Tidrum, with its medicinal hot springs, has a great location in a narrow gorge at the confluence of two streams. The entire valley is festooned with prayer flags. The small nunnery has strong connections to Yeshe Tsogyal, the wife of King Trisong Detsen and consort of Guru Rinpoche. The Kandro-la, the resident spiritual leader of the nunnery, is considered a reincarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal.
The main assembly hall is worth a visit. A cabinet holds a selection of self-arising rock images found in the hot springs.
The hot springs (free with admission to the nunnery) are popular with convalescing Tibetans who soak in the mineral-rich waters to cure everything from rheumatism to paralysis. There are separate men’s and women’s pools and everyone bathes buck naked despite little privacy. Bring a towel and flip-flops. Photography is forbidden, even if no one is in the pool.
At the time of research Tidrum was undergoing major renovation and resembled a refugee camp – not really conducive to an enjoyable soak.
