Propped on concrete stilts facing Keylong across the valley, Kardang Gompa has existed for 900 years, but the current building dates from 1912. Maintained by an order of Drukpa Kagyu (Red Hat) monks and nuns, the monastery enshrines a mighty prayer wheel said to contain a million strips of paper bearing the mantra Om mani padme hum ('hail to the jewel in the lotus'). There are excellent frescoes, but you may have to track down a monk or nun to open the doors.
To get here, head for the hospital at the bottom of the west end of Keylong and take a path down to the left 30m before the hospital. This crosses the Bhaga on a footbridge, then climbs 1km to a road where you turn right into Kardang village. Ask directions to the gompa, 800m further uphill. For a different route back, return to Kardang village then head to the right along the road for 3km to Lapchang village, where a path descends 1km to another footbridge over the Bhaga, then climbs 1.25km to the main road. Keylong is 1.5km to the left (west).
