Pangri Zampa Monastery

Pangri Zampa consists of two buildings from the early sixteenth century standing among large cypress trees on the valley floor north of Thimphu, and it has particular significance because the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal stayed here after arriving in Bhutan from Tibet in 1616, before the state he founded took shape. Today it houses the national school of astrology, where monks train in the calculation of the Bhutanese calendar, the timing of festivals and ceremonies, and personal horoscopes, which remain widely consulted for weddings, journeys and naming. Astrologers here are approached by ordinary people for readings. The buildings themselves are modest and the visit is short, but the working function is unusual and gives the site more interest than its architecture alone.

What you actually see

• The two old temples - early sixteenth-century buildings among cypresses.
• The astrology school - monks training in traditional calculation.
• Calendar work - the practice that sets festival and ceremony dates.
• The Zhabdrung association - the site of his early residence in Bhutan.

When to go

March to May and September to November for the valley. The school works on ordinary days, so weekdays show more activity. The visit takes under an hour and combines with Tango and Cheri further up the road.

Honest expectations

The buildings are small and architecturally modest. Access to the school depends on whether teaching is in session and on the guide's arrangements. Photography inside is not permitted. It is a short stop rather than a destination.

Nearby

Tango and Cheri lie north; Thimphu is south.