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The lama who founded
the monastery used to visit it periodically, and later his family, who live in
Kathmandu, appointed a caretaker. However, for many years now, no one has
resided there to look after the monastery, leaving it completely unattended. It
is believed that the main lama passed away near the Tibet border during his
holy journey to Mount Kailash. Located a few hours’ hike from the village, the
Gumba is now rarely visited and has effectively become an orphaned heritage
site.
Artistic and Structural
Deterioration
The monastery once
housed exceptional mud-wall paintings and murals, representing rich Himalayan
Buddhist artistic traditions. Today, these priceless artworks are rapidly
deteriorating due to rainwater seepage through damaged walls and roofing.
One entire side of the
monastery has already collapsed. Although the local government rebuilt the
wall, it was done using a plain stone structure, without respecting traditional
architecture, artistic value, or historical integrity. As a result, the
monastery’s original aesthetic and cultural essence have been severely
compromised.
Due to neglect and lack
of security, valuable statues and thangka paintings have been stolen over time.
The doors remain without locks, and no caretaker is present to protect what
little remains.
Religious Practice and
Community Context
Despite the community’s
deep Buddhist faith, not a single lama currently resides in the village. The
Khampa community lives in Chotra, and while everyone follows Buddhism,
organized monastic life has disappeared.
Occasionally, respected
lamas visit the monastery for short-term retreats or hidden prayers lasting up
to a month. Local villagers mainly offer prayers during Purnima (full moon
days).
Land, Location, and
Economic Context
The monastery holds
hundreds of acres of land registered in its name, yet this land remains unused
and unmanaged. Chotra village lies about two hours’ drive from Khalanga Bazaar,
the district headquarters of Jumla, and serves as a gateway to Phoksundo Lake
and Dolpa.
The local economy
depends largely on herbal trade, yak rearing, and horse farming, reflecting a
traditional Himalayan livelihood system.
A Memory of Hope: The
Unfulfilled Royal Visit
Local elders still
vividly remember a moment of great hope, when it was said that late King
Birendra would visit the monastery by helicopter. In preparation, villagers
built three temporary helicopter landing areas, carved steps along the trail,
and laid locally woven sheep-wool carpets—leui, radi, and pakhi—on the path
where the King was expected to walk.
On the anticipated day,
villagers waited from morning till evening at the monastery, holding khadas and
malas, hoping to welcome the King. But he never arrived. At that time, reaching
Khalanga Bazaar took an entire day on foot, and no government representative
came to explain the situation. Later, it was said that the King reached Jumla
and traveled as far as Gothichaur to visit the high-altitude sheep research
center, but could not make it to Chotra.
That unfulfilled visit
remains a powerful symbol of the monastery’s long-standing hope for recognition
and care.
Hope for Preservation
Despite decades of
neglect, the local community remains deeply connected to Ogyen Sang-Ngag
Chokhor Ling Monastry. Many villagers still remember carrying stones, shaping
mud walls, and painting sacred images together. Although a monastery
conservation committee was formed long ago, it has remained largely inactive,
allowing deterioration to continue.
Urgent conservation
action is now critical
- Locals urgently seek
support for:
- Immediate retrofitting and stabilization
of monastery walls
- Protection and conservation of remaining
murals and artworks
- Basic security and caretaking to prevent
further loss
Without swift
intervention, Ogyen Sang-Ngag Chokhor Ling Monastry may disappear forever,
taking with it an irreplaceable chapter of Jumla’s spiritual and cultural
history. Your support can help rescue this orphaned monastery and ensure that
its legacy lives on for future generations.
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