Tango Monastery Bhutan is located north of Thimphu City. It is just a 14 Km car drive from the main town of Thimphu. It is adjacent to Cheri or Chri Monastery. It is a Buddhist monastery. It was founded by Lama Gyalwa Lhanampa in the 13th century and built in its present form by Tenzin Rabgye, the 4th Temporal Ruler in 1688. In 1616, the Tibetan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, meditated in its cave. The self-emanated form of the wrathful Hayagriva is deified in the monastery. It belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism in Bhutan.
According to local legend, the location of this monastery is the holy place where Avalokiteshvara revealed himself as “the self-emanated form of the Wrathful Hayagriva”. The location had been prophesied in Tibet.
Tango Monastery, Bhutan hike will take you nearly 1 hour 30 minutes (2km) uphill. From Thimphu, it is 14 km by road to reach a point for the Tango Monastery hike. The uphill hike will take nearly one hour and 30 Minutes. After visiting the Tango Monastery you have to follow the same hike route downhill, which will take nearly 40 minutes. While Tango Monastery hike you will find a lot of monasteries before reaching the monastery. We advise visitors not to feed monkeys.
The importance of Tango Monastery, Bhutan goes back to the Phajo Drugom Zhigpo. He was on the visit to the place heard the neighing of a horse coming from the direction of the Tango. He saw a stiff cliff in the form of the god Tandin (horse head or Hayagriva) with burning flames. The deity appeared in front of Phajo Drukgom Zhigpo and prophesied that the place was meant to build a monastery for meditation. The prophecy also mentioned that Phajo Drukgom Zhigpo should marry the Dakini, Khando Sonam Peldon. Finally establishment of the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism in Bhutan. The earliest history also had the importance of Guru Rinpoche’s visit to the place during the 8th century. He also had identified the place as representing the Hayagriva or horse head.
The other important of Tango Monastery was Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal(unifier of Bhutan) first migrated from Tibet to Bhutan in 1616 at the age of 23. It was due to a conflict with Deb Tsangpa of Tibet. When he traveled to Bhutan he was attacked by the Tibetan army. However, due to his tantric art of learning, he subdued his enemies. He finally went into meditation in the caves of the Tango Monastery.
Shabdrung Jigmre Choegyalinstalled golden roof in 19th century. In 1966 AD, the 64th Je Khenpo of Bhutan Jamyang Yeshey Sengyel along with Her Royal Highness the Grandmother Ashi Phuntshog Chodon restarted the Shaydra School of Buddhist Studies. In 1977 AD, Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Kesang Wangchuck reconstructed the monastery with the original structure. The monastery underwent restoration again in the mid-1990s. Now it is currently the residence of the 7th Tri Rinpoche, a young incarnation of Tenzin Rabgye. Today it is the topmost education level monastic school in Bhutan.
The Monastery is built in the dzong structure. It has a semi-circular shape from the outside. It covers the caves where originally meditation and miracles were performed by saints from the 12th century onwards. Behind the series of prayers, wheels are engraved slates. Inside the courtyard is a gallery, illustrating the leaders of the Drukpa Kagyupa lineage.
The monastery was built under the directives of Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye within two months. The monastery has six temples namely, the Trulku Lhakhang, the Choeku Lhakhang, the Longku Lhakhang, the Guru Lhakhang, the Namsey Lhakhang, and the Gonkhang.
On the ground floor of the Tulku Lhakhang where the main deity Buddha is installed, which is made in gold and copper. Buddha statue is nearly 15 feet tall. The sculptor of this statue was done by Panchen Deva of Nepal. A clay Buddha Dipankara cast in medicinal metals and a statue of Maitreya, which is nearly 10 feet tall. You can see 8 chief spiritual sons of the Buddha.
A golden key was discovered by Ngawang Tenzin, in the shape of a horse-head. The Gonkhang is dedicated to the four-handed Mahakala. You can see the skull of a human. Which is said to be that of the Tibetan King Thrisong Detsan.”. On the second floor, you can see the statue of Avalokiteshvara, which was made by Panchen Deva of Nepal. You can see also the statue of Guru Rinpoche and the Namsey Palace.
The third floor is the “temples of Dharmakaya”. You can see the gold and copper statue of Buddha Amitayus. it was also made by Panchen Deva.
The bedroom of Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye is located on the right side of the Tango Monastery Bhutan. Central to this room is an image of Guru Rinpoche. You can see paintings on the walls. The sign of weeping is an expression of sorrow at the demise of Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. There is also the self-made image of Trulku Jampel Yamtsho. Wall paintings are seen on all three floors. There is a natural fountain in the middle of the courtyard.
The four-handed Mahakala at the upper cave was created by the Shabdrung. The fitting place for hermits. You can see a large sandalwood tree. It was a walking stick that was planted by Phajo Drukgom. There is Chorten near the cypress trees where Khando Sonam Peldon died. All her belongings are enshrined in the Chorten.
Cheri Monastery is adjacent to the Tango Monastery. People usually visit either monastery. It is depending upon the choice of hikers to check out the places of visit in Thimphu.