It is unclear when the monastery was built, and the identity of who built it is a mystery. It was most likely built to mark or hide the entrance to Shambhala. Due to the relatively inhospitable surrounding terrain, much of the monastery was built up rather than out. It consists of several large towers towards its perimeter, surrounding a series of inner courtyards and smaller buildings. The complex takes up much space, with wooden bridges spanning gaps between buildings. At some point it was abandoned and fell into a state of disrepair.