Overview:

Jambay Lhakhang, also referred to as the 'Temple of Maitreya', is one of the most ancient and most sacred Buddhist temples in Bhutan. Located in the Bumthang Valley in central Bhutan, this holy site is believed to have been constructed by the great Buddhist master Padmasambhava in the 8th century. According to legend, the four-faced Jambay Lhakhang was built to subdue a local deity, who in turn became converted to Buddhism. The temple thus became one of the essential pilgrimage destinations in the region. Jambay Lhakhang hosts several regular festival events including the Jambay Lhakhang Drup, an annual eight-day dance festival during which visitors can watch performances of a variety of sacred Buddhist masks, an event which draws thousands of devotees from all over the world. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Bhutan
Prominent Features:

1. Jambay Lhakhang is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, believed to have been constructed in 659 AD by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. 2. It houses many sacred sites including the revered relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and Kundrolling Khandro Dorji Phalmo. 3. A major festival known as the Jambay Lhakhang Drup or the Jambay Lhakhang Tshechu is held here every year in the sixth or seventh month of the Bhutanese calendar. 4. The temple features many unique architectural elements, such as an extraordinarily tall goenkhang (protector shrine) and two large recesses for statues of the two protectors Hayagriva and Avalokitesvara. 5. There is a small cave on the grounds known as the “Cave of the Great Power” (or Gyalwang drupa Tsam Chorten) in which Guru Rimpoche meditated for three months in 812 AD. 6. It also houses an impressive atrium filled with several statues and murals that illustrate the history of Bhutan's relationship to Tibet. 7. It is the main site for the annual Naked Dance Festival, as well as for the annual circumambulation of the temple by Buddhists. 8. The main attraction is a large golden boulder sitting in the central mandala under a gold roof. The boulder is said to contain the relics of Guru Rimpoche that were placed here by him in the 8th century and said to be where the Dharma found in Bhutan emanated. 9. The surrounding landscape is also an important feature of the temple, with two hills facing each other on each side that aid in meditation and a number of other sacred sites such as the Nyima Lhakhang. This national monument of Bhutan portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Jambay Lhakhang is an ancient temple of the Drukpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism located in the Bumthang Valley of Central Bhutan. It is one of the 108 Temples of Dharma constructed by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century CE. According to legend, one of King Songtsen Gampo’s consorts, Princess Mandarava, brought Jambay Lhakhang’s foundation stone with her from her home country of Oddiyana. The temple was initially constructed in the 7th century but it has since been destroyed several times. In the 8th century, King Sindhu Raja of Bumthang, Bhutan’s oldest monarchy, renovated the temple and as per his descendants, blessed the monastery. The temple complex has a pagoda with unique four corner towers, a two-story main temple, and several other temples, chapels, and shrines. In the 17th century, Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of Bhutanese monarchy and national identity, renovated Jambay Lhakhang and made it the crown jewel of Bhutanese Buddhism. Jambay Lhakhang is also known for its annual festival, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup which is held in the 9th month of the Bhutanese Calendar. The festival is one of the most popular in the country and attracts thousands of devotees from across the globe. You must visit one of these historical places in Bhutan on your Bhutan tour

Interesting facts:

1. Jambay Lhakhang is one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in Bhutan. 2. It was built by the King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in 659 A.D. as part of the 108 temples in the Himalayan region to avert the evil spirits and spread Buddhism in the region. 3. It is located in the Punakha district, about 3 kilometers away from the Punakha dzong. 4. The temple was destroyed due to fire by a attacking Bhutanese Army in 1891 and was later restored by the Bhutanese government in the 20th century. 5. It is home to many important statues and artwork that date back to the 8th century. 6. A masked dance known as the Jambay Lhakhang Drup is performed at the temple each year during the architecture annual festival in October or November. 7. It is believed that couples who do a religious kora at the temple are never separated. 8. The Jambay Lhakhang holds a special place in Bhutanese culture and has been a pilgrimage site for many centuries. Visit one of the famous monuments of Bhutan with your friends and family.