Nyantse Lhakhang

The Lhakhang was established by or Nyangrel Nyima Wozer (1124/1136 - 1192/1204) in the 12th century.

It is said that the lama shot an arrow from Tibet (During those days, most of the Buddhist masters were from Tibet as Buddhism was yet to set its root in Bhutan) to seek his destiny to establish a Lhakhang. Following the direction of his arrow, the lama reached the place. The lama pulled out his arrow only to see holy water gushing out. Thus the place came to be known as CHUMED. "Chu" meaning water and "MED" meaning lower land. The Lhakhang is located at the end of Chumey gewog and the settlements. Today the gewog is better spelled as Chumey. This holy water is located about 40 meters from the lhakhang. According to the locals, the water can cure various illness. There are stories how the holy water has cured warts of many people. The holy water is preserved with a wooden box and the water looks fresh and clean.

According to Karma Tenzin, a local from Nangar who now lives in Thimphu, the initial structure was a two-storied temple which was dark and old. The present structure was constructed by the villagers about two decades ago. The lhakhang looks more like a two-storied Bhutanese house. The ground floor is used as store. On top floor, one can pay homage to statues of Buddha in the center with Guru Rimpoche on the right and Chhagtong Chhentong (Thousand eyed-armed form of Chhenrizig) on the left. A statue (about 1.5 feet) of the

The holy water

 founder is kept on the alter for veneration. A small room next to the choesham serves as the Goenkhang (Inner sacred sanctum). The room holds the huge Phurpa (Religious dagger) curved out of wood by the founder and his religious hat but they are locked up in a safe. The rooms is the residence of Aap Sodha (the local deity). Any children born in the village worship Aap Sodha as their deity. In the second month of Bhutanese month, the villagers offers a three days feast to their local deity. People believe that Aap Sodha is even superior than Aap Gyenyen, the deity of Dechenphug in Thimphu. 

Walking about seven minutes from the Lhakhang toward Nimalung Dratshang, pilgrims can see a huge rock. The rock is believed to be the 'Terdom' or the 'Treasure box'. Continuing the journey for about seven minutes more, one
is greeted by a temple-like structure which hold inside a huge rock. According to the oral history, once when HH Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoche was travelling in car on the highway, HH pointed to the place and told his attendants that he need to visit the place. Once at the place, HH identified the rock as a treasure box signifying the sacredness of the rock and the place. It is said that 

The Khandro Dhayig

The locals  claim that only a small portion of the rock was visible above the ground before it was excavated to reveal the whole. The rock has mantra-like letters curved on it. The locals claims that, these are Khandro Dhayig (Secret messages written by the dakinis). Furthermore, one of the local said that some great lams who visited the rock 

suggested that the rock might have flipped due to a land slide as the writings seems to be upside down. They also claim that a lama visited the rock few years back and reveled a treasure although no one has seen the treasure. 


The great Buddhist master Kenchen Jigme Phuntsho is also said have visited and blessed the lhakhang and the place. The caretaker informed that many great lamas and pilgrims from Tibet come to visit the lhakhang thus magnifying the sacredness of the place. 

To get to the lhakhang, one can stop your car above Nangar village and walk toward the community lhakhang that you will see from the highway. From the lhakhang, one must walk toward the chumey river and cross a suspension bridge. The other option is, drive toward Ura from the Nangar junction and turn right after 200 meter. The road ends at community crematorium. Park you car there, and it just takes 7-8 minutes to reach the Lhakhang.  


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