It began with Drukpa Kunley, the "divine madman," who built a chorten on this site in the 15th century after vanquishing a demoness with his "magical lightning bolt of wisdom." The main temple was built around this chorten in 1499 by Ngawang Choegyel, the 14th hierarch of the Drukpa dynasty. The monastery is now famous as a fertility temple and known for the wooden phallus used to bless pilgrims.