The National Memorial Chorten, also known as Thimphu Chorten or Chhoten Lam, is a stupa (a dome-shaped Buddhist monument) located in the heart of Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. It was built in 1974 to honor the third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972), who is often referred to as the father of modern Bhutan.
Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan, a small country located in the eastern Himalayas of South Asia. Thimphu is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and is surrounded by mountains and forests. It has a population of around 120,000 people and is the political, economic, and cultural center of Bhutan.
Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery and fortress. In 1641 Zhabdrung built the Tashicho Dzong (Fortress of the auspicious religion) in place of the Dho Ngon (Blue stone) Dzong built by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa. In 1698, the dzong caught fire and was restored.
Chari Dorjeden or Chari Monastery was the first monastery established in Bhutan by Chamgon Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651) in 1620 when he was 27 years old. It is located 14km north of Thimphu city at the altitude of 2850 meters above the sea level.
Great Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan celebrating the 60th anniversary of fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The statue houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which, like the Great Buddha Dordenma itself, will be made of bronze and gilded in gold.
