CHANGANGKHA LHAKHANG

Changangkha Lhakhang is a 800-year old temple, constructed in the 12th-century in Bhutan which is visited by a large number of locals daily. The Changangkha Lhakhang temple is entrenched profoundly into the native culture and levies and is a crucial part of the local community. There are magnificent prayer bells in the outer region of the temple scripted with black and gold manuscripts. Along with two beautifully embedded gigantic prayer wheels adds to the appearance of the temple and it is one of the best places to visit in Thimpu and it must be part of your Bhutan tours from India.

Changangkha Lhakhang is a 800-year old temple, constructed in the 12th-century in Bhutan which is visited by a large number of locals daily. The Changangkha Lhakhang temple is entrenched profoundly into the native culture and levies and is a crucial part of the local community. There are magnificent prayer bells in the outer region of the temple scripted with black and gold manuscripts. Along with two beautifully embedded gigantic prayer wheels adds to the appearance of the temple and it is one of the best places to visit in Thimpu.

The wonderful temple firms the statuette of thousand-armed Avalokitesvara and great holy scriptures. The local people visit the temple to seek out the sanctifications of deity Tamdrin for their kids and request the monks to title a name to their newborn baby. You can bido Ngultrum, snacks, biscuits, incense, and whiskey as an offering.  

This beautiful temple is just 2.5 km from the Thimphu clock tower. The temple offers a glorious view of the town straggle all over the place; the temple trail is also called the “back kora”. The locals practice back kora when they visit the pilgrim. The town people loop around the temple on the traveler path during the sunset time. 

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How To Reach

- By Road:

You can book a cab or hire a taxi from the airport to reach Changangkha Lhakhang. This is the best and easiest way to reach Changangkha Lhakhang Temple. The perfect way to explore the city is to rent cars or vans usually to visit the attractive places in the beautiful city of Bhutan. 

- By Bus:

You can travel on buses from Thimphu to Changangkha Lhakhang Temple. Frequent buses are running from the Paro airport to Changangkha Lhakhang Temple.

There is no railway to reach Changangkha Lhakhang. It is better to book a taxi or travel by car. However, the best way to travel to the temple and the nearby place is through hiring a taxi which is the most convenient way to travel in the city.

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Best Time To Visit

Best time to visit the place starts from April to June when the climate is pleasant and great to explore the city.

- Spring (March, April, May)

Spring is considered as one of the best times to visit Bhutan. You can visit the locale during the spring season and indulge in local flora and fauna, as the weather is wonderful, which makes it an ideal month to plan a trip to Bhutan.

- Fall Season (September, October, November)

Fall is considered to be the jam-packed season for Changangkha Lhakhang. It is a perfect time to visit this serene temple. Relish in the Thimphu Festival which is celebrated at the end of September or early October.

- Summer (June, July, August)

If you want to go on Changangkha Lhakhang considers visiting Bhutan during the first week of June. June is the perfect month to travel the place, as the Monsoon generally starts in July which makes it ideal to explore the place without any hassle. So, you must book a ticket to Bhutan during summers and relish your vacation by visiting Changangkha Lhakhang Temple.

- Winter (December, January, February)

If you are a person who loves tranquillity then, winter would be the time to go. To clasp the mesmerizing view of Himalayan without paying the extra price, ponder visiting Changangkha Lhakhang temple in December.

The temperature will be comparatively pleasing as it will experience the lowest temperature near the end of January. 

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Other Essential Information

The temple offers a breathtaking view of the place, you will get to know about the picturesque location and architecture of the temple. One must visit this temple to learn about the Bhutanese culture.

- Opening Hours- 6 am to 6 pm. The morning time between 6:00-8:00 am and 5:00-6:00 pm

- Nearby Attractions: Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, Bhutan Museum.

- Location: Changangkha Lhakhang Footpath, Street Sevina Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan

- How to Reach:  You can travel to Paro from your destination by air and then hire a taxi to reach Thimphu.

- Entry Fee: No fee is applicable.

- Average Temperature- The average temperature during winter varies between 5–15 °C and summer temperatures vary between 15–30 °C.

- Visiting Duration- 30 Minutes.

- Distance from Nearest Airport- The temple is at a distance of 51.6 km from Paro airport In Bhutan. When you are travelling by shuttle or bus, it will take around 1 h 24 min via Thimphu Hwy and Phuentsholing - Thimphu Highway.

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History of Changangkha Lhakhang

Bhutan’s oldest religious temple Changangkha Lhakhang was constructed in the 12th century. The sacred location was selected by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo, a saint who came to the country from Ralung, Tibet. Although the foundations work started in the 12th century, Shigpo unremitting work till the end of the 13th Century.

The architecture of Changangkha Lhakhang -

Changangkha Lhakhang is a monastery built in the form of a fortress resting on an edge above central Thimphu. Inner shrine is used for a popular naming ceremony where children are blessed by phurba and a sacred thread. There is a statue inside the temple which stands tall in the centre with thousand eyes & hands, and eleven heads known as Avalokitesvara made up of bronze with a coating of gold.

Parents of newborns come here and on the basis of date and time of birth as per the astrological aspect, local astrologers give a suitable name to the newly born child . That's the reason why this temple is known as the ‘name-giving temple’. It has a striking 11-headed statue of Lord Avalokiteswara, where these name giving ceremonies are done. 

The temple is separated into three integral parts. The first section is to learn the Buddhist classes. Another two sections are committed to Guru Rinpoche and his followers, and also serve as a meditation hall for the local monks.

The golden plated roof capped at the top is an absolute pleasure to see at night. The design is simple and inspired by the old Bhutanese architecture. The location is picturesque and tranquil as the mountains stand in the background of the temple. 

Prayer Timings of Changangkha Lhakhang

The Changangkha Lhakhang Prayer timings starts from 11 AM to 5PM, on weekends, the prayer time at Changangkha Lhakhang starts from 11 AM to 4 PM.

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