Kyichu Lhakhang Bhutan is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. It was built in 659AD by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo. It is one of the 108 temples he built in Bhutan. The main reason for the construction of the temple was to pin down ‘the left foot of the Ogress’, which was going against the establishment of Buddhism in the Himalayas. Kyichu is said to be one of the main 12 temples out of the 108 temples that were built overnight across Tibet and borderlands. it was built on the left foot of giant Ogress. It was built within a day. It is considered “a secret jewel of Bhutan”.It is north of Paro Town 7 kilometers car drive from the main town Paro.
Guru Padmasambhava concealed many spiritual treasures in this monastery. In 1644 the temple was taken over by Ngawang Namgyal. The 25th Je Khenpo Sherab Gyaltshen(1836 to 1838) temple was restored and re-consecrated. In 1971, the queen of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Kesang Choden Wangchuck built a Guru Temple next to the old Temple which was consecrated by Dilgo Khyentse. Every year annual rites are performed for the deities Vajrasattva, Palchen Heruka, and Vajrakilaya. It is meant for the well-being of the country.
HRH Ashi Kesang Wangchuck built Guru Lhakhang in 1968 adjacent to the main Jow temple. The Guru statue measures a 5meter height of the statue of Guru Rinpoche and Red Tara holding a bow and arrow made of flowers. To the right of the Guru Rinpoche statue, you can see a chorten containing the ashes of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He was Nyingma Buddhist master and spiritual teacher of the Queen Mother. He died in the year 1991 and his remains were cremated here. You can see the statue of Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche also on the left side. Here you can see the display of some old photos of the fourth king’s grandmother and the first king of Bhutan. The beautification of Bhutanese carved wooden pillars with snow lions that support the flower pots.
In the main Lhakhang, you can see the 7th-century statue of Jowo Sakyamuni. In front of the statue, you can see the worn-out wooden floors due to prostrations for ages. The wooden floor of the main temple is with stones and gems. You can see Chenrizig with 11 heads and 1000 arms inside the main temple. It is closed but you can see it from the window. Once in the while, it is open to the public. The main door is superbly gilded with images of curling dragons.
Once you enter the entrance of the temple you can see a lot of prayer wheels spinning and the mark of the footprinted on the wooden steps. Inside the inner courtyard, there is a painting of the King named Gesar of Ling on the wall just near the entrance. The king was a renowned warrior in Tibet. The epic poem is the longest in the world according to history. There is a belief that the two orange trees in the courtyard of Kyichu Lhakhang bear fruit throughout the year.
You will find elderly people are often walking around the temple as to sin the prayers wheels around the temple.
Timings : 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM,
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
No Entry Fee is required while entering the Lhakhang. You need to maintain silence inside the temple.