5/5 Dorji D. 2 years ago on Google
Dochula
Pass
is
a
beautiful
mountain
pass
located
between
Thimphu
and
Punakha
in
Bhutan.
Ashi
Dorji
Wangmo
Wangchuck,
the
eldest
Queen
Mother
of
Bhutan
built
108
memorial
chortens
known
as
“Druk
Wangyal
Chortens”
at
Dochula
Pass
in
honour
of
the
fourth
king,
His
Majesty
King
Jigme
Singye
Wangchuck.
The
chortens
were
built
adjacent
to
the
country’s
first
Royal
Botanical
Park.
The
Dochula
Pass
is
a
historical
landmark
built
to
honour
the
bravery
and
sacrifices
of
the
fourth
king
and
the
soldiers
who
perished
during
the
battle
against
Assamese
insurgents
in
2003.
It
particularly
marks
the
victory
of
King
Jigme
Singye
Wangchuck
who
dislodged
the
rebels
from
their
camps
(there
were
30
camps)
in
Bhutanese
territory
from
where
they
raided
Indian
territory
of
Assam.
After
the
war,
the
King
went
back
to
Thimphu
on
28
December
2003.
Ashi
Dorji
Wangmo
Wangchuck
commanded
for
the
108
chortens
to
be
built.
The
construction
of
the
chortens
was
completed
in
mid-June
2004
and
formally
consecrated
and
sanctified
with
religious
rites
on
19–20
June
2004.
108
memorial
chortens
at
Dochula
Pass
The
chortens
were
built
in
three
layers;
the
first
lowest
layer
has
forty-five
chortens,
the
second
has
thirty-six
and
the
top
layer
has
twenty-seven
built
around
the
main
chorten.
The
construction
of
these
chortens
was
done
as
per
religiously
ordained
ritualistic
procedures.
As
the
height
of
the
chortens
attained
1m,
a
pit
was
excavated
in
the
ground
in
the
centre,
and
symbolically
offerings
of
grains
and
bronze
utensils
filled
with
butter
were
placed
in
the
pit.
At
the
next
stage,
as
the
height
of
chortens
increased,
images
of
Buddhist
gods
made
of
clay
stuffed
with
papers
inscribed
with
prayers
were
interred.
Following
that,
which
is
considered
the
"vital
stage",
the
fixing
of
the
sokshing
meaning
"the
life
tree
of
the
chorten"
was
erected.
The
sokshing,
which
is
believed
to
provide
a
link
between
heaven
and
earth
within
a
chorten,
is
in
the
form
of
a
long
square
wooden
pole
made
from
a
juniper
tree
made
by
an
individual
who
has
appropriate
qualities
from
an
astrological
point
of
view.
The
pole
was
painted
in
red
colour
and
inscribed
with
sacred
hymns
and
banded
with
religious
paraphernalia
such
as
gilded
images
of
gods,
prayer
bells,
small
clay
stupas,
and
also
precious
stones
and
jewellery.
The
sokshing
was
then
wrapped
around
by
silk
cloth
and
then
fixed
in
the
partly
built
chorten
on
an
auspicious
day.
Breathtaking
view
from
Dochula
Pass
Dochula
Pass
is
one
of
the
main
highlights
for
many
tourists.
You
can
never
take
a
bad
photo
at
the
stunning
Dochula
Pass.
In
fact,
if
you
are
lucky,
you
can
even
see
the
Himalayan
range
in
full
view
on
a
clear
day
from
the
mountain
pass.
Gangkar
Puensem
at
7,158
metres
(23,
484
ft),
the
tallest
unclimbed
mountain
in
the
world,
can
be
seen
from
Dochula
Pass.
If
you
are
going
to
Punakha
(the
old
capital)
from
the
current
capital
of
Bhutan,
Thimphu,
you’ll
definitely
pass
through
Dochula
Pass.
The
pass
was
part
of
an
ancient
trail
between
Thimphu
and
Punakha,
such
as
the
Dochu
La
Nature
Trail
[1.2
kilometres
(0.75
mi)]
which
begins
at
the
Dochu
La
cafe
and
meets
the
present
road
at
Lamperi,
and
the
Lumitsawa
Ancient
Trail
[4.7
kilometres
(2.9
mi)]
that
connect
the
main
road
at
Lumitsawa.
Both
trails
are
sections
of
the
original
route.
What
is
the
best
time
to
visit
Dochula
Pass
The
weather
at
the
pass
generally
remains
foggy
and
chilly.
However,
between
October
and
February,
panoramic
views
of
the
Bhutan
Himalayas
can
be
seen.
The
Dochula
Pass
remains
beautiful
in
all
seasons.
Sometimes,
you
may
even
see
snowfall
at
Dochula
Pass
and
capture
the
chortens
majestically
covered
in
snow.
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