RATÖ MONASTERY

Founded in the th century, the monastery was one of the first centres of philosophical studies in central Tibet. The translator, Ngog Loden Sherab, lived there and Tsongkhapa withdrew in neighboring hermitages. It once housed 400 monks. Today, the monastery hosts fifty monks and again enjoys a great reputation for the study of logic and theological debates. The main temple houses a small, revered Tara statue, and wonderful frescoes. A little higher on the hill is the little Maitreya chapel.