Tango and Cheri monasteries are placed on steep hills facing one another and are located in the Northern valley of Thimphu.
The monastery was initially founded in the 12th century by Lama Gyalwa Lhanampa as a monastic school. Similarly, the Cheri Monastery was founded by Phajo Drugom Zhipo and serves as a meditation center. Tango Lhakhang is known as the residence of a venerated reincarnate lama recognized as the seventh reincarnation of Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. ADClong side the Lhakhang, there’s a cave where people will have to go through and come out from the other end. There is a powerful mythological belief that a person who had done abundant bad deeds will be stuck inside the cave.
The trail on the opposite side of the valley leads to Cheri Lhakhang. Cheri Lhakhang was founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the year 1620. The Lhakhang encloses a silver chorten that holds the ashes of the Zhabdrung’s father. There are narrow stone steps that lead to the Lhakhang above and it is firmly believed that if one can ascend these steps without taking a rest in between, he/she will cleanse himself from the sins which are a result of his oppressive actions against his parents.
