About Jampa lakhang

It is believe that the Jambay Lhakhang was built on the same day as 108 other Lhakhang (Lhasa in Tibet and Kichu Lhakhang in Paro) by the Tibetan king Songsten Gampo to sub due an ogress.The temple has had restorations and renovations carried out by Guru Rimpoche, Sindhu Raja as well as the first King of Bhutan. Inside the main chapel there are three stone steps, which represent the three stage ages. The first step signifies the age of the Buddha of past. This step has sunk into the ground, as the age is past. The second step represents the present age Sakyamuni or historical Buddha . The highest step represents the new age. It is believed that when a step sinks into the earth the age it represents also passes.

Jampa Lhakhang Drup (Festival)

Although the origin and purpose of the festival cannot be exactly determined, the Jampa Lhakhang Drup is regarded as one of the most ancient and sacred of all festivals in the region. The tradition of people from this area is to congregate in a spirit of piety and festivity on the 15th day of the ninth month of the Bhutanese calendar. The well-known historian on Bhutan, the late Dr. Michael Aris, pointed out that this ancient festival retained some remnants of the old Agricultural New Year, which falls at the winter solstice and which has almost disappeared from this part of the country.