The ancient Chiu Monastery is located atop a steep hill overlooking the holy lake of Manasarovar, which is vis-à-vis with the holy mountain of Kailash. Both of the lake and the mountain are holy sites in Buddhist and Hindu cosmology. There are actually two lakes in front of the Kailash: Manasarovar, which is believed as the “lake of the gods”, and Raksha Tal, which is the place of demons. From the Chiu Monastery, one can see the majestic peak of Mt Kailash across Manasarovar.

Kailash, Tibet, 2005