The white buildings
Timber fronts and painted windows.
Christopher J. Fynn — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Christopher J. Fynn — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0
Kurjey Lhakhang is among the holiest places in the Bumthang valley of central Bhutan, a group of white buildings on the edge of a green valley. It holds the remains of Bhutan's first three kings, giving it great religious and historic importance. Visitors come for its calm grounds and tall flags, as part of a tour of the temples near Jakar. Oral tradition says the old ruler of Bumthang, Sindhuraja, lost a battle and his son in it and turned his anger on the local deities, with the rest of the tale tied to the coming of the teacher Padmasambhava. Local people believe a large tree behind one building is a treasure left there. Royal history and old legends therefore mingle here. You see white buildings with timber fronts and painted windows across a broad meadow, with a white stupa and tall white flags before them. A long wall of prayer stones runs near the road, and a forested slope rises behind the temple. Not all halls may be open, but the view from outside alone justifies the stop. It lies in the valley north of Jakar, a short drive from town, and combines easily with Jambay Lhakhang. A sign on site requires formal dress for entry, so dress modestly and ask your guide about the rules. Do not take photos inside the halls, and walk clockwise around religious buildings. Foreign visitors also pay a Sustainable Development Fee of about 100 US dollars a night, and entry is usually arranged through a company with a licensed guide.
Timber fronts and painted windows.
White lines in the meadow.
Long stones by the road.
Bumthang valley, north of Jakar, Bhutan
It holds the remains of Bhutan's first three kings and is linked to legends of Padmasambhava.
A sign on site asks for formal dress, so ask your guide in advance.