Tango Monastery
རྟ་མགོ་དགོན་པ་
A monastery on a hillside north of Thimphu, home to a Buddhist college. It takes about an hour to hike up, and it is one of Bhutan's key centres for advanced Buddhist education.
Tango Goemba sits on a mountainside about 14 km north of Thimphu, at an altitude of roughly 2,800 metres. Desi (regent) Tenzin Rabgye, the fourth in line, expanded it into its present form in 1688. Its name means 'horse head', in reference to the horse-headed wrathful deity Hayagriva, who is its main deity. Today it is one of Bhutan's most important Buddhist colleges, and young monks can often be seen debating and chanting. The monastery's semicircular layout follows the contours of the mountain, and its architecture has a timeless quality. From the parking area at the foot of the hill, it takes about 45 to 60 minutes to climb the forest stone steps, with views over the Thimphu Valley along the way. It can be combined with Cheri Monastery on the opposite mountain for a half-day hike. Getting there: about 30 minutes by car from the city centre to the foot of the hill. Note: photography is not allowed inside the temple. The altitude is high, so slow down on the uphill sections.
Opening hours
Daytime (check on site)
Nearby sights
- Cheri Monastery (Chagri Dorjeden)
- Tashichho Dzong
- National Institute for Zorig Chusum
- Folk Heritage Museum
- Motithang Takin Preserve
- Centenary Farmers Market
- Changangkha Lhakhang
- Clock Tower Square & Norzin Lam