Dechen Phodrang Monastery

Dechen Phrodrang. meaning "Palace of Great Bliss". is a Buddhist monastery in Thimphu, Bhutan. It is located to the north of the city.

Monks at Dechen Phodrang

Monks at Dechen Phodrang

Dechen Phodrang Monastery
Tibetan transcription(s) Tibetan:
Dechen Phodrang monastic school
Religion
Affiliation	Tibetan Buddhism
Location
Location	Thimphu, Bhutan
Country	Bhutan
Location within Bhutan
Geographic coordinates	27°30′4″N 89°37′57″E
Architecture
Founder	Gyelwa Lhanangpa [1]

In 1971 it became a monastic school, called a lobdra, and currently it has 450 student monks enrolled in eight-year courses with a staff of 15. The monastery contains a number of important historical Bhutanese artifacts including 12th century paintings monitored by UNESCO and a noted statue of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal on the upper floor.^[2] In the downstairs chapel, there is a central Sakyamuni Buddha.^[3]