Tholing Monastery is the oldest monastery in the Ngari Prefecture in western Tibet. It is located in Zanda County near the border to Ladhak in India. Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo built it with the support from the second king of Guge kingdom the Yeshi Ö.
In Tibetan Language, Tholing means “hovering over the sky.” reflecting the location of the monastery at the altitude of 3800m. Tholing Monastery is the first monastery built after the second diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet.
History of Tholing Monastery
King Yeshi Ö send 21 young monks to travel to Kashmir and India for training in Buddhist institution in Subcontinent of India. Out of 21, only two survive the severe climatic conditions, Snake bikes, and diseases. Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo and Lekpai Sherap were able to return to Tibet. Rinchen Zangpo built three significant temples at the monastery with the help of the King of Guge.
Yeshi Ö – Himself later became Monk at the monastery, and died trying to invite Atisha to Tibet. Then in the year, 1042 Atisha was invited to the Guge Kingdom, He stayed in the monastery for three years and revived Buddhism in Tibet with his vast knowledge of Buddhism.
Later Atisha Traveled to central Tibet. Stay in Dolma Lhakhang near Lhasa. He founded The Kadampa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which is the base for Kagyu, Sakya and Gelugpa sect. Due to his effort, Buddhism spread in all corners of Tibet.
The monastery of Tholing is the living testimony of Culture infusion of Indian, Kashmir and Tibetan architectural, and Painting style.
Tourist Guide to Tholing Monastery
Tholing Monastery is located in the very same town where the Guge Kingdom’s Capital, Tsaparang, is located. It will take a day to reach the city from Mount Kailash. All the tours to the Guge kingdom are associated with the Mount Kailash tour. Many Mount Kailash tours do not include a visit to the Guge Kingdom. We offer a special group tour to the Guge and Kailash. We usually have a departure once a month. We can make a unique, tailor-made tour for you if none of the Tibet tour packages on the list are suitable for you.
Since Guge and Kailash are located in a very remote region of Tibet, the facilities in the hotel and restaurant are minimal.
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