Kyichu Lhakhang

Dubbed as the Sacred Jewel of Bhutan, the temple houses many precious relics. The inner courtyard conceals a mural portraying King Gesar of Ling. Beyond the exquisite gilded door, the inner hall of the main Jowo Lhakhang conceals an original 7thcentury statue of Jowo Sakyamuni, believed to have been cast at the same time as its famous counterpart in Lhasa, which easily qualifies it as the greatest treasure in the valley. The Guru Lhakhang contains statues of Guru Rinpoche and Kurukulla or the Red Tara. Outside the hall of the shrine is a statue of Chenrizig or the God of Compassion. The cloisters that fortify the temple foster a contemplative space populated by fruit trees and prayer wheels, which monks and devotees spin quietly as they circumambulate the sacred space. Adding in no small measure to the spiritual worth is a Chorten or Stupa containing the ashes of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, the revered Nyingma Buddhist Master and Spiritual Teacher to The Queen Mother.

– Breath Bhutan – Kyichu Lhakhang