Lhakhang Nagpo is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan and is located in Dumchoe Village. Built in the 7th century, it’s a short drive from Haa Valley. The temple is also known as the black temple owing to its distinctive grayish black walls and exhibits deep horizontal slits of red and white. It is smaller than the nearby white temple. Rituals are performed on special occasions here.

Lhakhang Nagpo needs a short drive and a ten minute walk from north of the Lhakhang Karpo (the black temple). This is the spot that the black pigeon chose. Built on top of a lake, the Lhakhang Nagpo owes its name to its colour (black) in the middle of a tranquil green lush forest.

Apparently people go to the white temple to pray about good things and visit the black temple to pray for forgiveness of bad things. Inside the temple is a small pool associated with the Buddhist protector Mahakala.

According to one legend, rays of light emanated from the body of Chogyal Songtsen Gampo to this place and Lhakhang Karpo was built where the bright rays fell and Lhakhang Nagpo where the dark rays fell. Another legend has it that a white pigeon and a black pigeon, emanations of Songtsen Gampo, flew to this place from Tibet and landed where the two temples were built. Lhakhang Nagpo was established by King Songtsen Gampo in his mission to build 108 monasteries in one day. The temple was named Nagpo (black) as it was built on the site where the black pigeon landed.

A third account has it that these temples were built by three groups of people who emerged from the nearby three brother hills of Haa, known as Miri Phunsum. The principal relic of the monastery is the Choe-Lung-truel Sum.