Old Monastery

The old temple complex can be reached by a long flight of stairs leading to an entrance gate. A Bhutanese style chorten is placed in front of the temple entrance. The temple is encircled with prayer wheels. The east side of the temple has wooden balconies with carved decorations. The area in front of the west side of the temple was used for religious dances (Tib. 'chams) in honor of Padmasambhava every spring. René Nebesky-Wojkowitz photographed and filmed ritual dances as well as pilgrims circumambulating the temple. Today the dances are being performed on a drained lake outside the temple complex. The masks and hats worn in dances are kept in one of the storage rooms of the temple which the research team was able to document in 2019. The inside of the temple is currently closed to the public due to its dilapidated condition.