Chuku Gompa (Nyenri Monastery)
曲古寺
The first monastery on the outer kora, built into a cliff on the west side of the Lha Chu valley, overlooking the valley and the west face of the sacred mountain.
Chuku Gompa (also called Nyenri Monastery) sits on the western hillside of the Lha Chu valley on the first day of the outer kora. It is one of the four great monasteries on the Kailash kora and belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu school. Built into the cliff, it requires a climb of about 20 to 30 minutes from the valley floor. The hall enshrines a white jade Amitabha statue said to have flown from India. From the platform in front of the monastery, you can see the west face of Mount Kailash and a panoramic view of the Lha Chu valley. Most visitors with limited stamina view it from the valley instead. The first day’s walk from Tarboche to Zhiri Monastery covers about 20 km, and stopping here adds about 1 to 2 hours.
Opening hours
Daytime (open when monks are in residence)
Nearby sights
- Tarboche Flagpole
- Gyangdrak Monastery
- Mount Kailash & Kora
- Darchen
- Dirapuk Monastery
- Zutulpuk Monastery
- Drolma La Pass & Gauri Kund
- Chiu Gompa