Talakha Tashi Drukgyel Monastery — Local services in Gangchhe_Talakha

Talakha Monastery is situated at 3050 m high right above the Semtokha Dzong on a hilltop. The location of the monastery embraces beautiful sceneries of different remarkable temples and lhakhangs of nearby areas. Towards the east we can locate the view of Trashigang Monastery and Thadra Goenpa, towards west the renowned Dangkala Lakhang at Paro, and toward north the mighty Phajoding apart from the beautiful panoramic view of Thimphu city.

The monastery is connected by a feeder road right above Chamgang. It is most ideal to walk from Semtokha Dzong in summer which will take about 1-2 hours since the road is not pliable due to rain. During normal days, travelling by a 4-wheel drive take 25-30 minutes.

Talakha Monastery is considered to be more than 300 years old and it was founded by Trulku Sherab Gyeltshen, the reincarnation of Lama Shacha Gyeltshen. It is also said that the place is the seat of Lam Ngawang Chogyal the great-great grandfather of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

The main relic of the monastery is the sacred Thangkha of Raven. The legend has it that it was painted through the nose blood of Drogon Tsangpa Gyarey Yeshey Dorji, the first Gyalwang Drukpa and founder of the 1000 old year Drukpa lineage. The monastery also has the Buddhist cannon text (Kanjur) which is said to be 300 years old and it also forms one of the main Nangtens (relics) of...

If you want to travel Talakha Goemba as a pilgrimage and adventure, it's better to hike up from Serbithang Royal Botanical Garden.

The trail is well-trodden and well-maintained one. It goes swirling uphill through thick pine forest until the monastery and takes about 1-2 hours.

Since Talakha Goemba is connected with a road, we can get there by a car via Chamgang. However, it's a mere feeder road from Chamgang, and it takes a four-wheeler for an easy ride.

Once reaching Talakha, we get to enjoy the scenic views of Thimphu, including Buddha Point, Thadrak Goemba, Tashigang Goemba, Simtokha Dzong, and also Paro Dongkorla.

The temple is a two-storied with Dhuesum Sangay (Buddha of past, present, and future) and Zhabdrung Nangsey Zilnon as the central figures. It also houses a room of Kanjur written on Dheysho made from a single Daphne tree.

The visit can be made more interesting by taking a packed lunch. The outdoor picnic ground behind the temple now has shelters of...

Talakha Goemba perched at an altitude of nearly 3,100 meters. The Talakha Goemba overlooks the north-south span of the Thimphu valley about 800 meters below. Constructed in the 15th century or earlier, the temple-monastery is also referred to as the Tashi Drukgyal Goemba. According to Thinley, the Department of Culture records that it was established by Lama Shakya Gyaltsen, the guru (teacher) of Azhi Nangsa Yobum. However, as both individuals lived in the 12th century—far earlier than the date of the present buildings—the authenticity of this legend is...