BHUTAN - Punakha
Chimi Lhakhang monastery
Phallus paintings in Bhutan are esoteric symbols, which have their origins in the Chimi Lhakhang monastery near Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. The village monastery was built in honour of Lama Drukpa Kunley who lived in the 15-16th century and who was popularly known as the "Mad Saint" for his unorthodox ways of teaching, which amounted to being bizarre and shocking. The "fertility" temple has a very large wooden penis and the ladies who want to be pregnant have to take it for 3 rounds around the temple.
No photos are allowed in the temples.
Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip. Also Bhutanese people considered that is a sign a fertility when painted on houses. These paintings or objects aren't considered as pornographic or sexual as it's not the case for bouthanese people and it's a part of their culture.
And on the way to the Temple, a lot of shops are selling phallus in many colors for souvenir.
BEST TIME to VISIT BHUTAN
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to BHUTAN
From November to April
Entrance of the temple
Preyer wheels
large prayer wheel
prayer wheels
large prayer wheel
Mond and prayer wheels
Gasa Festival - Festivals are family events and the clowns are disturbing the artists, teasing the spectators and also they have very often phallus to play and joke. Phallus in Bhutan aren't considered as sexual or pornographic but part of their ancestral culture.
Gasa Festival - Festivals are family events and the clowns are disturbing the artists, teasing the spectators and also they have very often phallus to play and joke. Phallus in Bhutan aren't considered as sexual or pornographic but part of their ancestral culture.
near Chimi Lhakhang Monastery - a phallus at the bottom of a stupa
near Chimi Lhakhang Monastery - a phallus at the bottom of a stupa
near Chimi Lhakhang Monastery - a phallus at the bottom of a stupa
near Chimi Lhakhang Monastery - a touting advertising sign for a special name bar - In fact it's a normal bar and the nectar are drinks you can find in any bar
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye or some said it's a symbol of fertility.
2 Phallus painted on a house
These paintings or objects aren't considered as pornographic or sexual as it's not the case for bouthanese people and it's a part of their culture.
Phallus painting at the entrance of a shop
Phallus painting at the entrance of a shop
Souvenir shop advertising with a phone number
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye
Phallus painting on a wall
shop with a large collection of souvenirs from Bhutan
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye. Some bhutanese are speaking about fertility.
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye or some said it's a symbol of fertility.
Souvenir shop - Phallus with many sizes and colors are the best sellers
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye or some said it's a symbol of fertility.
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye or some said it's a symbol of fertility.
Shop called Fertility with an explicit phallus painting
a shop named Phallus handicraft
SIgn for the direction of the toilets with an original arrow
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye or some said it's a symbol of fertility.
Souvenir shop
very explicit phallus painting on a wall
Explicit phallus painting on a house wall
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye or some said it's a symbol of fertility.
A man is painting the phallus for the souvenir shop
Countryside house with a painted phallus
Souvenir shop where a Painted phallus is pointing the entrance - shop is called Phallus handicraft
Souvenir shop with Phallus
Explicit phallus paintings are displayed on houses in the countryside to drive away the evil eye or some said it's a symbol of fertility.
Gasa Festival - the red clowns are teasing artists and spectators with phallus
Trail to the Monastery
Monastery
Prayer wheels outside of the Monastery
again a large prayer wheel ouside
painting in gold the prayer wheels
Monastery - Temple in the courtyard
Monastery - Mythical animal on the roof
Monastery - roof
on the way to the monastery and temple : the local souvenirs in many colors and sizes