Overview

Kichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. It is located short distance north from the Paro Town. The temple is popularly believed to have been built in 659 AD by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet, to subdue the “the left foot of supine Ogress’, which was threat to the establishment of Buddhism in Himalayas Region. Kyichu is said to be one of the main twelve temples of the 108 temples that were built overnight across Tibet and border land. The temple was adopted by the various sects and many important Buddhist teachers. The inner hall lf the main Jowo Lhakhang shrine conceals the original 7 th century jowo Jamba statue. Its central image of Jowo Jamba is flanked by the eight standing bodhisattvas and by the statue of Zhabdrung and Guru Rimpoche. The outer hall of the Jowo contains statue of Chenrizig with 11 heads and 1000 arms and attached to Jowo Lhakhang is Guru Lhakhang temple, which was constructed by the Queen Mother Ashi Kesang Wangchuk in 1968 and main relic is 5m statue of Guru Rinpoche. Kichu Lhakahng has a stupa containing the ashes of Late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a highly revered Buddhist Master and spiritual teacher of Queen Mother, who passed away in 1992.