Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike Guide - A walk into the mountains
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike was the first thing our host suggested when we asked her about sightseeing in Punakha. While planning my itinerary for Bhutan, I had read about the magnificent views the hike would offer and the Chorten (temple) crafted beautifully in traditional Bhutanese style. On our Bhutanese host’s recommendation, we started our Punakha exploration with the khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike.
We drove for around an hour from our homestay in Wangdue and reached the starting point for the khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike. It was early in the morning, the cold winter sun was warming the Punakha valley. It seemed like a perfect day hiking the mountains of Punakha.
An hour-long hike took us to the four-storey khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten (temple) which was built by the Queen Mother. This temple is dedicated for the well being of Bhutan, protecting the kingdom from evil eyes and for the peace and harmony in the world. With the intricate design and sculptures, the temple was built by Bhutanese craftsmen rather than engineering manuals. It took 9 long years in completing the temple and was built in 2004. We were amazed by the craftsmanship of Bhutanese artists. From the rooftop, the 360-degree views of the Punakha valley’s rice fields and the shimmering river made the hike worth all the sweat.
Don’t miss to add khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike to your Bhutan itinerary. It is away from the Punakha town, giving you ample space and silence to soak and absorb the energy of Bhutan. In this blog, I will tell you everything you need to know for planning the khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike. Pin the Bhutan Travel Map below for later use!
Quick Navigation for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike blog
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike
Inside Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten timings
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten entry fee
Best time to visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Other Attractions near Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten in Punakha
Special Permit for visiting Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and Punakha
Tips for visiting Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike
The base for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike is also the starting point for the famous white river rafting in Mochu river in Punakha. Once you reach the base, you will need to cross a suspension bridge decked up with prayer flags as the starting point for the hike is across the Mochu river. Don’t worry, the suspension bridge is quite sturdy and much smaller than the Punakha’s Suspension Bridge.
After crossing the bridge, you will be in the middle of the beautiful Punakha valleys surrounded by the misty mountains from all directions. The valley is home for rice and potato fields and depending upon the month you go for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike, you will find locals harvesting their fields. My Bhutan trip was at the end of December and we found the valley all golden and brown shimmering with the sunlight. If you are planning for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike for rainy reasons, you will find green valleys covered with the moody clouds.
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike is pretty easy and you will not need a hiking pole, but in case you want to have one to be on a safer side, you can rent the same from the starting point of the hike. There are also restrooms available at this point. You can rent the wooden pole and avail restroom services at nominal charges (Nu 50).
After traversing through rice field edges and curvy mountains, you will finally reach the entrance gate of the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. The entrance is as beautiful as the Chorten itself with colourful flowers making it even more picturesque.
Inside Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Once you have completed the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike, you will reach the main compound where the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is built. At the top, you will find a well-maintained garden, huge Bodhi Tree, colourful prayer wheels and a beautiful four-storey Chorten (temple). The entire space is serene and peaceful.
Inside Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, there are huge statues of Vajrakilaya (A wrathful protective deity of Bhutan) and mysterious colourful 3D sculptures. The deities are protective and seem to be looking everywhere, protecting Bhutan from the evil eyes in all direction.
With a narrow staircase, you reach the temple roof. From the temple rooftop, you will see the 360-degree breathtaking views of the entire Punakha Valley with Mochu river flowing across the mountains. The hour-long hike seems worth it with the panoramic view of the paddy fields and emerald rivers of the Punakha valley.
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten timings
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is open from 6:00 AM till 6:00 PM. You can do Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike within these timings.
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten entry fee
There are no entry charges for khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike. You may donate as per your wish in the temple inside (though that is not mandatory).
Best time to visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
March to May (Spring Season) and September till November (Autumn season) are the best months to visit Bhutan overall and will be the best months for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike.
Late December till early February is really cold and temperature could fall below -5 in some parts of Bhutan. Punakha lies in the lower altitude area of Bhutan and the temperature here will not be as cold as other areas.
Other Attractions near Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten in Punakha
After the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike, you can explore the other attractions in Punakha. Some of the must-visit places I would recommend :
Punakha Dzong
Around 10 km before the starting point for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike, you can see Punakha Dzong, Bhutan’s most beautiful dzong. The Dzong is between Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers of Bhutan and can only be accessed through a wooden bridge.
2. Punakha Suspension Bridge
Punakha suspension bridge is the longest, 520-foot long suspension bridge in Bhutan. The bridge is a walkable distance away from the Punakha Dzong and connects Punakha dzong to the villages across Pho Chhu river.
3. Chimi Lhakhang in Punakha
Chimi Lhakhang, the Fertility Temple of Bhutan, is one of the most popular Lhakhang in Bhutan where women come to seek blessings to beget children. Chimi Lhakhang is around 20 km from the starting point for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike.
4. Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery
The Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery is located on top of a hill overlooking the Punakha and Wangdue valleys. The road to the Nunnery goes through mountains and offers magnificent views. The nunnery has many nuns learning Buddhism and other vocational training like embroidery, tailoring and sculpting. The nunnery is 18 km from the starting point for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten hike.
Special Permit for visiting Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and Punakha
Passport holders from India, Bangladesh and Maldives will need a special permit to visit beyond Thimphu and Paro. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike is in Punakha and will require a special permit which can be made from Thimphu.
If you are coming to Bhutan by paying the minimum tourist fees of USD 250/ USD 200, all the requirements will be taken care of by your tour operators. Just ask them to add Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike in your itinerary.
Tips for visiting Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Wear comfortable shoes for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike as you will be walking uphill for an hour. In the rain, the route to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike will be muddy, so be prepared.
You will need to remove shoes before entering the main temple. Also, photography is not allowed inside the temple.
Wear comfortable cloths for Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike. Also, you need to be covered up at least till your knees as a respect to the deity in the temple as per the local culture.
Do not talk loudly inside the main temple as it is regarded as inappropriate in the culture.
There are no places to eat near Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike. So plan your trip accordingly.
For places to stay and eat near Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, read for travel guide on Punakha here.
I hope you found this Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten Hike blog helpful in planning your Bhutan trip. If you have any more questions, drop them in the comments and I will revert soon.
I would also recommend you to add Bhumtang and Phobjikha Valley to your Bhutan travel itinerary. I have covered some of the lesser-explored monasteries, towns and unseen sides of Bhutan to help you plan a perfect non-conventional itinerary for your Bhutan trip. Read my blogs on Bhutan down below.
Love,
Tanned Travel Girl
