When most travelers think of Bhutan, the “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” they picture cliffside monasteries, Gross National Happiness, and the pristine Himalayas. But beneath Bhutan’s serene surface lies a weirder, wilder side—a spiritual and surreal landscape peppered with phallic monuments, ghost-infested valleys, and unexplained anomalies. Forget your Lonely Planet. Here’s where things get strange.

1. The Temple of the Divine Madman – Chimi Lhakhang (Punakha)

Forget solemn monks and silent prayer wheels—this is a fertility temple built in honor of Drukpa Kunley, the “Divine Madman,” a 15th-century saint known for blessing women with his penis. Literally. Phallic symbols are painted on houses throughout the village of Sopsokha, guiding pilgrims and tourists alike to the shrine. Inside, women are bonked on the head with a 10-inch wooden phallus to boost their chances of conceiving. In Bhutanese culture, it’s sacred. In Western eyes, it’s deliciously absurd.

2. Burning Lake of Tang Valley (Mebar Tsho, Bumthang)

It’s not technically a lake, and it’s definitely not burning—but it once did, according to legend. Here, the revered saint Pema Lingpa leapt into the churning river with a lit butter lamp and emerged completely dry—lamp still aflame, carrying sacred texts. Locals say the water sometimes glows, particularly during festivals. Visitors report strange feelings, flashes of light, and whispers echoing over the water. Paranormal or placebo? Either way, you’ll leave shivering.

3. The Corpse-Eating Demon Fortress – Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo (Haa Valley)

Nestled in the isolated Haa Valley, these twin temples were supposedly built by angry demons and a talking crow. Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) represents the guardian deities of Bhutan, while Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple), constructed over a black hole in the ground, was built to trap a malevolent spirit that fed on corpses. The Black Temple is dark, ominous, and rarely visited. Locals avoid walking there at night—especially during ghost month.

4. Phobjikha Valley’s Wandering Spirits

This glacial valley may look idyllic, with black-necked cranes and misty marshes, but Bhutanese shamans say it’s crawling with roaming spirits. The valley is known for its energy vortexes, unexplained mood shifts, and ancient cremation grounds. If you’re feeling extra brave, ask a local guide about the “Night of the Hungry Ghosts,” when entire villages lock their doors and windows—because something walks the valley that isn’t human.

5. Bhutan’s ‘Suicide Cliff’ That No One Talks About – Wangdue Phodrang’s Hidden Drop

This unmarked cliffside trail outside Wangdue Phodrang is whispered about in local lore. Said to be a place of “voluntary transition,” some elderly monks come here to meditate—forever. There’s no official marker, but travelers speak of stone altars, rotting beads, and tattered robes left behind. Bhutan’s culture of reincarnation frames death differently, but the atmosphere here is heavy with finality and silence.

6. Haa’s Underground Spirit Caverns

Not officially mapped and almost never mentioned in guidebooks, the underground caves of Haa are believed to be homes of subterranean deities, tse. Monks have been known to enter and meditate for days, emerging changed—or not at all. One small entrance, hidden behind a monastery near Dumcho Dzong, leads into a limestone belly filled with bone relics and forgotten offerings. No lights. No paths. Only echoes.

7. The Dancing Corpse Festival (Jakar Tshechu Variation)

Bhutan’s festivals, or tshechus, are vibrant affairs, but in Jakar (Bumthang), there’s a lesser-known variation where masked dancers reenact an undead ritual. One specific dance shows a corpse being animated by a demon, only to be exorcised by monks mid-performance. It’s creepy, comedic, and deeply symbolic. You won’t find it in glossy brochures, but locals treat it with both laughter and awe.

A Country Where the Weird is Sacred

In Bhutan, weirdness isn’t a quirky footnote—it’s foundational. The sacred and the surreal walk hand in hand, from wooden phalluses that ward off evil to cliffs that whisper final farewells.

While most Bhutan signature tours showcase the country’s serenity and spirituality, these offbeat destinations prove that the extraordinary thrives in its shadows.

So, come for the Gross National Happiness. Stay for the ghost caves, fertility rituals, and demon traps. When it comes to things to do in Bhutan, the strangest stops might just be the most unforgettable.