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Best Bhutan, Thimphu (2026)

15/05/2026

“Za shing phob” (often referred to as Dzabshi Phob or Za Phob) refers to highly prized, traditional Bhutanese wooden cups or bowls, specifically crafted from rare wood
Cultural significance; These cups are highly valued in Bhutanese culture, particularly in areas like Trashi Yangtse, for their beauty and rumored spiritual properties.
“Za phob” generally refers to the wooden burl, swelling, or knot growth found on a tree trunk or near the roots.
This abnormal rounded growth is highly valued because the wood becomes denser, stronger, beautifully patterned, and less likely to crack.
Traditional craftsmen believe this part of the tree has special strength and natural energy. That is why it is often used to carve butter tea bowls, ritual cups, khenpa zab, offering bowls, and high-quality wooden utensils.
People especially search for the rounded lump growing from the trunk, side of the tree, or below near the roots.
“Za Shing” literally means: “the wood/tree used for Za” (wooden bowl or vessel).
It can refer to the specific tree species used for carving bowls. Sacred or rare wood are chosen for traditional utensils.
Spiritual & Cultural Belief;
In Bhutanese tradition and Himalayan Buddhism wooden bowls made from rare burl wood are believed to carry warmth, longevity, protection, and prosperity.
Some elders also say trees that develop large burl growths have absorbed strong mountain energy over many years.
Therefore bowls carved from them are considered spiritually valuable and durable.
Certain handcrafted bowls were even offered to monks, lamas, or used during butter tea serving, religious ceremonies, offerings, and family gatherings.

04/04/2026

Tsongpon Norbu Zangpo is considered as emanation of Zambala (god of wealth). His Seythab (Stove) is still found on the way to Trashi Yangtse en route to Tawang.
Like an adage, ‘Behind every successful man there is women. ’Norbu Zangpo has an extraordinary horse named Taphu Tashi (stallion of good omen). It is said that the white mark shaped like the moon and the sun on forehead, symbolises fulfillment and bliss, never to be forgotten a white rings (tingkar) round its slender ankles were another auspicious sign too.
Wherever he visited places people showed an interest in his horse.
He went to the East. There he met the three Gepu (kings) of the eastern region. They offered him twenty-nine heads of mithun (the famous mountain ox) in exchange for his horse. But he refused to sell his horse.
Later he took ascend to north. They offered him twenty-nine sets of Dardang (colourful religious flags) in exchange for his horse. There too he reluctantly refused to sell his horse.
Then to the West there he was offered with twenty-nine sets of Domang (Buddhist sacred books) in exchange for his horse. He deny the offer again.
He further decent to South. He was Offered twenty-nine horses in exchange for his horse. As usual the offer was refused.
Tsongpon Norbu Zangpo reached Yi. There he was offer with twenty-nine nayü (a semi-precious blue stone, a turquoise). Once he refused the deal.
Finally he arrived in Rupa. He was very tired and thirsty. There he met three ladies from Thongdok house. They greeted him with three big cups full of phok, the local maize beer, and they sang the tsong chang (merchant’s beer song) for him.
After drinking a full jar of beer, he was so delighted with their hospitality and totally drunk he gave his favorite horse to the Thongdok Umu free of charge. (Note; Everyone has their own weakness, seems women and alcohol was his weakness). That is why the curved branch of polished wood that represents Tsongpon Norbu Zangpo’s horse is still kept today in the Thongdok Akhao house.
Source :Trashiyangtse Hertiage FB

04/04/2026

Have you ever heard of ‘naked dance’ which is very rare and blessed to be witness but the event is held only in two place one in the central and other in the east? But before switching to excited dance one should know the legend of Chagkhar lhakhang too.
Chagkhar Lhakhang is the place where Guru Rinpoche has blessed in the 8th century. However, later the nine story castle of the king Sindhu Raja was destroyed to the dust by the Tibetan Emperor “King Langdarma”
Then in 14th century, as per the prophesied of Guru Rinpoche, Terton Dorji Lingpa “the great treasure reveler” built the present three storied Chagkhar Lhakhang on this spot where the castle stood. The sacred objects in the Lhakhang are several holy treasures discovered by Terton Dorji Lingpa as well as foot print of Tashi Khendren (Daughter of King Sindhu Raja and one of the consort of Guru).
As per the prophesied, Terton Dorji Lingpa also Renovated the Jambay Lhakhang and conducted the consecration cermony and subdued the evil spirits and devils. Since then every year, the Chagkhar Lamas have been conducting the Jambay Lhakhang Drub or a naked dance on the 9th month and 15th day of the Bhutanese calender. During the time of the Drub, the sacred objects of the Chagkhar Lhakhang are taken in a ceremonial procession to the Jambay Lhakhang where they are displayed for public viewing . Today the Jambay Lhakhang Drub is one of the most widely known cermonies (Drub festival) in the country.

Source: Chagkhar page

04/04/2026

Dokhachu means “a boulder standing upright and facing the sky”, it’s at a hundred meters away from the main temple.
It was established by Lama Thinley Gyamtsho in mid of 17th century. The temple was hosted by Terton Drukda Dorji later.
However the Eighth Desi, Druk Rabgye (reign: 1707 – 1719), gave orders to kill the Terton. And was eventually assassinated, through suffocation, in Mertsem, a village below Gedu, by two men from Bjachhu village. (Because of this sin, it is believed that the descendants of these killers from Bjachhu are cursed with a bad voice/throat).
The mortal remains of Terton was brought towards Tshamdra for cremation at the request of Tshamdra Trulku, Ngawang Drub. However, when it reached Chapcha Dzong, it refused to move further. Terton Drukda Dorji was eventually cremated near Chapcha.
Aum Kangchima (Ekajati)(Dzongkha: Ralchikma) means “one baird of hair”. She is one of the three principal deities of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. She is figures as having one strand of hair, one eye, one fang, one leg, one arm, and one breast.
Nangtehn (sacred relics) of the temple,
the Yeshey Sempa– is the self-arising (ter in Dzongkha) statue of Ekajati.
And another is– a unique miniature statue of Ganesh (Dzongkha: ཚོགས་བདག tsog gi dag po)– a wealth deity. The bodhisattva Manjushri, many eons before, is said to have carved four of such status and released them into the universe. Three of them is supposed to have landed in Japan and one here in Bhutan.
Other than the relics, another important piece is the “speaking” statue of Guru Padmasambhava, and the Three times Buddha.
Story has it that the Third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928-1972) visited the temple and sought the blessing of Aum Ekajati, and a royal prince was born, who later became the Great Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

29/03/2026

The “11-11-1955” Limited Edition Whisky
This collector’s item was released in November 2025 by Army Welfare Project (AWP) Bhutan to commemorate the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Great Fourth Druk Gyalpo, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (born November 11, 1955).
* Exclusivity: Only 5,000 bottles were produced, each individually numbered.
* Composition: A handcrafted blend of custom Bhutanese grain alcohol and Scotch malt whisky.
* Flavor Profile: Described as smooth and mellow with refined, gentle peaty notes and a balanced character.
* Price: Launched at Nu. 20,000(approximately $240 USD) per bottle initially and but went sold out within a couple of days.

28/03/2026

Punthang Dechen Phodrang (The Palace of Great Bliss) built in 1637, is the second oldest dzong. Which has served as the capital seat of government until the mid-1950s. The Dzong is still the winter residence of the dratshang (official monk body).

As far Guru’s prophecy Zhabdrung visited Punakha to the place that appeared like a sleeping elephant and decided to come up with a Dzong on the elephant’s trunk. He then gathered people to construct the Dzong but nobody was able to construct. Then a man called Zow Balep stood up and requested to show him some sample.
So Zhabdrung asked him to sleep under a Dzong Chug (small dzong) liberated Zow Balep to the paradise of Guru Rinpoche. Then he started designing on a radish. Later that’s how dzong was built.
Zhabdrung was deeply impressed by peoples hard-work as well as by the variety of products, particularly the food products from different parts of Bhutan. Later during inauguration Zhabdrung introduced a ceremony called ‘Zhungdrel Phuensum Tshogpa’ literally means coming together and sitting in rows of all the good thing’s (foods)
The most important relics Ranjung kharsapani is brought from Tibet causes war between Tibet and Bhutan is also seen in Punakha Dzong. The body emblem of Zhabdrung who passed away in the year 1651 is still seen inside the Dzong. The death body of Zhabdrung was kept secret and confidential.
During 17th century Bhutan was invaded several times by Tibetan forces. Zhabdrung led the Bhutanese to victory and introduced Punakha Drubchen. Since then it became the annual festival. A unique festival because it shows the whole story of how Bhutan became ever victorious from Tibet. The ‘pazaps’ (local militia men), dress in traditional battle gear and reenact the ancient battle scene.
In 2005 another festival was introduced as Punakha Tshechu was by 70th Je Khenpo Trulku Jigme Choedra.
These two festivals not only play an important role in preserving Bhutan’s rich culture and traditions but also reflect the richness of the Bhutanese cultural heritage and are very special in the eyes and hearts of both Bhutanese and tourists who visit Bhutan.

28/03/2026

Kyetsi (child’s birth astrology)
Many Bhutanese have strong faith in astrological calculations and divination. The first week after a child is born, the family may request a tsipa (རྩིས་པ་) (astrologer) to write a book kyetsi (སྐྱེ་རྩིས་). The kyetsi made for a newborn usually describes the likely dominant characteristics of the child, surveys the major stages of her/his life, forecasts potential obstacles and articulates may need to be done to clear any obstacles that may arise.
The child’s parents should give the astrologer precise information about the time, day, dates, month and year of birth. The astrologer uses this information to calculate the kyetsi, which includes the animal sign, and information about pertinent constellations, zodiac, elemental combinations, spirits of the day, geomantic specifications, etc. to give a prediction of what kind of person the child will be and what kind of life the child will have.
A person’s kyetsi contains information about the location of his or her keytak khorlo (སྐྱེ་རྟགས་འཁོར་ལོ་) or wheel of birth on the body. Keytak khorlo is calculated using the locations of specific stars and/or constellations at the time of birth. For example, if the child’s keytak is located on her/his foot, it signifies travelling and short life; when it is on the shoulders, it indicates physical strength; on hand, an urge to steal; and in the mouth, devotion to the dharma.
Most parents want their child’s kyetsi so they can identify what remedial ritual(s) must be done to clear obstacles. Thus, an elaborate kyetsi is sometimes called tserab letsi (ཚེ་རབས་ལས་རྩིས་) or calculations of the affairs of one’s lifetimes. The theory for kyetsi is believed to have been composed by Mañjuśrī, the Buddha of Wisdom and transmitted to Bhutan from China via Tibet.
If the child’s astrological calculations do not match the parents’ or if the child has illness, then a friend or acquaintance whose stars are appropriate is asked to nominally adopt the child.
Credit; Sonam Chophel and Karma Phuntsho.

28/03/2026

The Bhutanese cuisine celebrates simplicity by keeping its flavor pure and clean based on the local produce. The country has a flair for using unique ingredients that is cheese and chili. Bhutan is only country in the world where chilies are considered as a vegetable. It could be mainly due to the fact that a spicy food helps you stay warm and energized during extreme cold conditions.
Besides bhutanese prefer chili to keep oneself protected especially in the olden days when homes didn’t have any heating system installed.
Ema in Bhutanese is chili. The local markets are flooded with varieties of chilies in different colors, shapes and sizes. There are in varieties green, red and white, which is made by drying the green ones.
No other spice mix is used to spice up a meal.
They are not only a staple in the kitchen; they also hold an important place in their ritual and traditions. Chilies are burned to drive away bad spirits and omens from houses. Three chilies are even thrown in while brewing the local liquor ara (moonshine), as a sort of good luck for it to brew properly without any hassle.

The other white on in the picture is a unique kind of cheese named chugo (dry or fermented cheese), it is a cheese made from cow or yak’s milk. There are two varieties of chugo, the soft and the hard variety. The soft cheese is used in the preparation of ema datshi.
The texture of chugo is similar to cottage cheese or ricotta cheese.
To explain you how the chugo is made then the cheese is prepared by fermenting raw milk. Once the milk is fermented, add some fresh milk gradually to the fermented one over a period of five days. The mixture will coagulate into a thick curd.
Then, it is churned to separate the butter and the remaining buttermilk is heated to make the chugo. This cheese has a strong pungent smell and is bearably tangy. Wrapped in jute bags strung together, it is sold in markets throughout Bhutan. People snack on them everyday.

26/03/2026

The 7 offering bowls here in Bhutan.
Water is considered free, plentiful, and painless to give. The practice has been a part of Himalayan Buddhist tradition since 8th century, but became more widespread in 11th century.
Each of the seven bowls has its unique significance as follows:
* The first bowl
For the Buddha to drink and cleanse his mouth or face.
* The second bowl
For the Buddha to wash his feet or take a bath. It symbolises purification.
* The third bowl
Represents the different types of flowers. Symbolises the beauty and flowering of enlightenment, signifying the opening of one’s heart.
* The fourth bowl
Represents incense to produce a sweet-smelling aroma for the Buddha. Symbolises morality, ethics, and discipline.
* The fifth bowl
Comes with a source of light, usually a lamp, to illuminate darkness. The light symbolises the dispellation of all darkness of the mind and ignorance. Ignorance refers to one being unaware of their true inherent Buddha Nature.
* The sixth bowl
It is scented. The perfume symbolises perseverance and joy, which is the heart of enlightenment.
* The seventh bowl
This is food. Although the enlightened one does not require material food offerings, it is for the temporary relief from suffering that beings experience through hunger and starvation.
* The eighth bowl
If eight bowls are offered, the eighth bowl has an offering that represents sound, perhaps a musical instrument, to entertain God with music.
The Bhutanese have a technique for setting up the bowls at a shrine. The bowls must:
* Be in a straight line so that one will have an honest personality.
* Have uniform gaps between them, each the distance of a barley grain. Too far and the worshipper will never meet their spiritual teacher, too close and their minds become dull.
The water might be thrown away, but some use it on houseplants or the earth to share the offerings.

26/03/2026

Prayer Flags are very significant in the life of Bhutanese people. Be it birth, living or death, it is one consolation feature that binds us with our religion to ease our negativities and console our mind.
Different types of prayer flags are hoisted for different purposes. They contains certain mantras that has the potential to ward off the obstacles creating spirits and enhance the luck.
Blue - Health and Longevity - Tsa La Nam Sum
White - Purification of Karma -Vajrasattva.
Red - Wish Fulfilling Prayer- Sampa Lhundrup
Green - Compassion Prayer - Praise to the 21 Taras
Yellow - Victory over Obstacles - Gyaltsan Semo
An astrologer must be consulted to find good day to hoist prayer flag. It is to be remembered that if prayer flag is hoisted on Sadag Badhen day than it will only bring bad energy till prayer flag are exhausted in the atmosphere.
Prayer flag should be consecrated by a monk before it is hoisted.
Untill the time of Rabney please attach a bunch of thorny bush to the pole to ward off all the evil spirits from attaching themselves to the prayer flag.
How to hoist prayer flag:
The Redri and the prayer flag should be hoisted facing north direction.
When hoisting near our house it should be either hoisted in the north or south and not to east and west.
When a prayer flag is put inside the soil, the distance between the flag and the ground level should be one meter (Dom gang).
The distance between the khorlo and the flag should be 30 cm or one foot (Chhu gang).
The space between the two plates is known as Zhingkham and the distance should be 50 mm (2 inches).
The nail should be made from the same kind of pole tree or bamboo.
The Reldri Khorlo should be made precise as it is.
Points to be noted while hoisting a flags:
While hoisting a prayer flag for the living people, attach the Chenrize mantra (Hung) at the side of the post and (Om) should be flown in the air (opposite-right to left) because the blessings will come towards us since we are not dead.
While hoisting a prayer flag for the death persons, (Om) should be at the side of post and (Hung) flown in the air because the blessings goes outward to benefit the death person.
Source: Phub Dorji Wang

26/03/2026

The Bouddhanath Stupa was built by a mother, Jadzima, who looked after her chickens. She wanted to build a stupa, so she asked the king for permission to get the land. Normally, the king wouldn’t give such permission, but somehow, maybe due to her karma, the king said, “Okay, it can be done.” This just slipped out of his mouth.
This is why the Tibetans call it “Jarung Kashor Chörten.” Jarung is “it can be done,” and kashor is “slipped out of the mouth.” Unfortunately the mother passed away after she completing up to the vase. She had four sons, and they completed the rest of the stupa.
It’s also called wish-fulfilling stupa;
Once Brazilian nun, knew this story. She made a prayer to be able to build monasteries from air. When she went back, everything happened. She made plans and was able to build.
Then the brothers were standing in front of the stupa, the oldest brother made a prayer, “May I become a Dharma king in Tibet.” The next brother heard his prayer and said, “May I become a minister to help him spread the Dharma.” The next made the prayer, “May I be an abbot to pass on the lineage of ordinations in Tibet.” And the next another one made a prayer, “May I become a powerful yogi when there are obstacles to spreading Dharma in Tibet.”
In the next life, the oldest brother became the Dharma king Songtsen Gampo in Tibet; he was the Dharma king who had two princesses who brought the statues of Shakyamuni Buddha– one is now at the Jokhang and the other at the Ramoche. And he also helped to build the Jokhang. The second brother became a minister in Tibet Padma Gungtsen. The third brother became an abbot Shantaraksh*ta, and the fourth brother became Padmasambhava.
When they were building the first monastery in Tibet, Samye. During the day the people would build and then at night spirits would tear it down. One of the ministers suggested that they invite Padmasambhava from India.

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