Kurjey Lhakhang

This temple was one of the oldest temple in the country built in 1652 by Minjur Tenpa (great saint) when he was the governor of Trongsa.

The name of this temple originated after the body (kur) print (jey) of Guru Rinpoche, conserved in a cave within these ancient three buildings which made up this temple more complex was discovered.  Under the cave a figure of a snow lion with a jachung(garuda) is carved on the rock which shows the struggle between Guru Rinpoche in the form of garuda and the Shelging Kharpo(demon) in the form of snow lion.

The temple is located at the end of the paved road which is 2.5km from Chakhar Lhakhang(temple). A short walk of around five minutes up to the hillside reaches you to Kurjey Drupchhu (a sacred spring water) where monks comes to clean themselves.

A short distance south of Kurjey Lhakhang is Pelri Lhakhang(temple) where 3D depiction of the bliss of Guru Rinpoche and a wall painting of Ashi Wangchuk enjoying life in the western heaven known as Dewachen is displayed there.

The Kurjey tsechu (annual festival) is held in June where the masked dance dramatizing Guru Rinpoche’s defeat of Shelging Kharpo is displayed in the crowd.  A large painting depicting the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche known as Guru Tshengye Thondrol is displayed early in the morning.