Yarchen Gar, Buddhist monastery in Baiyü County, China.
Yarchen Gar is a Buddhist monastery in western Sichuan positioned at approximately 4,000 meters elevation across a valley landscape. A flowing river divides the settlement into separate residential sections for the thousands of residents living here.
The Buddhist teacher Lama Achuk Rinpoche founded this religious settlement in 1985 as a place for learning and practice. The community expanded rapidly afterward, attracting thousands of practitioners seeking to study and live according to these teachings.
The monastery teaches according to Nyingma school traditions, and nuns make up the majority of residents practicing here. Daily rituals and religious ceremonies shape how the community lives and moves through the settlement each day.
Visitors must obtain permits and register with local authorities before entering, as the site operates under strict access regulations. It is advisable to check current visiting conditions in advance and arrange required documentation beforehand.
Some nuns living here practice an intense meditation technique called Tummo during cold winter months in isolated cabins on surrounding hillsides. These retreats occur in sub-zero temperatures, demonstrating the extreme conditions chosen for deep spiritual practice.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
