The temple
A golden roof on the hillock.
Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jyotishkardey — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0
Chimi Lhakhang is a Buddhist monastery near the town of Lobesa in Punakha District, set on a round hillock among fields. It lies about 6.3 km in a straight line from Punakha Dzong. It was built in 1499 by the Drukpa Kagyu lama Ngawang Chogyal and blessed by his cousin Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529), known as the «Divine Madman» for his unconventional ways of teaching. Legend says Kunley subdued a demoness here who had turned into a dog, which gave the temple its name. The white temple with its golden roof and carved wooden windows stands in a paved courtyard lined with prayer wheels and shaded by a large tree. Visitors reach it on a short walk through terraced rice fields and a small village, with white prayer-flag poles all around. It is reached on a short walk through the fields, so bring water. Wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees, walk clockwise around the temple, and take no photos inside the halls. Most visitors to Bhutan pay a Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per person per night, and a licensed guide is required at dzongs and major temples.
A golden roof on the hillock.
Rice terraces on the way.
White poles around it.
Near Lobesa, Punakha District, Bhutan
A Buddhist saint known as the Divine Madman for unusual teaching.
A short walk through fields from the road near Lobesa.