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Alchi monastery in Ladakh enriches the region
by Tashi Pradhan
Ladakh:
The tourist potential of the ten century old Alchi
monastery in Ladakh has helped to boost the economy of
the area. Alchi Choskor, located 65 km from Leh, was patronized
a thousand years ago by two wealthy Buddhist monks. It
contains traditional Tibetan architecture. The murals
in the monastery date back to the period between 11th-13th
century A.D and were made by artists brought from the
Kashmir Valley where the art no longer exists. Locals
say the monastery has proved to be a major tourist attraction
that has greatly contributed to the economy of the region.
"Because of this monastery, many hotels have cropped up
in the region. This contributing to the economy of the
region.," said Tsewang Rabgais, a resident. The structures
were built by Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo who appointed four
families to look after Choskor, as there was no monastic
community back then. Later in the15th century Choskor
was taken over by the Lekir Monastery since then Alchi
Choskor Gonpa is being taken care of by Lekir Monastery.
"Among the 108 monasteries built by Rinchen Zangpo during
the 11 century, only 40 of those monasteries are now left
including the Alchi monastery. Rest all the monasteries
are now in a dilapidated state," said Sonam Dorjey Lonpo,
a Scholar. History also says that Alchi was part of a
small kingdom ruled by members of the Dro-clan of a Central
Tibetan origin. Alchi Choskor is the only monastery in
the Ladakh on flat ground and has traces of the Indian
and Kashmiri influences.
-Feb
21, 2009
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