Overview

Changangkha Lhakhang is located at the lower part of Motithang in upper Thimphu, on a small hill overlooking the Thimphu Town below. Changangkha Lhakhang is one storeyed temple, designed in usual temples of Bhutan. Changangkha Monastery was built in 12 th century by Lama Phajo Drukgom Ship, who came to Bhutan from Ralung in Tibet and it is one of the oldest temple in Thimphu. Today, the temple is considered as one of the important temples in Bhutan and has become the monastery where
many religious activities are held. The temple was constructed on a spot, where Guru Rinpoche, who came to Bhutan in 7 th century, settled. The main relic of Changangkha Lhakhang is the Chenrigzi in an 11 headed thousand arms manifestation. There are enormous prayer wheels to spin and even the prayer books in the temple are larger in size than usual Tibetan Texts.
The monastery consists of three main parts; the first one is the area reserved for nuns. The second part of monastery is part which the ashes of Guru Rinpoche are located and it is in the middle. The third part is the main interior part of Temple. Today, the temple is mostly visited by the mother of new born child, as it is believe that the temple is the diety for the child born in Thimphu area.