Nangzhik Gompa, Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, China.
Nangzhik Gompa is a Bon monastery on a hill north of Ngawa Town at 3,448 metres, about a 4-kilometre walk up a shortcut from the town. It houses roughly 800 to 1,000 monks and is described as the largest Bon monastery in Tibet. On a hill to the east stands the Bon monastery Togden (Topgyel) with a large stupa nearby.
Nangzhik Gompa was founded in 1108 as Gyelten Püntsok Monastery by the Bon master Nyimadzin, on the wish of his father Dophag, also known as Nangzhig Lodrö Gyeltshen, the first Nangshig. It moved to its present hill site north of Ngawa Town in 1754. A history of the monastery was published in 1994.
This monastery is a place where Tibetan Buddhist traditions are practiced daily, and visitors can observe monks engaged in their spiritual routines and rituals. The halls display colorful murals and religious statues that reflect the local religious beliefs and artistic heritage.
The monastery is easiest to reach via Ngawa Town, with a short walk north from there to reach the site. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow time to adjust to the high altitude, as the thin air at this elevation can be tiring.
This site is connected to another important monastery in the Songpan area and published a comprehensive historical record of itself in the 1990s. These documented records make it a valuable source for understanding Tibetan spiritual and artistic traditions in this region.
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