Retuo Temple

Retuo Temple Introduction: Retuo Temple is located in Gonggar County, Shannan City (by Yamdrok Lake). It is open year-round from 9:00 to 17:00 daily.Retuo TempleAt an altitude of 4,500 meters, it is a Sakya sect monastery built in the late 14th century by the saint monk Shajadongzhu and his nephew. It has a history of over 600 years.

Known as “the loneliest temple in the world,” Retuo Temple sits on a peninsula on the northern shore of Yamdrok Lake. Remote and rarely visited, it offers sweeping views of the azure lake from atop the mountain. Its solitude lies in the fact that a single gravel road leads to the island where the temple stands at its highest point. Its loneliness is also reflected in the past when it was home to just one monk, who carried out his daily practice of fetching water and chanting scriptures, living alone in a temple on an island — a world unto itself. The temple’s sole monk, Tashi Phuntsok, has practiced here for over 30 years. Perhaps you’ve visited Yamdrok Lake many times without ever knowing about this 700-year-old sanctuary that silently watches over the lake, day and night.