Jambay Lhakhang is one of the oldest and most revered temples in Bhutan, located in Choekhor Valley in Bumthang. According to Bhutanese tradition, the temple was built in 659 AD by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo as part of a remarkable project to construct 108 temples across the Himalayan region in a single day. Jambay Lhakhang was built to pin down a demoness whose body was believed to obstruct the spread of Buddhism. The temple has been restored and expanded several times, although its innermost chapel preserves the character of the ancient shrine. It is regarded alongside Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro as one of the two oldest surviving temples in Bhutan.

The interior is where Jambay Lhakhang reveals much of its character. The main sanctuary houses Jampa, the future Buddha Maitreya, whose image is regarded as the principal relic of the temple. He is surrounded by eight standing bodhisattvas, while the inner circumambulation passage contains old murals depicting the Thousand Buddhas. Other chapels contain images of Guru Rinpoche, Avalokiteshvara and figures from the Buddhist pantheon. The complex also has a Kalachakra chapel, where more than a hundred Kalachakra deities were installed during the reign of the first King, Ugyen Wangchuck. Above the main entrance is a small chamber traditionally identified as the place where Guru Rinpoche meditated during his visit to Bumthang. Four chortens mark the corners of the temple complex, and the courtyard becomes the setting for the famous Jambay Lhakhang Drup, when masked dances, the Mewang fire blessing and other rituals draw pilgrims from across Bhutan.

Jambay Lhakhang is located in Choekhor Valley, around 15 minutes by car from Jakar. The temple sits close to the road, so visitors only need a short walk to reach the entrance.

Altitude: Approx. 2,600 m
Distance from Jakar: Approx. 7 km| 15–20 minutes
Walking time: Short walk from the road