HISTORY OF LELUNG VALLEY
Lelung Valley in Tibet has traditionally been the main seat of the Lelung Rinpoches. It is located roughly 200km south of Lhasa in an area characterised by dramatic hills and valleys. The region and its inhabitants have played an important role in the history of Tibet, especially in the development of Buddhism. In the 1950s, Lelung Monastery was destroyed, but it has since been rebuilt by local villagers--a true testament to the enduring strength of the Lelung lineage.
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LELUNG VALLEY, TIBET
Lelung Valley, Central Tibet. Click on this image for an annotated version showing the location of Lelung Monastery and other important structures in the valley. The tiny village of Lelung is in the foreground
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MAP OF CENTRAL TIBET
This map of Central Tibet shows the location of Lelung Valley with respect to Lhasa. Lelung is approximately 200km southeast of Tibet's largest city. It is located in Sangri province
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FIFTH LELUNG RINPOCHE (1697-1740)
An heroic figure in the history of the Lelung lineage, the Fifth Lelung Rinpoche, Pema Zhepai Dorje, revealed many sacred teachings, wrote numerous manuscripts and built a new monastery in Lelung Valley
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RUINS OF LELUNG MONASTERY, 1992
The original Lelung Monastery was consecrated by the Fifth Lelung Rinpoche in 1717. The monastery temple shown in this photograph was built by local villagers in the 1990s
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RUINS OF LELUNG MONASTERY, 1992
This image shows ruins of the main temple of Lelung Monastery, destroyed in the 1950s. The temple was part of the monastery built by the Fifth Lelung Rinpoche. A Tibetan guide stands in the middle of the rubble
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DREWUHLE RINPOCHE'S MONASTERY
Monastery of Drewuhle Rinpoche, South Lhasa, Tibet. This monastery is historically one of the main centres of practise for the Lelung teachings. This photo was taken in 1999
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CHENYE MONASTERY
Chenye Monastery, South Lhasa, Tibet. Along with Drewuhle Rinpoche’s monastery, this was a center of practise for the Lelung lineage in the region south of Lhasa. This photo was taken in 1999
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NEW TEMPLE OF LELUNG MONASTERY (1998)
Tekchog Namdrol Ling Monastery. The two-story structure was built by local villagers in authentic style, using stones from the surrounding hillsides
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