Tamshing Lhakhang

Tamshing Monastery – A Sacred Heritage Site in Chokhor Valley, Bumthang

Located just 5 kilometers from Jakar town in Bhutan’s Chokhor Valley, Tamshing Monastery (Tamshing Lhündrup Chholing) stands as one of the most spiritually significant and historically rich temples in the country. Overlooking the Kurjey Lhakhang across the Chamkhar River, this humble, single-story monastery is deeply integrated into the daily religious life of the surrounding village communities.

Founded by the revered saint Pema Lingpa in the early 16th century, Tamshing Monastery is the spiritual heart of the Pema Lingpa lineage within the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. A unique architectural feature of the temple is its main altar, which is constructed as a separate structure at the center of the ground floor. The altar contains three sacred seats, representing Pema Lingpa’s body, speech, and mind incarnations.

The monastery is also notable for its original wall paintings, believed to have been created by Pema Lingpa himself. These sacred images have never been restored, preserving their authentic historical and artistic value. Inside the temple, visitors will also find significant statues of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), flanked by Jampa (the future Buddha) and Sakyamuni (the historical Buddha).

As a living place of worship and a repository of Bhutanese spiritual heritage, Tamshing Monastery continues to attract pilgrims, scholars, and devotees who seek a direct connection to the teachings and legacy of Pema Lingpa.