Photo courtesy Matthew Akester, 1935, © Sikkim Lhayum Collection
Chimpu is a hermitage cave complex above Samye Monastery that has been particularly favored by Nyingma practitioners, as it has strong association with both Padmsasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyel. There is a reliquary stūpa to Longchenpa (Longchen Dungbum) near an area where the Third Karmapa spent six months in retreat. Jigme Lingpa experienced visions of Longchenpa at a cave named Sawa Metok. Religious practice at the site is said to predate Buddhism. Among the may caves at Chimphu is Drakmar Keutsang, which is noted as Padmasambhava's primary Samye residence.
