If you are religious by heart, make sure that you visit this place atleast once in a lifetime!
Tamchoe Monastery ‘Offering Picturesque Backdrops’
Aligned at an elevation of 2,156 m Tamchoe Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan. Also known as Tachog Lhakhang, it is located along the Paro-Thimphu highway. Built by Thangtong Gyalpo in 1420, the most iconic feature of it’s an iron bridge across the Pa Chhu River by which you can reach to this monastery.
A day trip to Lhakhang will give you the opportunity to explore an iconic iron bridge and a shimmering river flowing below the bridge! Sounds wow, right? Yes, it is.
Ways to Reach Tamchoe Monastery!!
By air- The easiest way to reach Paro is by taking a flight from your town to Paro International Airport. At the airport, you will get several hired cars at affordable charges to reach your destination.
Distance from Paro International Airport to Tamchoe Monastery- 5 km
By rail- If you want to reach Bhutan on the rail track, firstly you have to reach the nearest railheads i.e. New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. And then you opt for a cab or taxi to reach Tamchoe Monastery.
An Insight into Its Rich History!!
‘There is also an interesting history lies behind any majestic monument.’
The name of Tamchoe means ‘temple of the hill of the excellent horses’. It is believed that the builder of this Lhakhang, i.e. Thangtong Gyalpo had a vision of the spiritual horse, i.e. ‘Balaha’ during his meditation. And then he decided to build a spiritual temple on behalf of this vision and named it Tachog Lhakhang.
A Charismatic Glimpse of Tamchoe Monastery!!
‘The beauty of Lhakhang will overwhelm you.’
It is surrounded by many fruit trees such as orange & apple that adds more beauty to it. The people around this monastery, who take care of this temple, can also be seen caring for their cattle.
The Rich History of Iron Bridge!!
According to history, the original form of this bridge was built in 1400 by Thangtong Gyalpo in order to easily access Tamchoe Lhakhang. Later, this bridge was destroyed by the high water and a suspension bridge took place of the iron bridge.
Tips To Make Note of!!
We have mentioned two points that you should keep in mind during the trip-
- You need to seek permission from the monks to enter Lhakhang.
- While crossing the iron bridge, you need to be careful as it acts a lot like a trampoline.
If you wish to visit other alluring places in Bhutan, you can avail car rental service for Bhutan tour to get an unforgettable experience!
Popular FAQs-
Q. Which is the best time to visit Tamchoe Monastery?
A. The best time to visit Tamchoe Monastery is from March to May.
Q. What is the opening hour of Tamchoe Monastery?
A. The opening hours of Tamchoe Monastery are from 8 am to 5 pm.