Temple · Buddhist
Jambay Lhakhang
Maitreya Buddha (Jamba)·659 CE (traditional founding)·Bumthang
One of Bhutan's oldest temples, built in the 7th century and host to the famous fire festival each autumn.
Dedicated to
Maitreya Buddha (Jamba)
Period
659 CE (traditional founding)
Hours
Daylight hours
Admission
Free
Neighborhood
Chokhor Valley
Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang is one of 108 temples said to have been built in a single day by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in 659 CE to pin down a demoness obstructing the spread of Buddhism. Whether or not the founding legend is literal, the temple is genuinely ancient and holds deep significance in Bhutanese religious life. The annual Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival, held in October or November, features the famous naked fire dance (Mewang) and torch-lit ceremonies that draw pilgrims and visitors from across the country. The temple sits in the broad Chokhor Valley amid buckwheat fields, near several other important Bumthang sacred sites.
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