Dorje Drak Monastery

Dorje Drak Monastery, the "Indestructible Rock" ,along with Mindroling Monastery are the two most important Nyingmapa monasteries. Due to its remoteness and romantic site, Dorje Drak monatery is less accessible, that many travelers to Tibet don't get a chance to see what's left of the site.

It is located on a rock cliff, on the northern bank of three holy lakes, named the Yamdrok Tso. It belongs to the Nyingma School of Buhddism, and is one of the most important locales for the teachings. In 1632, Dorje Drak monastery was forced to move to its present site by the kings in Tsang. In 1717, the Dzungar Mongols sacked the monatery.

The Rigdzinhe is a line of hereditary lamas who is the head of the monastery. The name came from the first Rigdzin Godemachen, who is believed to be reincarnations of Guru Rinpoche. Now the 10th Rigdzin Lama is liveing in Lhasa.

In the main assembly hall are statues of Guru Rinpoche and Pema Trinley, who was the fourth Rigdzin. Five butter sculptures to the right of the Samsum Namgyel Gonkhang represent the chapel’s five protectors. Also a cabinet holds many monastery’s treasures. Among the treasures is a fragment of a staff belonging to Milarepa. Unfortunately, it has been smashed during the Cultural Revolution. Up to the higher chapel and you can by some lovely ground juniper incense.

Refurbished paintings inside the halls depict the Hundred Peaceful and the Wrathful Deities. While at Dorje Drak, walk the Kora, or pilgrimage, route that takes you up and around Vajra Rock. The path also crosses by various rock paintings and sacred footprints.It takes an long as a half and one hour of walking the kora which leads around the back of the dorje shaped rock behind the monastery, lying up to a ruined retreat atop the rock. The path overlooks some dramatic sand dunes and the views from the retreat are simply amazing.

How to get there:

People can go to the monastery by a ferry from kilometer marker 112 on the Lhasa-Tsetang road. Regular boats are avaiable in the morning and late afternoon. But you can may charter a boat.  One can also choose to take hard-core trekkers from Lhasa. It would be a trek of around four days, but it also will be of fun.

Now people are building a new road along the northern shore of the Yarlung Tsangpo. The road is from the Gongkar runnel to Samye via Dorje Drak. The aim is to change transport patterns, and reduce the site’s remoteness.