dechen phodrang monastery (located in gadem lam, thimphu): a buddhist monastery located north thimphu meaning “palace of great bliss”. it is located at the end of the gaden lam, the site of thimphu’s original trashi chhoe dzong. here we can find a number of important historical bhutanese artifacts including 12th century paintings monitored by unesco and a noted statue of namgyal on the upper floor. in the downstairs chapel, there is a central sakyamuni buddha. it was built for central monastic body of bhutan when tashichho dzong monastery’s capacity couldn’t accommodate all the monks. it has 450 students who have enrolled for eight year course.