Hanle Monastery | |
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![]() Hanle Monastery | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Tibetan Buddhism |
Sect | Drukpa |
Location | |
Location | Hanle,Leh District,Ladakh,India |
Geographic coordinates | 32°47′26″N79°0′7″E / 32.79056°N 79.00194°E /32.79056; 79.00194 |
Architecture | |
Style | TibetanArchitecture |
Founder | Sengge Namgyal |
Date established | 17th century |
Hanle Monastery is a 17th-centurygompa of theDrukpa Lineage of theKagyu school ofTibetan Buddhism located in theHanle Valley,Leh district,Ladakh,India on an old branch of the ancient Ladakh-Tibet trade route. The valley is home to about a thousand people, with about 300 people living inHanle village. The monastery is home to about ten monks while another 33 or so come regularly for prayers. It is only 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the disputed frontier between India and Chinese-controlled Tibet.[1] It is 255 km southeast ofLeh, 208 km southeast ofUpshi & 75 km southeast ofNyoma.
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Institutional roles |
History and overview |
The main monastery, one of the largest and best known of Ladakh's monasteries, was built under the patronage of the Ladakhi kingSengge Namgyal (r. c. 1616-1642 CE) with the assistance of the famous Tibetan lama and travelerTaktsang Répa Ngakwang Gyatso (Wylie:stag tshang ras pa ngag dbang rgya mtsho).[2] It was the first to be associated with the Drukpa Lineage and which, under the patronage of the Namgyal family, became very important in Ladakh, functioning as a serious rival to the reformedGelug school.[3] The monasteries in Hanle,Hemis,Chemrey andStakna all belong to the Drukpa school.[4]
Sengge Namgyal died at Hanle on his return from an expedition against theMongols, who had occupiedTsang and were threatening Ladakh.[5]
Outside donations established the Tashi Choeling ("Auspicious Dharma Centre") in 1983 providing support for residentnuns (who numbered 47 in 2003).[6] In a January, 2004 article it is said to have had only 10 residentmonks with 33 coming regularly for prayers.[7]
It is also home to theIndian Astronomical Observatory. The location of both the village and the observatory are highly sensitive due to the close proximity of theTibetan /Chinese border and special permission is needed to visit either by thegovernment of India.[citation needed]Fukche airport is 24 kilometres (15 mi) away andUkdungle is close by.