Tharpaling Monastery

Bhutan

High on a cloud-wrapped mountainside, where monks have withdrawn to meditate for seven centuries, the valley falls away beneath you and the world grows very quiet.

Perched at around 3,600 metres on the slopes above the Chhume valley, Tharpaling Monastery is one of Bhutan's most important centres of meditation and Buddhist learning. Founded in the 14th century and closely tied to the great Tibetan master Longchenpa, it has long drawn monks and meditators to its remote, contemplative heights. Often veiled in drifting cloud, the monastery commands sweeping views over the valley below, its whitewashed buildings terraced up the hillside amid the murmur of prayer. Among the more spiritually resonant monasteries in Bhutan, Tharpaling Monastery Bumthang offers rare stillness. As one of the country's revered meditation centres in Bhutan, Tharpaling Goemba Bhutan ranks high among things to do in Bumthang and places to visit in Bumthang. Plan your visit via the official Bhutan Tourism portal: bhutan.travel.

March to May and September to November, when clearer skies and dry roads make the high mountain approach safest.

The monastery is reached by a rough, steep mountain road, so travel in a sturdy vehicle and allow extra time — go in the morning before cloud builds for the clearest valley views, carry a warm layer for the altitude, keep quiet near meditating monks, and dress modestly to enter.

This attraction can be easily woven into BreakBag Holidays' customised Bhutan tour packages, pairing Tharpaling with the Bumthang temples, valleys and Jakar Dzong.

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