Chhairo/ Tsherok Monastery

Under the shades of juniper trees lies the gompa of Chhairo. There is now not a single monk, although there would be room for thirty or so, but the whole place is well cared for by a Lama, for he is doubtless a worthy man. The main temple is about forty feet across. On the right wall are paintings of Samantabhadra, flanked by the 'Fierce Master' and the 'Lion-Headed' Dakini, and Avalokitesvara, flanked by two acolytes, making the gesture of giving with their right hands and that of explanation (vitarka) with the left. A huge image of Guru Rimpoche is placed in the next room. One ascends a kind of tower into the 'Defenders' Room' where there are effigies of the fierce defender Ma- ning and a lama. The frescos of Chhairo Gompa are considered to be the oldest existing works of Thak Khola region. At the moment the gompa is undergoing a major renovation. 'Reconstruction' would be the right word as the gompa is getting a complete makeover. The reconstruction works started in the year 2015 before the April earthquake.