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Ngenglung Drechagling Lhakhang

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Ngenglung Drechagling Lhakhang, locally known as Gela Lhakhang, is located in Gela village in the Phobjikha area of Wangdue Phodrang. The lhakhang is few minutes drive from Gangteng monastery. The Lhakhang is traditionally associated with Kuenkhen Longchen Rabjam (Longchenpa, 1308–1364), one of the most influential philosophers and contemplative masters of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Drachaling is believed to have been established in the 14th century and is traditionally regarded as one of the eight principal “ling” or spiritual seats associated with Longchenpa in Bhutan. According to local tradition, Kuenkhen Longchen Rabjam visited the area during his travels and identified the hill above the present Lhakhang as resembling a sleeping elephant. Ngenlung Drechaling (the walking stick of Longchenpa is highlighted) He is believed to have erected his walking staff upside down on the hill as a prophetic sign. Over time, a cypress tree is said to have grown from the staff. The t...
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Khewang Lhakhang

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Khewang Lhakhang is a sacred and historically significant temple located on the plains of Phobjikha Valley, Wangdue Phodrang. Situated on the valley floor, approximately 15 minutes by car from Gangteng Monastery, the lhakhang is one of the important religious sites in the Phobjikha region. It is also a community-owned lhakhang.  Khewang Lhakhang Khewang Lhakhang is traditionally associated with Kuenkhen Longchen Rabjam (Longchenpa) and his disciples. Longchen Rabjam is said to have had countless disciples, among whom were three principal disciples. One of these was Trulku Penjor Gyeltshen, who is traditionally regarded as the founder of Khewang Lhakhang.  The temple is traditionally believed to have been established not only as a place of worship but also as a sacred site for subduing harmful forces and protecting the local community from misfortune, disease and other disturbances.  The Meaning of “Khewang” The name Khewang is believed to have originated from the local d...
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Baylangdra Ney (The Hidden Land)

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Introduction Baylangdra Ney is a sacred Buddhist site located approximately 21 kilometres from Chuzomsa along the Wangdue–Trongsa Highway. The journey to Baylangdra Ney involves travelling through a scenic and spiritually significant landscape. The chorten at Kathok Yoesel Samtenling Monastery. The Baylangdra Ney can be seen on the background.  From the old monastery of His Holiness Kathok Rinpoche, visitors can walk towards the ney along a concrete footpath. The hike is a rewarding experience, taking visitors through the woods and allowing them to enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings before reaching the sacred site. Baylangdra is regarded as one of the important sacred places associated with Guru Rinpoche and several renowned Tertons (Treasure Revealers). The site is believed to possess extraordinary spiritual significance, and numerous masters are said to have meditated and revealed treasures here. The name Baylangdra is derived from the words Bayuel, meaning "hidden land...
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A Review of The Restless Relic by Karma Tenzin "Yongba"

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There is a quiet, fierce power in how a culture protects what it holds sacred, and that is exactly the heartbeat of Karma Tenzin’s The Restless Relic . Written under his pen name, "Yongba," Karma Tenzin doesn’t just write a crime thriller; he channels his real-life experience as a retired Bhutanese police officer to give us an authentic, inside look at a world rarely seen in mainstream fiction. The story takes place in the striking, deeply spiritual landscape of Bhutan, contrasting sharply with the sterile, wealthy world of New Jersey. Enter James Carney—a millionaire collector whose obsession with rare antiquities has blinded him to any sense of morality. When Carney manages to illicitly purchase a priceless, sacred Buddhist relic from Bhutan, he thinks the hard part is over. But he severely underestimates his opponent. Bhutan has some of the strictest heritage protection laws on Earth. And surprisingly, the relic belongs to an important monastery in the highland which is s...
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The Housewife- A Book Review

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Chador Wangmo was born in 1981 and comes from Tashigang, the eastern part of the country. She is one of the most prominent Bhutanese novelists and children's book authors who transitioned from a career as a school teacher to a full-time writer. Her entry into adult fiction was deeply personal. She turned to writing novels with her debut "La Ama... a mother's call," a book dedicated to her late mother. Chador Wangmo was awarded the prestigious SAARC Literary Award by the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) for her contributions to regional literature, in 2023. She is a frequent speaker at international and regional literary events notably Bhutan Echoes as well as in other countries. She is one of the most respected writers in the country, writing for both children and adults alike. Her latest book, "The Housewife," was published in 2026 by her bookstore, Miza Books. The book has 206 pages divided into chapters to provide concise connections ...
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Tharnang Lhakhang

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Tharnang Goenpa (Lhakhang) was established by Gelong Jabthangpa (Wangpo) around the 19 th century. The place where the lhakhang stands is believed to have been blessed by Lam Jangchu Tshendru, the root teacher of Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel (Father of the First King of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck). The present Goenpas is believed to have been built by Gelong Jabthangpa, whose descendants still own the Goenpa. The lama lived in the village which lies at the base of the hill. Every morning at about 3 in the morning, when the lama offered his prayers, he saw the sun shining on the hill where the Goenpa today stands. So, one day, the lama visited the place with some of his students and blessed it with a small stupa built with stones. Tharnang lhakhang It was during the lama’s pilgrimage to Trongsa that he met with Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel. It is said that Jigme Namgyel sought advice from the lama on his decision to become a monk under the lama. However, the lama told him that he would ne...
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Guru Lhakhang

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 As a Buddhist nation, Bhutan is dotted with many blessed places. The country is also blessed with monasteries and temples established by great masters and communities to benefit sentient beings. One such place is the Guru Lhakhang in Begana, Thimphu. According to the caretaker, the great master Jamyang Chokyi Lodre requested the Dalai lama to construct a huge Guru Nangsel Zyelnon in Potala in Tibet. This, as prophesied by the master, was to protect Tibet from external threats.  As the time was running out, HH the Dalai Lama constructed a smaller version of the statue in the hope that a larger one would be built later. Later in 1959, Tibet was conquered by China, and HH the Dalai Lama and Tibetans fled the country for their safety. A group of people settled down in the present place as refugees. It was during this time that His Majesty the late Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck commanded the Tibetans who had temporarily settled in different places in Bhutan to come to Begana a...
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