Dechen Phodrang Monastery | |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Tibetan Buddhism |
Location | |
Location | Thimphu, Bhutan |
Country | Bhutan |
Geographic coordinates | 27°30′4″N 89°37′57″E / 27.50111°N 89.63250°E |
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.
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]