Chagri Monastery, Buddhist monastery in Thimphu Valley, Bhutan.
Chagri Monastery rises on a hilltop at 2,585 meters in the Thimphu Valley and displays stone walls with traditional elements of Bhutanese religious buildings. The site consists of several structures arranged around a central courtyard area.
Ngawang Namgyal founded the first Drukpa monastic community in Bhutan in 1620 and spent three years in strict meditation at this location. The monastery marks an important point in the spread of this monastic tradition across the country.
The monastery serves as a teaching center for the Southern Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school, keeping traditional Buddhist practices alive. Pilgrims and believers visit this place to participate in rituals and learn from the monks.
Visiting requires a steep uphill walk along a mountain path that takes about one hour, starting from the northwest end of Thimphu Valley. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when weather conditions are most stable.
The surrounding hills are home to goral populations, a native goat-antelope species that inhabits the monastery's mountainous terrain. These rare animals can sometimes be spotted from the hiking route.
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