White stupa
Golden spire.
Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0
A white Tibetan-style Buddhist stupa in central Thimphu, built in 1974 in memory of Bhutan's third king. It has become one of the capital's most visited religious sites and one of its truest scenes of daily life. The large white dome rises on a square base, topped by a gleaming golden spire and small bells, surrounded by a garden, flowerbeds and a row of large coloured prayer wheels in side galleries. Its finest feature is the people: from early morning to evening, elderly residents circle the stupa clockwise, holding prayer beads, spinning small hand prayer wheels and murmuring prayers, while others sit on benches chatting in the sun. Visitors may quietly circle with them. Entry is with a licensed guide, and sources differ on the fee. Dzongs and temples are places of worship and state: wear long sleeves and long trousers or skirts, remove hats, walk clockwise and take no photos inside the halls. Most visitors to Bhutan pay a Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per person per night, fixed until August 2027, and a licensed guide is required at dzongs and major temples.
Golden spire.
With residents.
Colourful.
Central Thimphu
Yes, quietly and clockwise with the residents, dressed modestly and with a licensed guide.