Chele La Pass is one of the most beautiful passes in this country and a hike on the ridge to Kila Gompa Nunnery gives you a breathtaking view of the Paro Valley on one side and the Haa Valley on the other. It is about a drive of an hour and a half from Paro and less than an hour from Haa. The Kila Gompa nunnery or a Chela La Gompa is one of the unexplored hiking trails in Bhutan it is also a home for a number of nuns and a place far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Kila Gompa nunnery is located on the cliffs below Chele La Pass at about 3,500m. In the dizzying sheer Cliffside, several retreats huts and around seven small temples are built and the Nunnery is inhabited by around 60-70 nuns.

Kila Gompa Nunnery

The hike takes one through a silver fir forest and is dotted with blooming rhododendron flowers if visiting during Spring-summer. The Kila Nunnery has located on a cliff just below the Chele la pass and marks the end of the trail. From the main road, you need to hike upwards and it takes almost an hour to reach the Kila Gompa through the steep slopes and the forests. You can reach the Kila Gompa taking another trail downward from Chelela pass down the slopes to Kila that takes between 1-2hrs. You can see the spectacular view of Paro Valley below, Jele Dozing, Mt Chomolhari, and Jichu Drake when the day is clear. On the way, a number of colourful prayer flags can be spotted since the walk begins in the middle of the thick fluttering prayer flags and you can also fix the prayer flag if you have or brought them from the town to get blessed and gain a good point. The wide rhododendron bush and wildflowers naturally decorated and the mountain slope makes your walk more rewarding before you reach the Kila Gompa. Once you reach the destination try to interact with the nuns, know their way of living, visit the temple, pray and get blessed. The best time to visit the Kila Gompa in Bhutan is between Sep-Dec and May-June.