Pangri Zampa Lhakhang

Pangrizampa Lhakhang was founded by lam Ngawang Chogyel. At the site where present Lhakhang is nestled, he built a small temple and name it Druk Phodrangding.

In the 17th century, when Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel came to Bhutan, Lam Kha Nga (a group of five lamas) was ruling almost all the lands of the western Bhutan. After his arrival, gradually he dominated lam Kha Nga, as a result lam Kha Nga left the place and resided at the mountain above the Pangri, from there the name of the place derived. (Pang: Leave. Ri: mountain). The name Pangri is also derived from the Bhutanese word Pang means flat land or ground, Ri means mountain. Other than these two derivations of names the temple is also called Pangri Zamdong because of its location before the Pangri Bridge.

The Lhakhang was built to spread peace and happiness through the practice of Buddhism. Lam Ngagi Wangchuk instituted a retreat centre in the temple. Today, the temple is under a control of the Central Monastic Body and has started an Astrology School in 2003.

The Lhakhang is a building of four storeys, in the olden days the ground floor used to be the storeroom but now it houses a room for the monks, and the upper two floors consist the houses of the teachers and classroom. It is on the top floor the main chapel enshrines. The lhakhang has the abode of Kagyu lamas and a sacred sanctum of guardian deities of Bhutan, Yeshey Gonpo (Mahakala) and Palden Lhamo (Mahakali).

Next to the main lhakhang, lies the Zhabdrung Lhakhang which was built after Zhabdrung’s arrival in Bhutan. It served as his residence. It is believed that during Zhabdrung’s time there used to be a lake beside the lhakhang. The temple is of four storeys. The top floor is used as meditation room by Zhabdrung. Tshomem (Mermaid) of the lost lake is the guardian Deity of the temple.

The main relic of the temple is the statue of the Zhabdrung, which was faced directly to the entrance in the past, but now one can see that it is facing the fast flowing river Wangchu. It is said that the statue turned itself towards the river, saying that in future the time will approach where there will be no one to offer him choep (water offering).

The window which is facing the statue is kept open always as it is believed that the Tshomen (mermaid) comes through the window every dawn to offer choep.

The relics of the lhakhang are the statues of Yabsay Sum, Yab (Father) Tenpai Nyima, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and Ngawang Drakpa, the reincarnation of Jambay Dorji who is the son of Zhabdrung. It has the statue of the deity, the Tshomem. Two sheep skins are hung at the wall of the temple. It is said that sheep were gifted by the people to Zhabdrung when he was on his was on his way to Bhutan. The statues of the Kagyu lamas are the main relic of the temple. Besides it also has the statue of the founder, Lam Ngawang Chogyel.

The cypress tree at the entrance of the temple is also considered sacred. The legend has it that when Zhabdrung was in Tibet, he frequently dreamt of a raven pointing to the south, taking it to a good omen when Zhabdrung headed towards the south, the raven guided him all the way to Bhutan. When Zhabdrung reached the temple, it is said that the raven which accompanied Zhabdrung to Bhutan dissolved in the tree. For that reason, the tree is credited sacred.