| Dechen Phodrang Monastery | |
|---|---|
Dechen Phodrang monastic school |
|
|
Dechen Phodrang Monastery
Location within Bhutan
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Monastery information | |
| Location | Thimphu, Bhutan |
| Type | Tibetan Buddhist |
| No. of monks | 450 |
Dechen Phrodrang meaning "Palace of Great Bliss" is a Buddhist monastery in Thimphu, Bhutan. It is located to the north of the city.
In 1971 it became a monastic school 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.[1] In the downstairs chapel, there is a central Sakyamuni Buddha.[2]