In Tuva a Buddhist Temple appeared from under the water, which was earlier sunk during the building of Sayano–Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station.

The Buddhist Temple was carved on a cliff called Suma in the mouth of the river Chaa-Khol in Chaakholsky district. This sacred place used to be a place of pilgrimage for many local people. In 90s Sayano–Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station plunged it into its waters. Now in connection with repair works the level of water has descended and now the sight is open for local people and tourists.

The temple is located on the left bank of the river Chaa-Khol, at a height 4 m from the foot of the mountain, which can be referred to the period of 1260 – 1368. On rocky surface a low relief depiction of Buddha can be seen. In 1717 the place was visited by the participants of expedition from Krasnoyarsk. They found out there a bow and arrows, barley, pieces of blue and black paper with mysterious golden and silver letters on it. Later it was established that it was a Tibetan prayers.

A newly open sight will be equipped with modern amenities in the framework of the project “Nine treasures”, which is aimed at creating of a primary infrastructure of incoming tourism in the republic.