Part of our complete guide to monasteries in Bhutan.
Above Dochula Pass — already one of Bhutan’s most photographed stops, marked by its field of 108 memorial chortens — a quieter trail climbs deeper into the mountains toward a monastery most travelers never reach. Lungchuzekha, also known historically as Longzer Gonpa, or “Radiance of Space,” sits on a forested ridge with some of the most sweeping Himalayan views in the country, reachable only on foot, through a forest of rhododendron, hemlock, and juniper.
A Monastery Built to Guard the Kingdom
Lungchuzekha was founded in the first half of the 18th century by Terton Drukda Dorji, a treasure revealer — a recognized category of Buddhist teacher believed capable of discovering hidden spiritual texts and relics concealed centuries earlier by Guru Rinpoche. Drukda Dorji was a contemporary of Druk Rabgye, Bhutan’s 8th Druk Desi, who ruled from 1707 to 1719, placing the monastery’s founding firmly within Bhutan’s early consolidated state.
According to local tradition, this particular ridge was identified as a place destined to help subdue future obstacles and hindrances facing Bhutan — Drukda Dorji built the temple and installed an image of Guru Rinpoche here specifically for that protective purpose. The project had a patron from Sha Ruebesa, a village in Wangdue Phodrang, and in a small, personal touch of devotion, the Guru Rinpoche image inside the temple was deliberately cast facing toward the patron’s home village, so he could direct his daily offerings toward it from a distance. An iconographer named Phugey is remembered as part of the original construction.
The Hike
The trail begins near the 108 chortens at Dochula Pass, climbing steadily into rhododendron forest — a genuinely spectacular stretch in spring, when the trees bloom in shades of white, pink, and deep red. After roughly ninety minutes of climbing, with some steeper sections along the way, the trail reaches a fork: left continues to Lungchuzekha, right descends toward Trashigang Goenpa. Depending on the exact route and pace, the full hike runs anywhere from three to five hours round trip.
The elevation gain is real — Lungchuzekha sits at roughly 3,566 to 3,800 metres depending on the source, and the climb is consistently rated as moderate to difficult, requiring a genuine level of fitness rather than a casual walk. Trail conditions turn muddy in summer, making it a poor choice for hiking with young children during monsoon season.
The reward at the top is substantial: on a clear day, the ridge offers a sweeping panorama of Bhutan’s highest peaks, including Jomolhari, Gangkhar Puensum — the world’s highest unclimbed mountain — and several other 7,000-metre summits stretching across the horizon, a view widely described as more dramatic than what’s visible from Dochula Pass itself.
The Optional Extension: Trashigang Goenpa
Many hikers use the same trail fork to extend their day with a visit to Trashigang Goenpa, a separate historic monastery reachable from the same junction. Trashigang holds its own layered history — a three-storey structure of wood and rammed earth housing statues of several former Je Khenpos (Bhutan’s Chief Abbots), including a revered relic said to be the skull of a horse belonging to the 12th Je Khenpo, regarded as an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Local tradition holds that a distinctive warmth is said to emanate from his statue inside the temple. The monastery has served as a meditation retreat for numerous senior Bhutanese religious figures over the centuries, and remains an active spiritual site today.
Best Time to Hike
Spring, particularly during rhododendron bloom, offers the most visually spectacular version of this hike. Autumn provides the clearest mountain visibility for the summit panorama. Summer monsoon months are best avoided given the muddy trail conditions.
Practical Tips
- This is a genuine moderate-to-difficult hike — come with reasonable fitness and, ideally, a day or two of altitude acclimatization already behind you.
- Wear proper hiking boots; the trail becomes slippery in wet conditions.
- Bring layered clothing — temperatures shift noticeably between the trailhead and the exposed ridge near the summit.
- Consider extending the day to include Trashigang Goenpa if time and stamina allow.
- A licensed Bhutanese guide is mandatory for all hikes in Bhutan, and genuinely useful here given the trail fork and the layered history of both destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Lungchuzekha Monastery?
It was founded in the first half of the 18th century by Terton Drukda Dorji, a treasure revealer contemporary with Druk Rabgye, Bhutan’s 8th Druk Desi (1707–1719), with the site identified as a place to help protect Bhutan from future obstacles.
How long is the hike to Lungchuzekha?
The hike from Dochula Pass takes roughly three to five hours round trip, climbing through rhododendron and hemlock forest to an elevation of approximately 3,566–3,800 metres.
What can you see from Lungchuzekha?
On clear days, the ridge offers sweeping views of Bhutan’s highest peaks, including Jomolhari and Gangkhar Puensum, the world’s highest unclimbed mountain.
Can I visit Trashigang Goenpa on the same hike?
Yes — the trail forks partway up, with one branch leading to Lungchuzekha and the other to Trashigang Goenpa, a separate historic monastery many hikers combine into the same day.
This monastery is one of many sacred sites covered in our complete guide to monasteries in Bhutan. Explore more hikes in our Trails Hub.
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