thimphu changangkha lhakhang

Changangkha Lhakhang is one of the oldest and most significant temples in Bhutan, perched on a ridge overlooking Thimphu valley. Built in the 13th century, it serves as a spiritual hub for the local community and holds immense religious, cultural, and historical value.

The temple is dedicated to Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig), the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and houses a revered statue of him in his eleven-headed form. Families often visit the temple to seek blessings for their newborns, as it is believed to be a guardian temple for children born in Thimphu1.

Architecturally, Changangkha Lhakhang showcases traditional Bhutanese craftsmanship with intricate carvings, murals of Buddhist deities, and large prayer wheels that devotees spin to release prayers into the universe. The temple complex includes a main temple, a Gönkhang (protector temple), and a courtyard with a shrine dedicated to a mermaid spirit.