Gudrun's photos with the keyword: Bumthang

The public bus from Bumthang to Mongar climbing towards Thrumshing La mountain pass (3780m). The locals named the buses vomit comet because of the incessant curves that make many passengers sick. Thankfully the long distance between the valleys ensures that vehicles usually don't meet at the most critical stretch of road: Namling Brak, where the road crosses a rock wall with a sheer 300m drop.

Buddhists place mani stones inscribed with mantras (Om mani padme hum) into walls which are meant to be circumambulated in a clockwise direction. In Bhutan mani walls are usually short, this one in Bumthang's Choekor valley is an exception. HWW!

Small farmhouses in Tang Valley (~2600m), one of the 4 valleys of Bumthang. HFF and a good weekend!

SC51: A picture is worth a thousand words (archives again, I didn't find anything worth posting this week) A farm at the end of the road in Chokhor Valley, Bumthang. (clickable) alternative photo:

Kurjey (Kur-body, jey-imprint) is one of the important monasteries in Bumthang valley, Bhutan's cultural heartland. It was built in 1652 at a site where Guru Rinpoche/ Padmasambhava liked to meditate and left an imprint of his body on a rock. The perimeter wall consists of numerous small chortens/stupas and the mani rock in the foreground is painted with mantras (om mani padme hum). www.lonelyplanet.com/bhutan/chokhor-valley-bumthang/attractions/kurjey-lhakhang/a/poi-sig/1371075/1335542 Kurjey (kur-Körper, jey- Abdruck) ist eines der bedeutenden Klöster im Bumthang-Tal, dem kulturellen Kernland Bhutans. Es wurde 1652 an einer Stelle erbaut, wo Guru Rinpoche/ Padmasambhava oft meditiert und einen Abdruck seines Körpers im Fels hinterlassen hatte. Die Umfassungsmauer besteht aus unzählingen kleinen Chörten/Stupas und der Mani-Stein im Vordergrund ist mit Mantren (om main padme hum) versehen.

Thrumshing La (3780m) is Bhutan's second highest mountain pass. Connecting Mongar in the east to central Bumthang district, the lateral road climbs more than 3000m and has to navigate the most notorious stretch of road in the country at Namling Brak (Namling cliffs). There the narrow road clings to the cliffside with a 300m sheer drop and no roadside protection to speak of except a few prayer flags above the waterfall. Every Bhutanese remembers the full bus that crashed down the cliff years ago... No wonder Thrumshing La is covered in masses of prayer flags as everyone wants to say thank you for getting through safely. The incense burner is also well used.

The four valleys of Bumthang are Bhutan's cultural heartland. Choekhor Valley (2600m) is the central one and home to some of the oldest and most important monasteries in the country. Zangdopelri is a new addition though, built with the support of the Queen mother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck and only consecrated in September 2011. web.archive.org/web/20110617012735/http://www.bbs.com.bt/Zangdopelri%20lhakhang%20at%20Kurjey%20consecrated.html Die vier Täler von Bumthang sind das kulturelle Kernland Bhutans. Das Choekhor-Tal (2600m) liegt im Zentrum und beherbergt einige der ältesten und wichtigsten Klöster das Landes. Zangdopelri ist allerdings eine Neugründung, die erst im September 2011 geweiht wurde.

HFF amd a good weekend to all of you!

Chhumey is the westernmost of the 4 valleys of Bumthang in Central Bhutan. HFF folks, stay safe!

Lungdhar (Wind-Fahnen) in Ura-Tal, Bumthang. Diese hohen Gebetsfahnen stehen an Bergflanken oder Höhenrücken. Sie werden für einzelne Personen errichtet und sollen Glück, Schutz etc. bringen. Sie sind mit dem Windpferd (lungta) und individuellen Texten, Name und Alter des Auftraggebers bedruckt. Das Aufstellen ist eine größere Zeremonie, für die zuvor ein Astrologe befragt wird. Lungdhar (wind flags) in Ura Valley, Bumthang. These tall prayer flags can be seen on hillsides and ridges. They are erected for specific persons to give good luck, protection etc and are printed with the lungta (wind horse),individual texts, name and age of the person. Putting them up involves astrologers and lots of ceremony. HFF, folks, and may the flags bring continued good health to you!

Water powered prayer mills are a common sight in Bhutan, this one is in Bumthang valley near the end of the motorable road ( the prayer mill is inside the little building)

Thangbi Lhakhang is a Nyingmapa monastery in upper Choekhor (Bumthang) valley. It was founded in 1470 by the 4th Shamar Rinpoche of the Karma Kagyu school but subsequently taken over by Pema Lingpa and run as a Nyingmapa temple. The iron curtain in front of the main temple is attributed to Pema Lingpa himself. Typically for Nyingmapa monasteries, Thangbi is run by 20 gomchen (married lay monks) who live as farmers in houses grouped round the Lhakhang. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Lingpa

A field of flowering buckwheat in the valley of Bumthang Chhu (2600-2700m). HFF everybody!

Prayer wheels at Jambey Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples said to have been built in a single day in 659 AD by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo to subdue an ogress. 10-Week Picture Projects: Shapes, Week 8: Cylinder/ tube

Dhur Chhu river in Bumthang (Choekhor) valley, elevation 2650m. The valley sides are covered by pristine pinewoods.

In Chhoekhor Valley, on the way to Tamshing Lhakhang. The four valleys of Bumthang (2600-4000m) are the heartland of Bhutan with some of the most ancient monasteries.