Simbiling Monastery
Encyclopedia
Simbiling Monastery, also known as Shambuling Gompa
, Shepeling Dzong and Taklakot Gompa, was located next to the large fort of Tegla Kar (Lying Tiger Fort) on a ridge near Taklakot, above the town of Purang, in the Ngari province, which is just over the border from Nepal in western Tibet in the valley of the Karnali River, which is known in Tibet as the Mapchchu Khambab - the 'Peacock Mouth River' or 'River Formed from the Mouth of a Peacock'.
It was set above a ridge of cave dwellings, high above the town, about 15 km to the east of the Sakya
Khorzhak Monastery
which has survived, and been restored.
In 1841, General Zorawar Singh
, the commander-in-chief of the Dogra
forces, after conquering almost all of Ladakh and much of Western Tibet, including Mt. Kailash, and lakes Mansarowar and Rakas Tal, and all the territory from Ladakh to the Mayum Pass, east of Mansarowar, from where the road lead temptingly on to Shigatse
and Lhasa
, backed by a garrison he had stationed at the strategically important Shepeling dzong. He was, however, killed the next year fighting a large Tibetan force, bringing to an end Gulab Singh's dream of an extensive Dogra empire including large sections of Tibet.
Simbiling Monastery had over 100 rooms and was inhabited by several hundred Gelugpa monks. There was also a fort which was the residence of the regional administrator, and a smaller Sakya monastery in the complex. They were all completely flattened by Chinese artillery in 1967. In 2003, work was begun to rebuild Shambuling Monastery by Trugo Lama, Lobsang Samten, and there are now a few monks there.
The present Chinese military garrison and cantonment is just across the Karnali river northeast from the ruined fort and monasteries. The town centre and some ancient ruins are also on this side of the river, which runs right through the town. The route to Mt. Kailash heads to the northwest, while the new pilgrim route to India over the Lipu-Lekh Pass, heads southwest, while the route to Khorzhak Monastery
and Nepal leaves town heading east.
The temple complex and dzong, or 'fort', were above a temple now belonging to the Gelug sect, called 'Tsegu Gompa' or the "Nine-Story Monastery" which was probably originally a Bon establishment. Tsegu covers many terraces and may be reached by ladders.
Gompa
Gompa and ling are Buddhist ecclesiastical fortifications of learning, lineage and sadhana , located in Tibet, India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
, Shepeling Dzong and Taklakot Gompa, was located next to the large fort of Tegla Kar (Lying Tiger Fort) on a ridge near Taklakot, above the town of Purang, in the Ngari province, which is just over the border from Nepal in western Tibet in the valley of the Karnali River, which is known in Tibet as the Mapchchu Khambab - the 'Peacock Mouth River' or 'River Formed from the Mouth of a Peacock'.
It was set above a ridge of cave dwellings, high above the town, about 15 km to the east of the Sakya
Sakya
The Sakya school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug...
Khorzhak Monastery
Khorzhak Monastery
Khorzhak Monastery is a Buddhist monastery in Khorzhak town, Burang county, Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is located not far to the southeast of Burang and just northeast of the Nepalese border. The town and temple are known as Kojanath in Nepal...
which has survived, and been restored.
In 1841, General Zorawar Singh
General Zorawar Singh
Zorawar Singh Kahluria was born in a village of Kahlur State in modern Himachal Pradesh, India....
, the commander-in-chief of the Dogra
Dogra
The Dogras are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group in South Asia. Being a diversified group, the Dogras include both Savarnas such as Brahmins, Rajputs and Non-savarnas. The Dogras also incluide merchant castes such as Mahajans...
forces, after conquering almost all of Ladakh and much of Western Tibet, including Mt. Kailash, and lakes Mansarowar and Rakas Tal, and all the territory from Ladakh to the Mayum Pass, east of Mansarowar, from where the road lead temptingly on to Shigatse
Shigatse
Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
and Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
, backed by a garrison he had stationed at the strategically important Shepeling dzong. He was, however, killed the next year fighting a large Tibetan force, bringing to an end Gulab Singh's dream of an extensive Dogra empire including large sections of Tibet.
Simbiling Monastery had over 100 rooms and was inhabited by several hundred Gelugpa monks. There was also a fort which was the residence of the regional administrator, and a smaller Sakya monastery in the complex. They were all completely flattened by Chinese artillery in 1967. In 2003, work was begun to rebuild Shambuling Monastery by Trugo Lama, Lobsang Samten, and there are now a few monks there.
The present Chinese military garrison and cantonment is just across the Karnali river northeast from the ruined fort and monasteries. The town centre and some ancient ruins are also on this side of the river, which runs right through the town. The route to Mt. Kailash heads to the northwest, while the new pilgrim route to India over the Lipu-Lekh Pass, heads southwest, while the route to Khorzhak Monastery
Khorzhak Monastery
Khorzhak Monastery is a Buddhist monastery in Khorzhak town, Burang county, Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is located not far to the southeast of Burang and just northeast of the Nepalese border. The town and temple are known as Kojanath in Nepal...
and Nepal leaves town heading east.
The temple complex and dzong, or 'fort', were above a temple now belonging to the Gelug sect, called 'Tsegu Gompa' or the "Nine-Story Monastery" which was probably originally a Bon establishment. Tsegu covers many terraces and may be reached by ladders.