Chimi Lhakhang (Fertility Temple)

Bhutan

A gentle path winds through emerald rice paddies to a small hilltop temple where hopeful couples come from across the world seeking a very particular blessing.

Set on a rise amid the rice fields of the Punakha valley, Chimi Lhakhang is one of the most beloved and unusual temples in Bhutan. It honours Drukpa Kunley, the 15th-century "Divine Madman," a saint whose irreverent, unconventional teachings challenged convention and whose symbolism gives the temple its fame as a place of fertility blessings. Couples hoping for children come to receive a blessing from the resident lama. The approach, on foot through paddies and a village whose houses are painted with bold traditional motifs, is half the charm. As the celebrated Fertility Temple Bhutan and Divine Madman temple, Chimi Lhakhang Punakha is among the most memorable things to do in Punakha and finest places to visit in Punakha. Plan your visit via the official Bhutan Tourism portal: bhutan.travel.

March to May and September to November, when mild weather makes the walk through the rice fields most pleasant.

The gentle paddy-field walk from the village takes around 20 minutes each way, so wear comfortable shoes — go in the morning light for the prettiest field views, dress modestly to enter, and approach the temple's traditions with genuine respect for the couples seeking blessings there.

This attraction can be easily woven into BreakBag Holidays' customised Bhutan tour packages, pairing Chimi Lhakhang with Punakha Dzong, the suspension bridge and the Punakha valley.

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