Overview:

Chimi Lhakhang in Bhutan is a fertility temple located in Sopsokha village in Punakha district. It is about a one hour drive from Thimphu. It was built in 384 A.D by the Tibetan saint Drukpa Kuenley, often called by the affectionate term “Divine Madman” throughout Bhutan. It is believed that the saint was a great teacher and a miracle worker and the temple is filled with his artifacts and statues. The temple is to bless childless couples by offering fertility blessings and pregnancy. The temple is also visited by married couples to overcome infertility. People visit the temple with the expectation that they will be blessed with a healthy child. A two headed metal phallus is worshiped at the temple and its believed that blessing from it will get couples pregnant. The temple is decorated with phallus symbols and has an open atmosphere and entrance with no restrictions on access. Every year thousands of devotees from around the world visited the temple to experience the spiritual energy. The temple celebrates a festival once a year at the end of the monsoon season where people dance and drink alcohol. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Bhutan
Prominent Features:

1. The main attraction of Chimi Lhakhang is a phallus relic that is believed to possess great powers of fertility. 2. A small chapel was built around the phallus relic, which is considered one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Bhutan, and receives many visitors throughout the year. 3. Legend has it that a saint named Drukpa Kunley visited the temple in the 15th century and blessed it with his divine powers. 4. The temple also features a three-storybuilding that contains frescos depicting the legend of Drukpa Kunley. 5. The temple also plays host to a number of traditional festivities including a colorfulfertility ritual in August, wherein newlyweds are blessed and prayers are offered. 6. Aside from the fertility relic, the temple is home to several other unique items such as Drukpa Kunley’s personal items and a set of prayer flags believed to have magical healing properties. This national monument of Bhutan portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Chimi Lhakhang is a fertility temple located in Punakha, Bhutan. It is also known as the Temple of Fertility or the Temple of the Divine Madman. The temple was founded by the great Buddhist teacher, Drukpa Kunley, in the late 15th century. According to legend, Drukpa Kunley used his "magical thunderbolt of wisdom" to subdue a malevolent demoness, Thegim Chosum, who lived in Dochu La mountains in Punakha. After the conversion of Thegim Chosum, she became a female protector of the temple. Originally, the temple was built to enable lay people to worship and be blessed by the divine prankster. Drukpa Kunley himself spent much of his life traveling around Bhutan, helping people by performing spiritual rituals, often accompanied by wild antics that earned him the title of "Divine Madman". Today, Chimi Lhakhang has become a pilgrimage site for childless couples. It is believed that those couples who make the pilgrimage and receive a blessing from beads blessed by the lama at the temple will soon find themselves blessed with a child. The blessing also applies to anyone seeking good luck, wealth, health, or knowledge—all of which are believed to be blessed by the divine madman. Since the 1700s, the temple has been overseen by the Mi-nyag lineage, a series of reincarnated lamas. The temple continues to be a functional monastery that houses around five monks, and visitors to the temple often encounter these highly respected religious figures. Chimi Lhakhang continues to be an important part of Bhutanese culture, representing a fascinating combination of tales, legends, and culture. The temple offers a unique experience to all visitors, offering insight into the country’s past, present, and future. You must visit one of these historical places in Bhutan on your Bhutan tour