Kurjee Zangdopelri: A Sacred Jewel of Bhutan
Discover the spiritual heart of Bhutan at Kurjee Zangdopelri, a serene Buddhist temple surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.
Kurjee Zangdopelri is one of the most significant Buddhist temples in Bhutan, located in the picturesque town of Jakar. This sacred site is renowned for its spiritual significance and breathtaking surroundings, drawing both pilgrims and tourists alike. The temple is dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, the revered figure credited with bringing Buddhism to Bhutan, and is believed to be the location where his body is said to have left an imprint. As you approach the temple, you will be greeted by lush landscapes and the serene sound of nature, enhancing the peaceful atmosphere that envelops the site. The architecture of Kurjee Zangdopelri is a fascinating blend of traditional Bhutanese style and intricate craftsmanship. The temple complex features beautiful murals and statues that depict various Buddhist teachings and stories. Visitors can wander through the temple grounds, taking in the stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, making it a perfect spot for reflection and meditation. The temple is often less crowded than other tourist attractions, allowing for a more intimate experience with the spiritual heritage of Bhutan. When visiting Kurjee Zangdopelri, it's important to be respectful of the local customs and traditions. Visitors are encouraged to dress modestly and maintain a quiet demeanor within the temple grounds. It is also a great opportunity to learn from local monks, who often share their insights into Buddhism and the temple's history. Whether you are seeking spiritual solace or simply want to appreciate the beauty of Bhutanese culture, Kurjee Zangdopelri promises a rewarding experience rich in peace and enlightenment.
Local tips
- Visit early in the morning to experience the tranquility and avoid crowds.
- Respect local customs by dressing modestly and speaking softly while inside the temple.
- Take time to explore the surrounding nature trails for breathtaking views of the landscape.
- Engage with local monks for deeper insights into Buddhist teachings and the significance of the temple.
A brief summary to Kurjee Zangdopelri
- HPMJ+QQV, Jakar, BT
Getting There
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Car
To reach Kurjee Zangdopelri from Pemagatshel by car, start on the main road heading north towards Jakar. Follow the signs for Jakar and continue driving for approximately 3 hours. The road is well maintained, but be cautious of sharp turns and occasional landslides. As you approach Jakar, look for the location marked as 'HPMJ+QQV'. Parking is available near the temple, but it can fill up quickly, so plan your visit accordingly.
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Public Transportation
If you prefer public transportation, catch a local bus from Pemagatshel to Jakar. Buses typically leave every hour from the central bus station. The journey will take around 3 to 4 hours, depending on road conditions. Inform the driver that you are going to 'Kurjee Zangdopelri' or 'HPMJ+QQV' so they can drop you off at the closest stop. From there, it is a short walk to the temple. Be sure to check the bus schedule for return trips.
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Taxi
For a more convenient option, you can hire a taxi from Pemagatshel to Kurjee Zangdopelri. The fare will vary, but expect to pay around 3,000-4,000 Ngultrum for a one-way trip. The taxi will take you directly to the temple, allowing you to enjoy the scenic drive. Ensure that you arrange for the taxi to wait for you or schedule a return trip, as taxis may not be readily available in the area.
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Walking
Once you arrive at the closest drop-off point (either by bus or taxi), you may need to walk to the temple. The distance from the nearest stop to Kurjee Zangdopelri is approximately 1 km. Follow the local path signs toward the temple, which should be well marked. The walk is relatively easy and provides an opportunity to enjoy the local scenery.
Attractions Nearby to Kurjee Zangdopelri
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Kurjey Lhakhang སྐུ་རྗེས་ལྷ་ཁང་།
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Tamshing Lhakhang གཏམ་ཞིང་ལྷ་ཁང་།
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Könchogsum Lhakhang དཀོན་མཆོག་གསུམ་ལྷ་ཁང་།
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Jamphel Lhakhang བྱམས་་པ་ལྷ་ཁང་།
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Airport Viewpoint A
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Airport viewpoint B
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Chokhor Chorten
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Thangbi Lhakhang ཐངས་བི་ལྷ་ཁང་།
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Bumthang Brewery Red Panda Beer
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Bumthang Valley
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Jakar Dzong བྱ་དཀར་རྫོང་།
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Jakar Nagtshang
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Padtselling Monastery
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Jakar Lhakhang
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Chamkhar Bridge ལྕམ་མཁར་ཟམ་པ།
Landmarks nearby to Kurjee Zangdopelri
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Do Zam
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Six Senses Bumthang
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Rinchenling Lodge རིན་ཆེན་གླིང་སྐྱིད་གནས།
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Valley Cafe
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Bumthang Domestic Airport བུམ་ཐང་ནང་འཁོད་གནམ་གྲུ་ཐང་།
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Wangdicholing mortuary
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Hotel Ugyen Ling ཨོ་རྒྱན་གླིང་ཟ་ཁང་།
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Amankora, Bumthang
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Mountain Resort
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Bumthang Swiss Cheese
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Swiss Guest House Bumthang, Kharsumphe
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Chudzong
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Phuntsho Guest House
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Jakar Village Lodge