Monastery · Buddhist
Gangtey Monastery
Nyingma school, Pema Lingpa lineage·1613 CE·Wangdue Phodrang
A 17th-century Nyingma monastery perched on a ridge overlooking Phobjikha Valley and its wintering crane population.
Dedicated to
Nyingma school, Pema Lingpa lineage
Period
1613 CE
Hours
Daylight hours
Admission
Free
Neighborhood
Gangtey ridge
Gangtey Goenpa is the largest Nyingma monastery in western Bhutan, founded in 1613 by Pema Trinley, a grandson of the great treasure-revealer Pema Lingpa. The monastery sits on a prominent ridge above the Phobjikha Valley, offering panoramic views of the glacial valley below — the same valley where endangered black-necked cranes winter each year. Recently restored, the monastery complex includes a large central temple, monastic quarters, and a meditation center. The Gangtey Nature Trail descends from the monastery through the valley, connecting sacred architecture with the conservation landscape below.
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