Chiu Gompa
吉乌寺
A monastery on a small hill at the northwest corner of Lake Manasarovar, the best spot to overlook the sacred lake and Ghost Lake while gazing at Mount Kailash.
Chiu Gompa (also called Chiwu Monastery, meaning “little bird monastery”) sits on a small red hill between the northwest shore of Lake Manasarovar and Lake Rakshastal. According to legend, Padmasambhava meditated here for seven days, and his meditation cave remains inside the monastery. From the top, you can look east to the bright blue Lake Manasarovar, west to the deep blue Ghost Lake, north to Mount Kailash, and south to Gurla Mandhata, with excellent views in every direction. At the foot of the hill, Chiu village has guesthouses and hot springs, making it the top choice for staying by the sacred lake to watch sunrises and the starry sky. The monastery is within the Lake Manasarovar scenic area, so you need a scenic area ticket. It is about 40 minutes by car from Darchen.
Opening hours
Daytime
Nearby sights
- Gossul Gompa
- Lake Manasarovar
- Lake Rakshastal
- Trugo Gompa
- Darchen
- Zutulpuk Monastery
- Gyangdrak Monastery
- Tarboche Flagpole