After returning to Thimphu, we stopped into a handmade paper-making factory – Jungshi Handmade Paper. We followed their manufacturing process - soaking the daphne bark, pulp making, pressing, drying, and so on. Before we left, we visited the on-site store where they had a large selection of note paper, cards, envelopes, etc. store.
There is a very large Shakyamuni Buddha statue (169 ft tall) that is under construction overlooking the city of Thimphu. It is said to be one of the largest Buddha statues in the world and will end up containing over 100,000 smaller Buddha statues.
To see it up close is truly magnificent. We had planned to try to get as close as possible (outside the construction gates), but as it turns out…the gates were open and we were able to get much closer to it than expected.
Next up, the Takin preserve. This is the strangest-looking animal I think I’ve ever seen.
There is a sign that is posted just outside the fenced area where a few takin graze. If you recall from our earlier visit to Chimi Lhakhang, the Divine Madman was quite the character and had some unique powers. The legend of how the takin came to be had its roots in one such display of the Divine Madman’s magical powers. As the sign suggests…after devouring a whole cow and a goat, he performed one of his ‘miracles’ and placed the goat’s head on the bones of a cow.
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