The arrival to a village is often marked by a prayer wall or a group of chorten (Sanskrit: stupa).
Prayers walls are long stone walls which support on the upper level stone slabs or slates engraved with prayers.
The chorten made of stones and whitewashed, are monuments originally commemorating the Buddha and representing his mind. Chorten in Bhutan are also erected to symbolize the taming of local demons by Buddhist saints.
Considered as sacred religious monuments, a chorten must be passed on the left and the surroundings kept clean. Some chorten built like a gate, are called “chorten with two legs”.
Introduction to Chortens and Prayer Walls in Bhutan
The arrival to a village is often marked by a prayer wall or a group of chorten (Sanskrit: stupa).
Prayers walls are long stone walls which support on the upper level stone slabs or slates engraved with prayers.
The chorten made of stones and whitewashed, are monuments originally commemorating the Buddha and representing his mind. Chorten in Bhutan are also erected to symbolize the taming of local demons by Buddhist saints.
Considered as sacred religious monuments, a chorten must be passed on the left and the surroundings kept clean. Some chorten built like a gate, are called “chorten with two legs”.