The Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery is located on top of a hill overlooking the magnificent Punakha, Toebesa and Wangduephodrang valleys. The temple is a true depiction of Bhutanese construction style expressing rich traditional values dating back to centuries. As you drive up the winding road, beautiful flowers lead you to the nunnery.
The temple complex is home to 14 feet bronze sculpture of Avalokiteshvara. The complex also houses other statues such as the 21 Taras, Padmasambhava, Buddha of Longevity, and Zhabdrung Ngawang.
The Avalokiteshvara statue is popular since it’s the largest in Bhutan and was skillfully crafted by local native artisans.
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery was constructed as a college for training nuns. It’s a double storey temple sanctified by His Holiness Je Khenpo in an event attended by many dignitaries including His Majesty King Druk Gyalpo the fourth, royal family members and hundreds of Punakha people.
The nunnery consists of 70 rooms and started with 41 nuns. Today, the houses are occupied by over 100 nuns. The complex serves as a meditation centre for nuns. In addition to serving as a religious education centre, the complex aims to offer life skill training including Thangka painting, embroidery, tailoring and sculpting.
Competently carved black marble blocks around the stupa displays 16 Arhats, the great lamas of Drukpa Kagyu and the 84 Mahasiddhis lineage giving the complex a unique monastic feature.
The complex’s tranquil ambience offers a perfect atmosphere for tourists to immerse themselves in meditation sessions and take time learning and observing spiritual lives practised by nuns as they equip themselves with various skill training.