Prominent Monasteries
Taktsang Monastery
Geography
Taktsang Monastery, famously known as Tiger Nest Monastery, is located in Paro, Bhutan. The monastery is one of the most venerated places of pilgrimage in the Himalayan.
History
Taktsang Monastery was built in 1692 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye is believed to be the reincarnation of Padmasambhava. Legend believes that Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) flew to this location from Khenpajong, Tibet, on back of a tigress. Guru Rinpoche meditated for three months in .... Read More »
Chhime Lhakhang
Chhime Lhakhang lies on the periphery of the expansive valley of Lobesa where the borders of Thimphu, Punakha and Wangduephodrang districts meets. Perched on top of a little hilltop overlooking the Puna Tsang Chhu, Chhime Lhakhang is auspiciously surrounded by the nine Khas or villages namely Sosokha, Yuwakha, Gangmakha, Septokha, Sembjikha, Pachakha, Buewakha and Gangkhar.
Lam Drukpa Kuenley is placed among the highest levels of sainthood. But he is famous because of the ou .... Read More »
Tango Goempa
The Tango Goemba site has had religious significance since the 12th century when it was the home of the Lama who brought the Drukpa Kagyupa school of Buddhism to Bhutan. The monastery was built there in the 15th century by Drukpa Kunley ("The Divine Madman”). Tango is the highest center of Buddhist learning in the country; almost every Je Khenpo (religious head of Bhutan) completed the 9-year program there. After completing that program, monks traditionally spend 3 years, 3 months .... Read More »
Jambay Lhakhang
Jambay Lhakhang is said to be one of the 108 temples built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Goenpo in 659 AD on a single day to pin down an ogress to earth forever. A supine demoness was causing obstruction to the spread of Buddhism and the temples were constructed on her body parts that spread across Tibet, Bhutan and the border lands.
The best known of these temples are Kichu in Paro, Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang and Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet. Other lesser known temples in Bhutan have been de .... Read More »
Kurjey Lhakhang
During the 8th century, Sendhu Raja who was the king of Bumthang fell ill and he invited Guru Rinpochhe who brought Buddhism into Bhutan to cure him. Guru Rinpochhe found out that the King’s illness was caused by the local deities including the powerful Shelging Karpo.
Finding the cause of the illness, Guru chased the deities into a cave, and Guru meditate d inside the cave for three months. Guru then subdued the deities including the powerful Shelging Karpo and left his body impri .... Read More »
Kyichu Lhakhang
Kyichu Lhakhang is a Buddhist temple in Paro. It is one of the oldest monasteries in the country built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demoness lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism.
To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans.
Thus, .... Read More »
