Nyethang Drolma Lhakhang Temple, Ancient Buddhist temple in Qüxü County, Tibet, China
Nyethang Drolma Lhakhang is a Buddhist temple in Qüxü County, Tibet, featuring a symmetrical layout with a long open porch and three small chapels arranged around a central space. The upper floor contains a library and meditation rooms used for religious study and practice.
The temple was built in 1055, though the Indian master Atisha had arrived at the site in 1040 and taught Buddhist teachings until his death in 1054. His presence brought spiritual prominence to the location and established it as a center for learning.
The temple holds 21 life-size bronze statues of Green Tara in its sutra-chanting hall, serving as a focus for devotional practice. The walls display paintings created with natural pigments in white, blue, green, and red, showing the artistic skill of craftspeople who worked there.
The temple sits about 33 kilometers from Lhasa and can be reached via the Qüshü-Nepal Highway. Before visiting, check on local conditions and access, as this helps ensure a smooth trip to explore the Buddhist architecture and religious objects housed within.
The temple survived the Cultural Revolution because Premier Zhou Enlai intervened to protect it. This unusual intervention allowed ancient manuscripts and clay statues housed here to remain intact through a tumultuous period.
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