Dechen Phodrang Monastery

Dechen Phodrang Monastery
Tibetan transcription(s) Tibetan:
Dechen Phodrang monastic school
Religion
Affiliation	Tibetan Buddhism
Location
Location	Thimphu, Bhutan
Country	Bhutan
Location within Bhutan
Geographic coordinates	27°30′4″N89°37′57″E / 27.50111°N 89.63250°E / 27.50111; 89.63250
Architecture
Founder	Gyelwa Lhanangpa [1]

Dechen Phrodrang, meaning "Palace of Great Bliss", is a Buddhist monastery in Thimphu, Bhutan. It is located to the north of the city.

Monks at Dechen Phodrang

Monks at Dechen Phodrang

In 1971 it became a monastic school, called a lobdra, and currently it has 450 student monks enrolled in eight-year courses with a staff of 15. The monastery contains a number of important historical Bhutanese artifacts including 12th-century paintings monitored by UNESCO and a noted statue of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal on the upper floor. ^[2] In the downstairs chapel, there is a central Sakyamuni Buddha. ^[3]

References

1. "Dechen Phodrang Monastery, Thimphu, Bhutan".
2. "Dechen Phodrang". Windhorsetours.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
3. "Thimphu: Sights". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2008.