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Bhutan's Culture - Dzongs |
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Bhutan Information |
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Punakha
Dzong and Monastery |
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Punakha
dzong reconstructed |
Straddling
the confluence of the snow-fed Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in Punakha the
five gilded pinnacles of the Dewachenpoi Phodrang glisten in the
sunlight, more brilliant than ever. After centuries of natural and man-caused
dilapidation this magnificent monument that represents one of the most
memorable landmarks in Bhutanese history has been restored to its former
glory on the personal initiative of the fourth Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty
Jigme Singye Wangchuck. |
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The
work on the Punakha Dzong epitomises the highest quality of the
13 crafts of the zorig chusum tradition. Apart from the traditional Bhutanese
woodwork, masonry, metalwork, and paintings on the colossal main structures,
the new treasures that have enriched the numerous lhakhangs in the dzong
include more than 200 sacred images intricately crafted out of the five
menjim (precious substances) and modern elements that include copper, brass,
and other metals.
Punakha
Dzong
| Over
the centuries, the dzong has been repeatedly challenged by man and nature.
It was damaged by fires in 1780, 1789,
1802, 1831, 1849, and in 1986. There was
a massive earthquake in 1897 and a devastating flash flood in 1994 when the Dzongchhung, which houses the images of the Jhou (Lord Buddha) and Dupthob Nagi Rinchhen (Vanaratna), was nearly washed away. |
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| Mo
Chhu Bazam - mix of medieval traditional design and modern technology |
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| Features |
wooden
bridge, unsupported span, 55 m long, prototype of hybride construction,
invisible steel elements, crossing Mo Chhu, concrete foundation protected
by thousands of boulders and concrete blocks placed in the riverbed |
engineering
company: |
Walt
+ Galmarini AG (Switzerland) |
contractor:
fund
rising: |
Pro
Bhutan (Germany)
Pro
Bhutan (Germany) |
| project
of |
the
Government of Bhutan |
initiated
by
inaugurated
by |
Prime
Minister Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup (2000)
Prime
Minister Jigmi Y Thinley (May 2008) |
| information |
Pro
Bhutan (Germany) Pro
Bhutan (external link)
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The
Punakha Dzong bazam, built in the 17th century, was washed away by a ravaging
flood in 1958. The bazam belongs to the Punakha Dzong,
which is the winter residence of his Holiness Je Khenpo and the 500
monks of his monk body. The Punakha Dzong bazam was a wooden roofed
cantilever bridge in traditional Bhutanese architecture. From 1958 up to
2008 a simple steel cable bridge was leading to the Dzong. In 2008 the
Punakha Dzong bazam was rebuilt by "Pro Bhutan", a german non-profit and
humanitarian NGO. The reconstruction of the bazam was started in 2006 and
completed by "Pro Bhutan" in May 2008.
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| Punakha
Dzong: Mo Chhu Bazam |
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(Photo
Gallery in the german section of RAOnline)
| Information on Bhutan |
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