Saturday, April 27th, at 9:30 AM (1.5-2 Hours)
Visit the Bhutanese Lhakhang on the UTEP campus. Originally built for the 42nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2008, the Lhakhang was gifted by the Kingdom of Bhutan to the people of the United States to be displayed on the UTEP campus starting in 2015. The term lhakhang is frequently translated into English simply as “temple,” yet it is less a place of worship and more a place for contemplative reflection inspired by the highly stylized decorative elements found within. The Bhutanese built this structure as a way to showcase the culture and heritage of their Kingdom and to tell the stories of the Buddha, how Buddhism came to Bhutan, and how the themes of wisdom and compassion connect their country to our university. Come learn about the century-old relationship between UTEP and Bhutan beginning with , discover the history, art, and culture of the Kingdom of Bhutan, and explore UTEP and the campus transformation. Learn the story behind the Bhutanese architecture of the campus of UTEP.
Flipping through the pages of the April 1914 issue of National Geographic magazine, Kathleen L. Worrell sat captivated by the otherworldly images of a whimsical land hidden in the Himalayan Mountains untouched by modern society. Seventy-four black and white photographs capturing the awesome wonder of the Kingdom of Bhutan in South Asia populated the 88-page photo essay titled “Castles in the Air” by British diplomat and engineer John Claude White. Worrell – the wife of the first Dean of the State School of Mines and Metallurgy (now The University of Texas at El Paso) Steve Worrell – was enchanted by the celestial beauty of the kingdom’s fortresses called “dzongs.”
With massive sloping walls, high inset windows, overhanging roofs, and dark bands of brick mosaic tiles in the shape of mandalas, the symbol of unity and wholeness, Bhutan’s dzongs perfectly complemented the rugged landscape of the Himalayas.
Check out the UTEP Interactive Map. Zoom in and scroll just a tad down. You will see the Lhakhang next to Centennial Plaza, and across from the Geological Sciences Building and catty-corner to the Centennial Museum. The Sun Bowl Parking Garage is nearby but parking can be sparse. Parking is free on campus on weekends. There is also parking available behind the Centennial Museum.
UPCOMING:
See Where El Paso Water Turns Rio Grande Drinking Water into Drinkable Water: the Robertson Umbenhauer Water Treatment Plant. YOU MUST PREREGISTER FOR THIS TOUR BY TUESDAY APRIL 30TH. LIMIT 20 PEOPLE.
