The making of sacred clay molds is an ancient and labour-intensive Buddhist practice. For these sculptures, clay is gathered from sacred sites across Bhutan and combined with precious stones, medicinal plants, and holy water, which is also collected from sacred sites. The clay is then pressed into molds to create images of enlightened beings. This transformation of ordinary earth into sacred form is understood as a practice that purifies negative karma. The images depicted in

2021 Lhading Goempa, meaning the “Temple of the Flying Gods and Goddesses,” is a sacred site associated with a longstanding tradition of sacred objects believed to have travelled from Tibet. According to tradition, the temple was established after Drubthob Pawo Tagsham and Khandro Metho Seldon arrived from Tibet and identified the site following a vision of gods and goddesses flying above the area. The temple is also associated with the tradition of ten flying statues that ca

2017-2019 Dumtseg Lhakhang is one of Bhutan’s most remarkable and distinctive religious monuments. Built in 1412 by Thangtong Gyelpo, the renowned Tibetan master and builder of iron bridges, the temple was constructed in the unusual form of a three-storey chorten. According to local tradition, Thangtong Gyelpo built the temple to subdue a demoness believed to have emerged from beneath the earth and terrorised the inhabitants of the Paro valley. The temple stands on a small hi

For the first time, Bhutanese nuns have joined our conservation initiatives, beginning with paper conservation in 2026, and expanding into the conservation of objects and textiles. Their participation marks an important step in building a new generation of monastic custodians equipped to care for the country’s sacred heritage. The programmes bring together international conservation specialists, including Eddie Jose from the Philippines and Maska Handa and Ikuko Handa from Ja

2015- 2016 Tashigomangs are portable Buddhist altars representing the celestial palace or realms of Guru Rinpoche, Avalokiteshvara or Amitabha. The Lam Manip or lay ritual practitioner traverses mountains, carrying these portable altars to display them in the remote towns and villages. As the Lam Manip's spiritual songs are carried by the Himalayan winds, the Tashigomang is slowly uncovered, its many small doors and windows are opened layer by layer, revealing multiple sacr

November 2020- October 2023 Lhadzong Tashigang Monastery is one of the oldest meditation retreat centres in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Founded in 1768 by the 12th Je Khenpo, Kunga Gyamtsho. The restoration was undertaken from November 2020 to October 2023 under the patronage of Her Highness, the Royal Grandmother, Gyalyum Kesang Choeden Wangchuck. The project was carried out by our monks, combining traditional craftsmanship and monastic knowledge to safeguard the historic monaste

The Zhung Dratshang holds a vast and invaluable collection of sacred manuscripts, many of which are foundational to the study of Bhutan’s art history and cultural scholarship in Bhutan and the greater Himalayan landscape. Over the years, our pilot digitization program has preserved hundreds of these fragile texts. By 2030, supporting project Digitize Dratshang, we aim to complete the digitization of sacred manuscripts of Zhung Dratshang across Bhutan, creating a secure offlin

By 2030, we aim for a fully documented, secure, and accessible digital archive of Bhutan’s sacred heritage For centuries, Bhutan’s sacred texts and ritual records were carefully preserved on handmade paper and palm leaves, later held in paper archives without a complete digital record. With the blessings of His Majesty the King and His Holiness the Je Khenpo, we began Bhutan’s first systematic digitization of monastic heritage. Over the past three years, we have successfully