Kyichu Lhakhang: Bhutan’s Prettiest Temple

The world’s happiest country is not only blessed with gorgeous nature, beautiful mountains and friendly people, but it is also home to some amazing temples that are a storehouse of history, culture and creativity. One such temple is Kyichu Lhakhang, my favorite temple in Bhutan and one that I would like to call the prettiest temple in all of Bhutan.



This prettiest temple of Bhutan is decked in various hues of blues and captivates your attention right from the get go. Built in the 7th century, it is one of the oldest monasteries of Bhutan and over the course of its 1300 plus years of existence, it has been blessed by many saints and eminent personalities. It is believed to have been built overnight as a small temple, and its architecture is believed to have evolved over the last 1300 years to its current standing as an architectural marvel.

Its beauty begins even before you enter the temple premises. The pristine mountain landscape with the beautiful valleys below set the tone for a fabulous location. And then there are the two orange trees in the temple courtyard that bear fruit all through the year. And then there is the gorgeous blue of the temple, its 7th century statue of Jowo Sakyamuni, its statue of Chenrezig with 1000 arms and 11 heads, its beautiful wall frescoes and its colorful prayer wheels.



I would recommend this gorgeous blue temple in a heart beat. It would appeal to all kinds of people, whether their interests lie in nature, temples, art, culture or simply wanderlust. Kyichu Lhakhang is a place that ought to be in your Bhutanese holiday itinerary at all costs. May be, you could plan a holiday to the happiest nation and its oldest monastery this spring season. Let me know what you think of it.



How to get there:

Kyichu Lhakhang is about 10 kilometers from Paro and can be easily approached by car. The nearest airport would be Paro International airport. In case you are traveling from Thimphu, it is about 70 kms or a 90 minute drive.

The nearest place to stay, eat, drink and shop would be Paro. One can also opt to hike from Paro to Kyichu Lhakhang. The hike should take you about an hour or so and passes through some beautiful landscapes.

Temple timings: 9 am to 12 noon, 1 pm to 5 pm

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Travel Photo of the Day: Kyichu Lakhang, Bhutan

One of the prettiest Buddhist monasteries that I have set my eyes on, this rich BLUE monastery is an absolute revelation. Situated near Paro and not very far away from the famous Tiger’s nest, the 7th century Kyichu Lakhang of Bhutan is steeped in rich culture. It is believed that Padmasambhava hid many spiritual treasures here during his visit in the 8th century. The temple is definitely small, but its murals portray a very big and elaborate history through stories from Himalayan Buddhism. My favorite past time is to rotate these colorful prayer wheels and soak in their positive vibrations.

Note: Click on the photo to share it or to download a higher resolution as your desktop wallpaper.

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Kyichu Lakhang: The Delightful Blue Temple of Bhutan

This temple built in the 7th century is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. And it holds a lot of spiritual importance for the people of Bhutan as they believe that Guru Rinpoche (the founder of Tantric Buddhism) visited this temple and meditated here for a long while.


But, that is not the thing that appealed to me the most. The fact that the insides of the temple are completely decked in blue blew my mind away as I had never seen such bright colours in a Buddhist temple and the murals inside the temple just accentuated the blues so very well.


This temple is located just outside Paro at about a 15 minute drive away. It can either be visited alone from Paro or can be coupled with a visit to the Taktsang monastery as both these attractions happen to be in the same direction.


As with most of the Buddhist temples in Bhutan, one cannot take photographs inside the Kyichu Lakhang. In fact, you won’t feel like doing anything but sitting inside and staring at the statues, the murals and the paintings. The rich colours and gold completely overpowers you.


Just as soon as you enter the temple compound, you will see two orange trees with big orange fruits on them. It is believed that these orange trees bear fruit all year around. This is one of those temples you should not miss while visiting the Paro area of Bhutan.

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