Monasteries..
                      .....a testimony of spiritualism
 

The more than 2,000 monasteries in Bhutan is a testimony of the spiritual nature of the country and its people. Everywhere you look, there is a monastery atop a rocky crag, or on remote hillsides and in the farthest horizon. Some of these are ancient monasteries now requiring restoration but which are, nonetheless, spiritually important for the communities that live around them. Almost every major monastery provides the spiritual centre for important festivals and ceremonies for village communities. They are also often the focal point of cultural, secular and administrative and religious events.

A monastery is distinguished by a maroon band near the top of the building and some of them have a golden pinnacle or “sertog” sitting atop the building. Some of these monasteries also house numerous monks who study in an educational institute built around the monastery. Hermitages are also built around or near monasteries.