National Memorial chorten

The National Memorial Chorten Bhutan is located in the core area of Thimphu. It is located in a walkable distance from the down town Thimphu. The stupa was built in 1974 in memory of the third King of Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and later it was renovated in 2008. It is one of the most happening places in Thimphu, especially during the evening and morning hours due to the rush of many devotees and casual visitors. Most stupas are built in order to preserve the remains of Great lamas and Truelku and to keep ancient valuables, but Memorial chorten is different, because it is the representation of mind of the Buddha.

Architecturally, Memorial Chorten has been designed according to the Tibetan style and represents the classic Tibetan structure of stupas. If you have visited Tibet, you could possibly make out the similarity in it. It has a pyramidal pillar crowned by a crescent moon and sun. It gives the shape of a vase unlike a dome (found in other stupas)

The Memorial Chorten’s facade features a sizable white building with a golden spire on top. A wooden door featuring Bhutanese carvings at the entrance which leads to a tiny garden. Three carvings on slate can be found too. The three benevolent bodhisattvas are portrayed on the gate’s exterior.

You can see large prayer wheels to the left, surrounded by elderly people. At the Chorten, you may watch pigeons and people from all walks of life circle and bow. People of all ages can find spiritual solace in the Memorial Chorten. Slates found within the vicinity of chorten have engravings of Guru Padmasambhava, Buddha, and Bhutan’s unifier Ngawang Namgyal on them.

Not everyone is permitted inside. It is closed and only opens on specific days. The Chorten is beautifully ornamented with statues, mandalas, and a shrine honoring the third king. You can see a sizable portrait of Bhutan’s third king on the ground floor. The Vajrakilaya teachings are dedicated to the Chorten. Four shrines are present. Large wooden carvings can be found, most of them feature ferocious-appearing guardian deities. The second floor is devoted to the Kagyu school’s Drukpa Lineage’s teachings on taming eight different types of evil spirits. The Lama Gongdü lectures are located on the upper floor. Additionally, artwork of numerous Nyingma school deities can be found on the third floor. The best time to visit the Memorial Chorten is during the evening and morning hours