Zutrul Phuk Monastery
"Zutrul Phuk: (Cave of Miracles) "
The site is located in the west bank of Zhong Chu River and it approximately is 10 km in distance from Darchen. This is the place where pilgrims make their last halt (2nd night halt) during the trek around Kailash. There are no hotels / guesthouses with facility, so you can simply take overnight shelter.
Zutulphuk, means the cave of miracle. According to the Tibetan folklore, this is the site where great Tibetan yogi & poet, Milareppa and Naro Bongchung (the master of Bonpo Buddhism) had a legendary contest to get controlled over Kailash. In the course of contest, Milareppa made this cave and got victory over Naro Bongchung, so he got controlled over Mt. Kailash. According to the legend, Milareppa made this cave by slashing a big rock with his bare hands and pushing it above to make the ceiling. While lifting the rock, print of his hands and print of his head were made. We can still see those prints in the rock-ceiling.
Later on, Milarappa's disciples built the Monastery in the same place. The Monastery has a vast array of tablets carved with sacred mantras. Also, there is a stone trident that is believed to have belonged to Yogi Milareppa. Also, the most precious thing in the monastery is the statue of sage Milareppa which was made by himself before his death.
