Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, Punakha | Bhutan Attractions

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, Punakha Overview

Located after a hike of 45 minutes from a small hill having a beautiful prayer wheel, Khansum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is a spectacular site to visit because of the beautiful view of the surroundings that it offers. It has a very rich history as to why it was built and it is a pleasure to hear it from one of the local guides. It is adorned with beautiful paintings of Sakyamuni, which makes this chorten a must watch.

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Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

Duration of the Hike: The Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike takes around 45 to 50 minutes. It starts at Punakha and ends at the monastery.

Best Time: You can opt for a hike to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten throughout the year, anytime between 6 am till 6 pm.

Hiking Trail: The trail takes you through picturesque green meadows, humongous mountain streams, and over the suspension bridge above the Mo Chhu River, to reach your destination. While returning from the Chorten, you can take up the optional route along the riverside, which follows the ancient trail through the village homes, farmlands and finally reach near Punakha.

This additional hike takes around two hours, but it is stunning and a must-try route for all those who enjoy country views and bird watching.

Architectural Brilliance of the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is beautiful to look at, and a lot of effort went into building this one. It took nine years to complete the construction of this Chorten as the Bhutanese craftsmen (which includes painters, carpenters, and sculptors) consulted the various Holy Scriptures rather than ordinary engineering manuals for building this three-storey monastery in Punakha, Bhutan.
As the monastery is focused on the furious deities, which is a concept that might seem a little strange, the architecture of the place is largely influenced by this. The main room on the first floor of the monastery has a huge, 15 feet tall statue of the Vajrakilaya, who is one amongst the eight gods of Kagye.
Several other statues and shrines of such wrathful deities can also be found on the other two floors. Each one of them offers protection against all the evil forces in the world. And to balance these furious deities, there are a series of Yab-Yum figures (commonly known as father-mother symbols in the union that represents the union of compassion and wisdom) on the walls.
Finally, on the rooftop floor, there’s a golden statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in his most classic pose. The statue looks serene and is faced towards the south that surveys the magnificent view across the Punakha Valley.

History of the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

The Chorten or Stupa was built in the year 1990, by the Queen Mother, to ward off evil forces and help to bring peace to Bhutan and the whole world. The stupa overlooks the Punakha Valley is said to have the power to bring harmony and prosperity to all living things.

The Chorten was built in strict accordance with all the traditional teachings of Bhutan. The definite intention to bring peace and communal harmony in Bhutan and the world makes this place an essential part of Bhutanese culture. It can also be termed as a place of education or a monastic retreat to deliver spiritual peace, protection and harmony.