Chimphu Hermitage Samye

 

Meditation Caves

Samye Chimphu Hermitage

Samye Chimphu Hermitage is a historic and highly sacred meditation hermitage in the Lhoka region in Tibet, located about 16 km northeast of Samye Monastery. Chimphu is a complex of caves, small temples, and retreat spots used for meditation and spiritual practice, especially in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Many of the caves are traditionally believed to have been used by Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) and other early masters for meditation and retreat, making the site deeply sacred. Among its caves is a place called Drakmar Keutsang, noted as one of Padmasambhava’s principal retreats, and the site also has connections with other major figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.

Location

• Region: Lhoka Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, northeast of Samye Monastery.
• Access: Usually approached by a hike from Samye or from a Chimphu nunnery near the caves; a drive ~30 min from Samye followed by a hike of ~2–3 hours is common for pilgrims.
• Landscape: The hermitage is set on hillsides overlooking the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) Valley, offering a secluded and elevated environment suited to meditation retreats.