Saturday, March 11th, Punakha, Bhutan

Greetings!

We started off the morning with a trip to the local vegetable market, currently occupying the children's play yard and par course.   What a great statement of health: eat well and exercise.  The bulk of the product is trucked in from India each week, but plenty is locally sourced.  

Our stop at the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhankhang Nunnery, a Nepali-like stupa became special when we discovered that royalty were in attendance.  The stupa was built to honor the Queen's father, and is the site of his cremation and burial.  Today, at the end of a 16 day silence ceremony, his widow and one of her four daughters (all married to the current king) were quietly sitting with the nuns in a beautiful prayer ceremony.  As we watched, those who could recite the prayers, and take in holy water, were in the royal presence. 

Crossing the river is the Nation's longest suspension bridge, which sways easily when travelers aren't careful.  Mid-point photos are not advised unless one-handed techniques are mastered.

Once across, we descended into the courtyard and entrance to the Punakha Dzong ("Palace of Great Happiness"), built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu Rivers in 1637.  It served as both the administrative and religious center of the kingdom in the past.  

During one particular ceremony each year, the entire face of this inner structure is covered by a colorful tapestry.

To see all of the photos taken today, click on Saturday, March 11th, Punakha, Bhutan