd King of Bhutan). Local residents flock here in the morning to chant their daily prayers as they walk clockwise around the Chorten, spinning prayer wheels as they pass fragrant columns of smoke from smoldering juniper branches that carry a stream of prayers to the mountain deities.

– Embrace Bhutan Travel

The Memorial Stupa, Thimphu, also known as the Thimphu Chorten, is a stupa (Dzongkha chöten, cheten) in Thimphu, Bhutan, located on Doeboom Lam in the southern-central part of the city near the main roundabout and Indian military hospital. The stupa, built in 1974 to honor the third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972), is a prominent landmark in the city with its golden spires and bells. In 2008, it underwent extensive renovation. It is popularly known as “the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan”. It was consecrated by Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.

This stupa is unlike others as it does not enshrine human remains. Only the Druk Gyalpo’s photo in a ceremonial dress adorns a hall in the ground floor. When he was alive, Jigme Dorji wanted to build “a chorten to represent the mind of the Buddha”.

– from Wikipedia National Memorial Chorten Thimphu

Bhutanese Women Turning Large Prayer Wheels

A Spiritual Place for Locals (and Tourists)

The Memorial Chorten is one of the most visible and visited places in Thimphu. It is a spiritual place for local Bhutanese people (and tourists) to do prayers, prostration (a gesture used in Buddhist practice to show reverence to the Triple Gem), turn the large red and gold prayer wheels, offer butter lamps, and circumambulate (the act of moving around a sacred object).

Locals Spending Some Quality Time Together

A Way to Gain Merit

Another popular activity to gain merit by lighting a butter lamp and circumambulating (walking around) the Chorten three times.

Some Spend the Whole Day

Some older Bhutanese people bring their packed lunches and spend the whole day socializing with their friends while praying. On auspicious days (a day thought to present a positive outcome), religious ceremonies are organized which attract many people.