Dechen Phodrang Monastery

Dechen Phrodrang, meaning "Palace of Great Bliss", is a Buddhist monastery in Thimphu, Bhutan. It is located to the north of the city.
Image:Dechen Phodrang [monastic school, Thimphu 2.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Monks at Dechen Phodrang]
Image:Dechen Phodrang monastic [school, Thimphu 3.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Monks at Dechen Phodrang]
In 1971 it became a monastic school, called a lobdra, 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. In the downstairs chapel, there is a central Sakyamuni Buddha.