Known also by the epithet the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon‘ undoubtedly derived from the storms that originate in the Himalayas and make its way towards the state, the Kingdom of Bhutan is a little known travel secret that is preciously guarded by the state itself. With its restrictions on travel and tourism, the country is unique in many a sense. For instance, there was a government ban on the Internet and television which was lifted just over eleven years ago and it hosts the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, Gangkhar Puensum. Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, is also one of two cities on the continent that does not have traffic lights.
The official state religion of the country is Buddhism and therefore, is state sponsored. As a result, Bhutan hosts a number of Buddhist temples and because of the focus made on preservation, these temples are often adorned with beautiful murals, carvings and paintings. One such example can be enjoyed by tourists staying in a Paro Hotel, at Dumstse Lhakhang, located very close to Uma by COMO, Paro, Bhutan and the National Museum of the country. Having discovered the interesting historical evolution of Bhutan at the National Museum, travellers will benefit from exploring specimens of history at the Dumste Lhakhang and the Puna Lhakhang, which can be dated even further back in time.
Dumste Lhakhang is a temple built by Thangtong, a builder of iron bridges, between 1421 and 1433. This temple boasts of beautiful murals which are considered to be some of the finest specimens of its kind in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Given that Dumste Lhakhang was originally built with the express intention of suppress demonic energies, the temple hosts three floors that represent heaven, earth and hell, and is firmly chained to the ground.
It provides an intriguing insight into the local religious beliefs and is well worth a visit when touring Bhutan. Uma by COMO, Paro, Bhutan
Shehera Fioni is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Catalina Forbes. Her content is based on many thrilling escapades offered to travellers across the world. Google+
