The Cheri monastery, 15 km drive north of Thimphu is the seat of the first monastic body in Bhutan. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal built it in 1620. It is situated at an altitude of 2,600 meters on a steep mountain slope. The hike up to the monastery will take about 45 minutes along a well-maintained bridle path, through the forests full of rhododendron trees.