Best of Bhutan

Bhutan Essentials

This selection features Bhutan’s architectural and natural heritage, ranging from the 7,326-meter Jomolhari peak to the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang. It includes the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens at Dochula Pass and the 15th-century fertility temple of Chimi Lhakhang. The list also covers the ancestral Dungkar Choeje Nagtshang in Lhuentse and the Oesel Choeling Monastery in Rangjung, highlighting the kingdom's sacred sites, Himalayan summits, and historic noble estates.

Christopher Fynn / CC BY-SA 3.0

Jomolhari

Jomolhari or Chomolhari sometimes known as "the bride of Kangchenjunga”, is a mountain in the Himalayas, straddling the border between…

Druk Wangyal Chortens (108 Chortens)

Located at Dochula Pass (3,100m), these 108 memorial stupas were commissioned by the Queen Mother to honor Bhutanese soldiers. The site offers panoramic views of the Masanggang and Tsendagang Himalayan peaks.

Chimi Lhakhang

A 15th-century monastery dedicated to Drukpa Kunley, known as the "Divine Madman." It is a renowned pilgrimage site for fertility blessings, characterized by traditional phallus symbols painted on the walls of the surrounding village.

Arian Zwegers / CC BY 2.0

Jambay Lhakhang

The Jampa Temple or Temple of Maitreya is located in Bumthang in Bhutan, and is said to be one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan King…

Kyichu Lhakhang

One of Bhutan's oldest temples, built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. It houses a sacred 7th-century statue of Jowo Jampa and an inner courtyard containing a second temple added in 1968.

Franzfoto / CC BY-SA 3.0

Oesel Choeling Monastery

Oesel Choeling Monastery is a Buddhist monastery in Bhutan. It is located in the village of Rangjung, on the left bank of the Gamri Chhu,…

Dungkar Choeje Nagtshang

A historic manor house and castle in the Kurtoe region, recognized as the ancestral home of Bhutan’s Wangchuck dynasty. The structure is a significant example of traditional Bhutanese noble architecture.