Background

The Serene National Memorial Chhorten: A Beacon of Bhutanese Culture

Explore the National Memorial Chhorten, a majestic Buddhist temple in Thimphu that embodies the spirit and culture of Bhutan.

4.5

The National Memorial Chhorten in Thimphu stands as a symbol of Bhutanese Buddhism and culture, inviting tourists to explore its stunning architecture and spiritual significance. This revered site, built in memory of the third king of Bhutan, is a must-visit for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the country's rich traditions.

A brief summary to National Memorial Chhorten རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་རྗེས་དྲན་མཆོད་རྟེན།

  • FJ8Q+J47, Chhoten Lam, Thimphu, Chang Khorlo, BT

Local tips

  • Visit during early morning or late afternoon for the best lighting and fewer crowds.
  • Respect local customs by dressing modestly and observing quietness within the temple.
  • Take time to spin the prayer wheels; it is a meaningful part of the experience.
  • Bring a camera to capture the stunning architecture, especially during sunrise or sunset.
  • Consider joining a guided tour to gain deeper insights into the history and significance of the chorten.
widget icon

Getting There

  • Car

    If you are traveling by car, begin your journey in Lhuntse District. Take the road towards Thimphu, which is approximately a 5-6 hour drive depending on traffic and road conditions. Upon reaching Thimphu, follow the signs to the city center. Once in the city center, navigate towards Chhoten Lam. The National Memorial Chhorten is located at 'FJ8Q+J47, Chhoten Lam, Thimphu'. There is parking available near the monument.

  • Public Bus

    For those using public transportation, first, take a bus from Lhuntse to Thimphu. The bus ride typically lasts around 5-6 hours. Once you arrive in Thimphu, you can take a local taxi or a city bus to Chhoten Lam. Inform the driver of your destination (National Memorial Chhorten) and expect a small fare of around 100-200 Ngultrum for the taxi ride. Local buses may cost less but check the schedule as they may not run frequently.

  • Taxi

    If you prefer a more direct route after arriving in Thimphu, you can hire a taxi from the bus station. Negotiate the fare beforehand, which should be around 200-300 Ngultrum. The taxi will take you directly to 'FJ8Q+J47, Chhoten Lam, Thimphu', where the National Memorial Chhorten is located. This is a convenient option if you are traveling with luggage.

  • Walking

    Once you are near Chhoten Lam in Thimphu, the National Memorial Chhorten is easily accessible by foot. From the nearest bus stop, it is a short walk of about 10-15 minutes. Follow the signs that lead to the Chhorten, and enjoy the local scenery along the way.

Unlock the Best of National Memorial Chhorten རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་རྗེས་དྲན་མཆོད་རྟེན།

Buy tickets

    No tickets available

Book tours with entry

    No tours available

Book tours without entry

    No tours available

Discover more about National Memorial Chhorten རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་རྗེས་དྲན་མཆོད་རྟེན།

Nestled in the heart of Thimphu, the National Memorial Chhorten is an iconic Buddhist temple that serves not only as a place of worship but also as a symbol of peace and stability in Bhutan. Built in 1974 in honor of the third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, this chorten is a stunning representation of traditional Bhutanese architecture, showcasing intricate designs and vibrant colors that reflect the country's rich cultural heritage. As you approach, the sight of its towering spires and golden finials invites visitors to step into a realm of spiritual tranquility. Upon entering the grounds, you will find locals and visitors alike circumambulating the chorten—a practice known as kora—while spinning the prayer wheels that line the path. The atmosphere is imbued with a profound sense of serenity, making it an ideal spot for reflection and meditation. As you wander around, take a moment to admire the detailed murals and statues that adorn the interior, each telling a story of Buddhist teachings and philosophy. The National Memorial Chhorten is not just a tourist attraction; it is a living monument to the faith that binds the Bhutanese people together. The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sunlight casts a golden glow over the chorten, enhancing its beauty. Additionally, the surrounding gardens are perfect for a leisurely stroll, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and peaceful ambiance. Whether you are a spiritual seeker or simply an admirer of beautiful architecture, the National Memorial Chhorten promises an enriching experience that captures the essence of Bhutan’s spiritual and cultural landscape.

Popular Experiences near National Memorial Chhorten རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་རྗེས་དྲན་མཆོད་རྟེན།

Popular Hotels near National Memorial Chhorten རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་རྗེས་དྲན་མཆོད་རྟེན།

Select Currency