Beri Gonpa, Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Garzê County, China
Beri Gonpa is a monastery complex built at about 3000 meters elevation with rammed earth walls, residential buildings, and a central assembly hall. The site is enclosed by boundary walls and consists of interconnected structures arranged in the traditional layout of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.
The monastery was founded in 1649 by Ngawang Puntsok, a student of the Fifth Dalai Lama, building on an older hermitage called Gela Daden. This establishment represented the expansion of Tibetan Buddhism into the Kham region during that era.
The monastery remains an active center where Buddhist practitioners gather for daily religious ceremonies and rituals. Local pilgrims visit to participate in spiritual practices that are fundamental to the community's life here.
The site sits in a high mountain region and requires good physical fitness for a visit. It is advisable to allow time for acclimatization and bring warm clothing, as the elevation and climate are demanding.
The monastery has a remarkable connection to the history of the Chinese Revolution through contact with the Red Army during the Long March. This unexpected relationship helped ensure the site survived despite difficult historical periods.
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