Thowadra Monastery

This Monastery is located four hours walk towards north from the Ugyenchoeling. Thowadra, meaning ‘the highest rock’, is at an altitude of 3,400 metres above sea level. Guru Rinpoche is said to have left behind a wooden bird which he used to expel a wicked king from the Khenpalung (also called Khenpajong) valley north of Bumthang. Thowadra is also one of the ‘gates’ leading into this secret valley, which was sealed up by Guru Rinpoche after he drove out the king.

Thowadra was founded in 1238 by Lorepa (1187-1250), the Drukpa Kagyupa lama who established Choedrak Monastery, which is also one of Guru Rinpoche’s meditation places.