Dumtse Lhakhang

Bhutan

Shaped like a chorten and climbed by ladder-steep stairs, this temple leads you floor by floor from the depths of hell to the serenity of heaven.

Rising in an unusual tower form on the Paro valley floor, Dumtse Lhakhang is among the most remarkable of all temples in Bhutan. Attributed to the great iron-bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo in the 15th century, its three storeys are said to represent hell, earth and heaven, ascended by steep interior stairs. Within, the walls hold some of the finest religious murals in the country — a shadowed, candlelit gallery of Buddhist iconography that rewards slow, careful looking. Unlike the grand dzongs nearby, Dumtse Lhakhang Paro offers an intimate, atmospheric encounter with Bhutanese Buddhist temples and their sacred art. Among the more contemplative things to do in Paro, Dumtse Lhakhang Bhutan lingers in the memory. Plan your visit via the official Bhutan Tourism portal: bhutan.travel.

March to May and September to November, when clear valley weather makes the temple and surrounds most pleasant to explore.

Access to the interior can be restricted and photography inside is prohibited, so go with a knowledgeable guide who can arrange entry and interpret the murals — carry a torch, as the chapels are deliberately dark, and dress modestly as a mark of respect.

This attraction can be easily woven into BreakBag Holidays' customised Bhutan tour packages, pairing Dumtse Lhakhang with Rinpung Dzong, the National Museum and the wider Paro valley.

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