The village of penises in Bhutan

Sopsokha village in Bhutan has delighted travel bloggers who have visited more than 120 countries because of the phallic shapes that appear everywhere.

Daniel Pinto, 25, a Portuguese national, believes that Sopsokha village is the strangest destination this travel blogger has ever visited. The village is located in western Bhutan, known as the "penis village". Most of the buildings and sculptures in Sopsokha are associated with this image.

"It's a traditional village surrounded by beautiful rice fields. However, the closer I got, the more strange it became," said the travel blogger, who has been to more than 120 countries.

Image of a signpost in Sopsokha village. Photo: Daniel Pinto

According to Bhutan Best Inbound Tours, a company founded in 2005 and specializing in providing tours for foreigners in Bhutan, Sopsokha village is associated with Drukpa Kunley - a Tibetan Buddhist monk who is known as the "god of fertility". Old documents show that he is the one who introduced the art of phallic painting to Bhutan and used phallic statues to ward off evil spirits.

Pinto visited Chimi Lhakhang, or the “fertility temple,” and saw a giant golden statue surrounded by phalluses of all shapes and sizes. The temple is a popular destination for women hoping to conceive. Upon arrival, they are given a wooden phallus and asked to circle the temple three times. Bhutanese believe these phallic symbols increase fertility.

There are also many photos in the temple recording the stories of couples who came to pray for a child and succeeded. However, temples in Bhutan prohibit cameras and phones, so Pinto could not take pictures. Tourists like Pinto can buy souvenirs in the shape of penises of all shapes, colors and sizes.

The male tourist said Bhutan strictly controls tourists because a government official always accompanies him during his stay. In September, Bhutan reduced the tourist fee from $200 to $100 per night. This is a move to boost tourism after the pandemic. Previously, in September 2022, the country increased the sustainable tourism fee from $65 to $200. This fee is used to offset the impact of tourism on the environment.

Hoai Anh (According to Independent )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/ngoi-lang-toan-hinh-duong-vat-o-bhutan-4659261.html