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Unconquered
Land |
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It
is a matter of great pride to the Bhutanese that their small kingdom was
never colonised. Its ancient history, which is a mixture of the oral tradition
and classical literature, tells of a largely self-sufficient population,
which had limited contact with the outside world until the turn of the
century.
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Kyichu Monastery in Paro
| Among
the earliest landmarks of Bhutanese history visible today are two seventh-century
monasteries, the Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang.
Both these deeply revered monasteries have been preserved and developed
over the centuries. |
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| In
the eight century Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava), established several sacred
religious sites, which are important places of pilgrimage for the Buddhist
world today. |
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Among
them are the Kurjey Lhakhang in Bumthang and the Taktshang (Tiger's
Nest) Monastery in Paro.
Another
important chapter in Bhutanese history unfolded in the early part of the
13th century when the Buddhist teacher, Phajo Drugom Zhingpo, introduced
the Drukpa Kagyu school of Mahayana Buddhism in the western Bhutan.
Over
the years many other saints and religious figures helped shape Bhutan's
history and develop its religion.
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