Bhutan Monasteries | Top 9 Monasteries in Bhutan 2024
Away from bustling streets and dazzling lights of cities, Bhutan offers breathtaking scenery of the mysterious Himalayas with various monasteries inlaid in this Buddhism land. When you come to visit, you can not miss visiting the monasteries all over the kingdom such as the landmark site Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest) and the marvelous Gangtey Monastery. All these representative monasteries and the festivals celebrated in them unveil the culture and spirit of Bhutan influenced by Buddhism over centuries. To help you plan a Bhutan tour and explore the monasteries there, we have listed the best 9 Bhutan monasteries according to their significance in Bhutan’s history and ratings on Tripadvisor.
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Taktsang Monastery - "Tiger's Nest" on the Cliff Edge
Taktsang Monastery in the Mist
Ride on a Horse to Taktsang Monastery
Taktsang Monastery, the iconic site of Bhutan, also known as Tiger’s Nest is an unmissable sacred site in Paro. The temple is in white with the golden plated dome, standing on the sheer cliff edge about 900 meters above the Paro Valley, at an altitude of 3120 meters. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche had filed to a cave here, riding on a tigress, and later the monastery was built to commemorate his manifestation. The monastery was demolished in fire and reconstructed in 1998 under the order of the King.
It takes about 2 to 3 hours to trek up to the monastery, and you can also ride on a horse/pony to get there and a café is located in the midway for you to have a rest. Though the trekking might be strenuous, once you reach there, you will be rewarded with the architectural marvel and the majestic panoramic mountain views.
• Location：Taktsang trail BT, Par 11001, Bhutan
• Opening Time: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: Paro Tsechu Festival
• Recommended Tour: 4 Days Bhutan Short Break Tour -
Kyichu Lhakhang Monastery - the Most Beautiful Ancient Monastery in Bhutan
Kyichu Lhakhang Monastery
Kyichu Lhakhang Monastery in Spring
Besides Taktsang Monastery, another prime monastery in Paro is Kyichu Lhakhang, also known as Lho Kyerchu or Kyerchu Temple. It is located in the town of Paro, which allows the peaceful pilgrimage for the elder easily. As you enter the inner courtyard, you can see the spinning prayer wheels, people koraing around the stupa, and blooming flowers upon the white walls. Built in 659 by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet and expanded in 1839 by the penlop (governor) of Paro, Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest and the most beautiful ancient monasteries in Bhutan, resembling the temples in India.
• Location：Lamgong Gewog, Paro 12001, Bhutan
• Opening Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: Paro Tsechu Festival
• Recommended Tour: 5 Days Bhutan Classic Tour -
Gangtey Monastery - Black Necked Crane Festival Celebration Site
Gangtey Monastery
Black Necked Crane
Gangtey Monastery, also known as Gangtey Gonpa or Gangteng Monastery, is located atop a hill of Wangdue Phodrang, central Bhutan, overlooking the entire Phobjikha valley with a magnificent view. It takes some hard trekking time to ascend to the monastery through dense forests. Belonging to the Nyingma school of Buddhism, Gangtey Monastery was built there and fulfilled a prophecy of Terton Pema Lingpa that his teaching will spread from here. Besides the religious history and colorful architecture, the monastery is also an important site to attend the annual Black Necked Crane Festival in winter. During the festival, lots of endangered cranes and other species can be seen from this area, and you can even find rooms equipped with professional telescopes for birds observation.
• Location：Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
• Opening Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: The Black-necked Crane Festival
• Recommended Tour: 13 Days Bhutan Birding Tour -
Jambay Lhakhang Monastery - Mysterious Naked Dance and Fire Dance at Midnight
ambay Lhakhang Monastery
Midnight Fire Dance at Jambay Lhakhang Monastery
Located on the plateau by the Bumthang Chhu river, the central-eastern area of Bhutan, Jambay Lhakhang Monastery can be one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, and it was built as one of 108 temples by Songstan Gampo, the Tibetan King, to pin down a demoness who lay across the Himalayas so that the Buddhism could be introduced into Tibet. The monastery is also known for the four days’ Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival in October or November, which is to honor Guru Rimpoche and commemorate the building of the Temple. The festival involves lots of sacred ritual dances, even the fire dance and midnight naked dance to repress the devils like an exorcism, and numerous visitors gather every year around the monastery.
• Location：Bumthang, Bhutan
• Opening Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival
• Recommended Tour: 9 Days Druk Path Trekking with Bhutan Highlights -
Cheri Monastery - Retreat Place of the First Zabdrung of Bhutan
Cheri Monastery
Cheri Monastery
Cheri Monastery, also known ad Chagri Dorden Monastery, is located on the Doden Hill, Thimphu and it provides an excellent trekking route through the swinging prayer flags and the lush forests of pine and rhododendron. It had been recorded as a visited site of Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century and after centuries, the monastery has been constructed under the order of Ngawang Namgyal, the first Zabdrung who unified Bhutan, and it became the retreat place for him to spend the rest of his life. For its historical significance and picturesque views seen from it, Cheri Monastery made itself one of the most important monasteries in Bhutan.
• Location：Norzin, Lam 2 21, Thimphu, Bhutan
• Opening Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: Trongsa Festival
• Recommended Tour: 4 Days Bhutan Short Break Tour -
Tango Monastery - The Most Important Buddhism Education Institute in Bhutan
Tango Monastery
Beautiful Painting at Tango Monastery
Tango Monastery, also known as Tango Goemba, is one of the most important Buddhism education institutes in Bhutan. Built in the 13th century, and named after a horse-head shaped rock in the cave where the ruler of Bhutan Ngawang Namgyal had had a meditation, Tango Monastery has been the training site for a lot of religious leaders in Bhutan and the whole monastery includes 6 temples, namely, Trulku Lhakhang, Choeku Lhakhang, Guru Lhakhang, Longku Lhakhang, Gonkhang, and Namsey Lhakhang. If you come to visit Tango monastery, do not miss the Yarney, which is an important summer festival for the monks and it starts from the 15th day of the 6th month of the Bhutanese calendar and lasts for one and half months.
• Location：Norzin, Lam 2 21, Thimphu, Bhutan
• Opening Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: Yarney Summer Festival
• Recommended Tour: 7 Days Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour -
Memorial Chorten - Majestic Stupa in the Capital of Bhutan
Memorial Chorten
Memorial Chorten
Unlike other monasteries in Bhutan, Thimphu Chorten, also known as Memorial Chorten, does not house any believers. Located in the town of Thimphu, it is an easily accessible huge and tall white stupa, a monument built to commemorate the third king of Bhutan, Jiqme Dorji Wangchuck. It is built to represent the mind of the Buddha according to the King’s will and commanded by the Queen Ashi Phuentsho Choden Wangchuk. Inside the majestic stupa, you can find beautiful paintings, statues, sculptures, and carvings; Outside it, devotees and worshippers whirl the prayer wheels and kora around.
• Location：Chhoten Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
• Opening Time: (Monday – Friday) 5:30 AM – 6:30 PM and (Saturday, Sunday) 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: The Monlam Prayer Festival
• Recommended Tour: 6 Days Last Shangri-La Bhutan Highlights Tour -
Kurjey Lhakhang Monastery - Body Imprint of Guru Rinpoche
Kurjey Lhakhang Monastery
Kurjey Lhakhang Monastery
Located by a river of Bumthang valley, central-eastern Bhutan, Kurjey Lhakhang is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan, and Kurjey means body imprint to commemorate Guru Rinpoche who had meditated here for 3 months and left his body imprint to subdued the devils here. The monastery consists of 3 temples, which are surrounded by a wall with 108 chortens. The holiest and oldest one houses the rock of body imprint of Guru Rinpoche; the second one used to be the meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche; and the third one was built for the 3rd Queen of Bhutan, Ashi Kesang Wangchuck to retreat here. There is also a huge cypress tree that used to be Guru Rinpoche’s walking stick according to the locals. Every year, the exciting Kurjey Tsechu festival usually falls in June to commemorate the great Buddhism master, Guru Rinpoche with masked dances and a large unfurling Thangka.
• Location：Bhumtang Valley, Bhutan
• Opening Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: Kurjey Lhakhang Tshechu and Nimalung Festival
• Recommended Tour: 9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour -
Tamshing Lhakhang Monastery - Treasured Ancient Paintings and Masked Dance
Tamshing Lhakhang Monastery
Entrance of Tamshing Lhakhang Monastery
Tamshing Lhakhang, literally translated as “Temple of the Good Message” is a small one-storey monastery across the river from Kurje Lhakhang, and located in the Choe Khor Valley of Bumthang. It is believed that the monastery had been visited by the highly revered saint, Pema Linga with his paintings and teachings left and well preserved there. The monastery has treasured around 100,000 ancient paintings of Buddhas and all kinds of collections of masks carved by Pema Linga. During the Tamshing Phala Chhoepa festival in autumn, it also draws numerous tourists and devotees to join and watch the religious ceremonies with the sacred masked dances which were also introduced by Pema Linga himself.
• Location：Bhumtang Valley, Bhutan
• Opening Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Festival Celebrated Here: Tamshing Phala Chhoepa Festival
• Recommended Tour: 9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour
How to Plan Bhutan Tour Itinerary
Best time to visit Bhutan: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November)
How to get to Bhutan: international flights from India, Bangladesh, Thailand or Nepal or overlanding from India.
Bhutan Visa: Your tour operator will apply for you. Taking about 7~10 working days to receive.
A Bhutan trip usually starts from Paro where the Bhutan’s only international airport is located in, then travel eastward to Thimphu and Punakha, which is the most classic itinerary in Bhutan, taking 5~6 days to finish. Never miss the icon of Bhutan - Tiger’s Nest (the symbol of Bhutan) in Paro. If your time is quite limited, you can skip Punakha. If you want an in-depth Bhutan tour, we suggest you extend your trip to Phobjikha, Gangtey, Trongsa and Bumthang in central Bhutan, which costs you about 9~10 days. You can also spend more time in Bhutan to explore more features of Bhutan, such as trekking, birding, Tshechu festival, etc. It is strongly recommended to travel Bhutan with Nepal. Check Nepal Bhutan tours to find a suitable tour or contact us to customize your own unique experience.
☞ 5 Days Bhutan Classic Tour (Paro & Thimphu & Punakha)
☞ 9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour
☞ 12 Days Nepal Bhutan Leisure Vacation Tour Package
Travel with Us
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Our dear guests visiting Bhutan
Bhutan Travel Guide
Most Recommended Bhutan Tour Packages
Following are 3 most recommended Bhutan tour packages that you may be interested in. All tour packages are customizable to meet your personal requirements. You can also contact us to customize a trip if you want.
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9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour
Paro / Thimphu / Punakha / Phobjikha / Trongsa / Bumthang / Wangue Phodrang / Paro
