Bhutan1 Paro

1. 1 BHUTAN

2. Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is geopolitically in South Asia. Thimphu is its capital and largest city

3. Paro Airport, Bhutan's sole international airport

4. Paro Airport has been described as "the most difficult commercial airport in the world"

5. The charming small town of Paro lies on the banks of the Paro (or Pa) Chhu

6. The airport has only one runway. Airplanes on approach pass by 5,500m Himalayan mountain peaks, and the 1,980m runway length presents a double challenge, due to the extremely low density altitude at the site. As a result, only a handful of airline pilots (8 as of December 2014) are certified to operate commercial airplanes there

8. About 30,000 persons arrive at the airport each year

9. Paro, just a short distance northwest of the imposing Paro Dzong

10. Paro is a historic town with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered throughout the area

11. The main street, only built in 1985, is lined with colourfully painted wooden shop fronts and restaurants

12. Paro main street

13. Huge phallic signs on the walls of Bhutanese homes

14. A traditional Bhutanese house, Paro Paro population • Total 15,000

15. Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred shrine is situated in the Paro Valley

16. Kyichu Lhakhang, (also known as Kyerchu Temple or Lho Kyerchu) is an important Himalayan Buddhist temple situated in Lango Gewog of Paro District in Bhutan. The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, originally built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsän Gampo. It is considered to be one of the four border taming temples he built. In the 8th century the temple was visited by Padmasambhava and it is believed he concealed many spiritual treasures here

17. There is a belief that the two orange trees in the courtyard of Kyichu Lhakhang bear fruit throughout the year

19. From 1836 to 1838 the temple was restored and re-consecrated by the 25th Je Khenpo Sherab Gyaltshen

20. In 1971, Kesang Choden Wangchuck, the queen of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck built a Guru Temple next to the old Jowo Temple which was consecrated by Dilgo Khyentse

22. The temple is part of a network of 12 temples arranged around Jo-khang temple at Lhasa. All of them were built in the time of King Songtsen Gampo (Died 649)

23. Is a common sight nowadays to see local tour guides at reception laying out white silk scarves across extended hands of their guests at the airport. A few others choose a pleasantly graceful manner of throwing it around their guests' necks

24. The white scarf or khada as it is known in Bhutan serve a special purpose. It is a custom to offer a Khata or greeting scarf to another as a way of indicating your honourable intentions, and wishes of happiness. When given as a farewell gesture it symbolises a safe journey.

26. The khata symbolizes purity and compassion and are worn or presented with incense at many ceremonial occasions, including births, weddings, funerals, graduations and the arrival or departure of guests

27. The wearing of ceremonial scarves is an important feature of Bhutanese culture

29. A ceremonial scarf, kabney, is worn by all Bhutanese when visiting Dzongs and monasteries and during religious ceremonies and festivals. Scarves are also worn when meeting the King, members of the Royal family and at times senior officials

30. Golden prayer wheels According to the lineage texts on prayer wheels, prayer wheels are used to accumulate wisdom and merit (good karma) and to purify negativities (bad karma)

37. The concept of the prayer wheel is a physical mani-festation of the phrase "turning the wheel of Dharma," which describes the way in which the Buddha taught

42. The National Museum.

43. At the top of the hill is an old watchtower that was renovated in 1968 to house the National Museum

45. The unusual round building is said to be in the shape of a conch shell, with 2.5m thick walls; it was completed in 1656 and was originally the ta dzong (watchtower) of Paro Dzong

47. Ta Dzong- National Museum in Paro The National Museum of Bhutan is among the few educational institutions that interpret the history and culture of Bhutan through its exhibits, conducting symposiums, publication of research findings and conservation of artifacts. It boasts a rich variety of artifacts from all over the country representing different eras, as early as 4000 B.C E. to the present day. The National Museum performs an essential role as a preserver and promoter of Bhutanese cultural values. Preserving culture and cultural values is one of the Nine Domains of Gross National Happiness, the Bhutanese philosophy for national development. The Nine Domains are: Psychological Wellbeing Ecological diversity and Resilience Health Education Culture Living Standard Time use and balance Community Vitality Good Governance Gross National Happiness is a unifying vision for Bhutan’s five year planning process, and all major government initiatives comply with its principles. The Museum is proud to be at the center of serving the well-being and development of the Bhutanese people

50. Prayer wheels at the Ta Dzong