Road to Punakha
As the scenery here is amazing, we left Thimphu and went over the pass to Punakha through pristine trees and lovely mountain scenery. The pass at the top had a memorial to the soldiers who lost their life during the Indian insurgents who lived in a part of the country some years ago that wanted to create their own state. As we were high up, the fog rolled in and made the photographs amazing.
The scenery along the way was magnificent as the clouds rolled slowly over the mountains and the greenness of the terrain stretched for miles with people going about their everyday business in this beautiful country. …
THE DIVINE MADMAN
Our highlight of the day was visiting the “Temple of the Divine Madman” or “The Fertility Temple.” In the village leading up to this temple they have paintings of phalluses aka penises all along the different houses. As the short story goes, there was an enlightened Buddhist in the 15th to 16th Century named Lam Drukpa Kuenley who had an unorthodox style of teaching. He was portrayed as a vagabond around the countryside indulging in song, dance, alcohol, women, feasting and hunting. Weather this was true or not is definitely speculation, but in reality he was beyond the norms of society at that time. He was against the established norms of the time and taunted the monastic order of the time. The use of his “Phallus” as a flaming thunderbolt weapon can symbolize the discomfort society experiences when facing the truth. People from all over the world namely Buddhists come to this place to pray for the wellness of their children as he is seen as somewhat of a liberator which released Buddhists from their cyclical existence. I actually like this guy and he may be one of my new heroes!!!!!
We then headed to the Fortress of this ancient capital of Punakha aptly named Puna Dechen Phodrang or the Fortress of Happiness. As in other fortresses in the towns/cities, this one is built on the convergence of two rivers. This is one of the most elaborate fortresses as it is the second oldest and the many murals depicted inside depict the life of Buddha in pictures. I was happy with how empty it was as pictures came out pristine…
Doing another walk we headed across a beautiful suspension bridge that was filled with beautiful prayer flags and people going about their everyday life walking across it….
