Dzogchen Samtan Choeling Monastery

Dzogchen Samtan Choeling Monastery is a fairly recent Buddhist monastery built high on a hillside in Mechuka. The approach passes white chortens spread across the grounds, and the site looks down over the town, its hills and the mountain range beyond.

Its best-known feature is a 10-foot statue of Guru Lhuhe Rigzin, finely detailed and two years in the making. The prayer hall is decorated with thangkas, frescoes and murals of Buddhist deities and symbols. Monks hold a prayer ceremony with chanting and rituals early in the morning, which visitors can quietly watch.