Guensar - Gartog's new monastery
Goensar (dgon ksar) is, as the name indicates, Markham's 'New monastery'. It is located 25 km south of Markham-Garthog in Purla village ('phur glag). The fittings of this Gelugpa lamasery (30 monks in 1995) are quite complete with murals in the vestibule and the assembly hall with its impressive statues. The largest image depicts Tsongkhapa. Some fine old bronze statues ofMaitreya, Shakyamuni and a tshatsha of Yamantaka should be noted. On the left side of the dukhang a flight of steps leads upstairs into a chapel which shelters new large stucco images 3 m in height: Amitayus, Maitreya, Avalokiteshvara, flanked by Padmsambhava, King Trisong Detsen and Santirakshita (Khentsen Bodhisattva).
Southeast of Goensar, across a mountain ridge, lies a valley that is reached via a motorable track on a 40 km detour. It is the location of Pangda village (spang mda '), home to the merchant family whose offspring played such an eminent role in the uprising in Markham in 1934. |
