The Jambay Lhakhang or Jampa is the temple of Maitreya. It is located in the Bumthang valley of Jakar. From Paro, it takes nearly 9 hours car drive. You can take a direct domestic flight from Paro to Bumthang. The time taken is 30-45 minutes. The Lhakhang is one of the 108 temples built by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in 659 CE. It was built on a single day. It was built to suppress the ogress. Temples were built over her body parts that spread over Tibet, Bhutan, and nearby areas. Jambay Lhakhang is believed to fall on her left knee. Among 108 temples that were built within a single day, the best known were Jokhang in Lhasa, Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro, and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang. This temple was put into restoration by Sendha Gyalpo after the Guru Rinpoche cured him when he was fallen sick.
Among small temples which come under 108 were Kongchogsum in Bumthang, Khaine in Lhuntse, and two temples in Haa District.
Inside the temple, you can see the statue of future Buddha, Jowo Jampa (Maitreya) from which the temple got the name. The Temple also got a hundred statues of the Gods of the Kalachakra. The First King of Bhutan Gongsar Jigme Wangchuk was built in order to commemorate the victory over his rivals after the battle of Changlimithang in 1885. Ashi Wangmo, the younger sister of the Second King of Bhutan, added the Chorten Lhakhang.
Every year during October the Temple witness a renowned Festival called Jambay Lhakhang Drup. The Jambay Lhakhang Drup. It is an interesting and best festival in Bumthang valley because of the uniqueness of night hours. It is three days Festival.
The five-day festival is marked by many colorful dances and rituals, of which the highlight is the ‘Terchham’ or the ‘Naked Dance’ and the ‘Mewang’ or ‘Fire Blessing’ (which, besides rendering protection from bad luck and misfortune, is also believed to help sterile women conceive). True to its name, the dancers are indeed naked except for a small piece of cloth which they use to cover their faces with. The dances are performed by the locals who are specifically hand-picked by the Lama in consultation with the village elders. The dance is said to have been introduced in accordance with an 8th-century prophecy by Tertoen Dorji Lingpa (yet another prominent Treasure Discoverer). Legend has it that the people in the locality were attempting to build a temple, but all their attempts were thwarted by evil spirits and demonic forces. It was in order to distract them that the rather outrageous dance was introduced. The legend goes on to say that the ruse worked, the evil spirits remained distracted throughout, and the temple was successfully completed.