Daklha Gampo Monastery: An Ancient Kagyu Monastery in Gyaca County, Tibet
Daklha Gampo Monastery is one of the most important early monasteries of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Located high on a sacred mountain in Gyaca County, this monastery is deeply connected with Gampopa Sonam Rinchen, also known as Dakpo Lhajey, the foremost disciple of Milarepa. With a history of more than 800 years, Daklha Gampo stands as a spiritual, historical, and architectural landmark of the Kagyu tradition.
Location of Daklha Gampo Monastery
Daklha Gampo Monastery is situated approximately 4 kilometers northwest of Ji Township in Gyaca County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is dramatically perched on Daklha Gampo Mountain, at an elevation of around 4,150 meters above sea level.
The monastery’s location is traditionally regarded as highly sacred. According to Tibetan belief, this mountain lies at the head of the mother-ogress, the mythological progenitrix of the Tibetan people, a site previously sanctified by Songtsen Gampo. Because of this, the area has long been considered an important place for terma (hidden treasure) revelations.
Founding History and Kagyu Lineage Importance
Daklha Gampo Monastery was founded in 1121 CE by Gampopa Sonam Rinchen, widely known as Dakpo Lhajey. It is the ancestral monastery of the Dakpo Kagyu tradition, one of the foundational branches of the Kagyu school.
After Gampopa’s passing, the monastery’s administration was first transmitted through successive generations of his family, and later through an incarnation lineage, beginning in the 16th century with Gampopa Tashi Namgyel. As an early seat of the Kagyu tradition, Daklha Gampo played a central role in shaping Kagyu monastic discipline, meditation practice, and lineage transmission.
Overall Architectural Layout of Daklha Gampo Monastery
The architectural layout of Daklha Gampo Monastery follows the natural contours of the mountain and extends along an east–west axis. The complex measures approximately 200 meters in length and 50 meters in width, covering more than 10,000 square meters.
The monastery is organized into two primary architectural zones:
- Mountain-top retreat structures
- Foothill monastic and ceremonial buildings
This vertical arrangement reflects classic Kagyu monastic design, combining secluded meditation spaces with communal ritual halls.
Mountain-Top Structures of Daklha Gampo Monastery
Dakpo Lhajey’s Meditation Chamber
One of the most sacred locations at Daklha Gampo Monastery is the meditation chamber of Dakpo Lhajey. This two-story stone structure, supported by 12 pillars, stands at the mountain summit and is reached by a narrow, steep path. The chamber represents the Kagyu emphasis on solitary meditation, simplicity, and direct realization, closely associated with the teachings of Milarepa and Gampopa.
Assembly and Meditation Hall
Another important mountain-top structure is the Zubu De, originally a two-story monks’ assembly and meditation hall. Although only the ground floor survives today, it remains an important historical reminder of the monastery’s once-thriving monastic community.
Foothill Constructions: The Core Monastic Complex
The main monastic complex of Daklha Gampo is located along the mid-slope foothills, extending from west to east. These structures are larger in scale and reflect advanced Tibetan construction techniques using stone and rammed earth.
Key buildings include:
- Stupa Grove
- Buddha Hall
- Kunkang Nima
- Rabu Jong (Lama Jong)
- Scripture Hall
- Dukang Grand Hall
Together, these buildings formed the ceremonial, educational, and administrative heart of the monastery.
The Sacred Stupa Grove
At the westernmost end of the complex lies the Stupa Grove, composed of seven stone stupas arranged in an “L” shape. Constructed with uniformly cut stone blocks, each stupa consists of:
- A base
- A central body
- A crowning finial
The stupa grove serves as a focal point for devotion, circumambulation, and memorial rituals within the Dakpo Kagyu tradition.
Buddha Hall: The Central Religious Structure
The Buddha Hall, located east of the stupa grove, is one of the most imposing buildings at Daklha Gampo Monastery. Facing east, it features a 100-square-meter porch and an expansive interior hall of approximately 3,500 square meters, supported by 40 pillars.
Associated Halls Within the Buddha Hall
- Tsangpa Buddha Hall (south side)
- Dabu Kuowa langsong Hall (south side)
- Qiji Duoje Tsang Hall (north side)
- Protector Deity Hall (north side)
The upper level of the Buddha Hall is adorned with a golden rooftop, symbolizing enlightenment and spiritual authority.
Dakpo Lhajey Hall and Sacred Relics
Within the Buddha Hall is the Dakpo Lhajey Hall, which houses eight gilded reliquaries belonging to successive reincarnated lamas of the monastery. Murals on the walls depict the founding history and construction of Daklha Gampo Monastery.
Although the original structure has largely disappeared, surviving elements reveal finely carved lion heads and cloud-scroll motifs on the tie beams, reflecting the high artistic standards of early Kagyu monasteries.
Rabu Jong (Lama Jong)
The Rabu Jong, also known as Lama Jong, stands northeast of the Buddha Hall. Built entirely of stone and covering about 500 square meters, the structure now survives mainly as tall exterior walls rising 8 to 10 meters high.
These remains offer valuable insight into the monastery’s former residential and institutional scale.
Dukang Grand Hall
Located at the easternmost end of the complex, the Dukang Grand Hall originally covered around 700 square meters. Constructed from rammed earth and stone, it served as a major assembly hall for monastic rituals and teachings. Only structural remnants remain today.
Recent Additions and Preserved Sacred Art
In recent years, a new Lhakang has been built to the southeast of the original Buddha Hall. This structure preserves:
- More than ten finely executed thangkas
- Numerous bronze Buddha statues
The thangkas depicting Dakpo Lhajey are especially remarkable, portraying him in various mudras, surrounded by vividly rendered landscapes, animals, and symbolic elements, reflecting both spiritual depth and artistic mastery.
Geographic Setting and Historical Significance
Daklha Gampo Monastery (sgam-po-dgon-pa) is located on a hillside approximately 500 meters east of the main temple complex. The site is home to a renowned Tibetan sky burial ground, covering an area of about 70 square meters, underscoring its deep ritual and spiritual importance within Tibetan Buddhism.
Daklha Gampo Monastery holds a prominent place in Kagyu history, having witnessed the reincarnation of eight successive lamas. These include Dakpo Lhajey, Tashi Namgyal, Gompo Tsultrim Nyingpo, Ugyen Jundui Lunba, Kelsang Chule Langje, Thupten, and Karma.
Among them, Karma Shizhu was formally recognized as a reincarnated lama at the young age of three. He was personally ordained by His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama, Thupten Gyatso (, who conferred upon him the religious name Thupten Shizhu, marking a significant moment in the monastery’s modern lineage history.
Archaeological Discoveries and Sacred Artifacts
In 2002, a Tibetan archaeological team conducted a systematic excavation at Daklha Gampo Monastery, uncovering 357 valuable artifacts. These discoveries provided important insights into the monastery’s religious life, artistic traditions, and ritual practices.
The unearthed items mainly included:
- Gold and copper Buddhist statues
- Ritual instruments
- Architectural components
- A small number of daily-use objects
The statues depict a wide range of sacred figures, including Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, lineage Gurus, and Wrathful Deities. Notable representations include Shakyamuni Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, Amitayus, and other major figures of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Ritual implements such as vajras, butter lamps, and ceremonial drum ornaments were primarily crafted from alloy, reflecting the high craftsmanship of the monastery’s artisans. Additionally, archaeologists discovered 11 stupas made of alloy and red copper, each containing sacred relics, further emphasizing the site’s ritual significance.
Highlight: Dakpo Lhajey (1079–1153)
Dakpo Lhajey (dwags-po lha-rje), also known historically as Gampopa Sonam Rinchen (bsod-nams-rin-chen, meaning “Jewel of Merit”), was the founder of the Dakpo Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the most influential Buddhist masters of the 12th century.
Born in southern Tibet in the Dakpo region of Ne (present-day Longzi), he belonged to the Snye clan. In his early life, Dakpo Lhajey was a highly respected physician, renowned for his medical knowledge. Following the death of his wife, he renounced worldly life at the age of 20 and was ordained as a monk under the guidance of Xianba Lingba.
He went on to study important Buddhist initiations such as the “Sheng Le” and “Da Bao Liu Zhuang Yan Mu”, and received extensive Kagyu teachings from several masters. A defining moment in his spiritual journey occurred during a thirteen-day meditation retreat under the instruction of Acharya Jangchub Sanhua, which led to a profound spiritual realization.
Later Life of Dakpo Lhajey
In 1110, at the age of 32, Dakpo Lhajey traveled to the Zhen region near present-day Nyalam, where he studied the inner heat (tummo) and channel practices directly under Milarepa. During this period, he experienced visionary insights that shaped his later teachings.
In 1121, he founded Daklha Gampo Monastery, establishing it as a major center of Kagyu learning and practice. He spent more than three decades teaching and transmitting the Dharma there. His distinctive synthesis of Kadampa scholastic discipline and Mahamudra meditation became a defining hallmark of the Kagyu tradition.
His most influential works include:
- Jewel Ornament of Liberation (Thar-pa rin-po-che’i rgyan)
- Stages of the Path of the Kadam Tradition
- Biographies of Marpa and Milarepa
Daklha Gampo Monastery, with its sacred landscape, archaeological richness, and enduring Kagyu lineage, remains a vital center for understanding the historical development of Tibetan Buddhism and the spiritual legacy of Dakpo Lhajey.