Wangditse Monastery

Wangditse Monastery stands on a ridge above Thimphu near the giant Buddha statue, an eighteenth-century temple reached by a gentle forest trail that has become a favourite short walk from the capital. The path winds through blue pine and prayer flags with intermittent views over the city and the dzong below. The monastery itself, restored after earthquake damage, houses monks and simple shrine rooms. Its combination of an easy nature walk and a working religious site makes it popular with residents and visitors alike.