Projects in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region)

Lho Talung Monastery
Gyama Stupa and Monastery
Sangyadrak Stupa

Lho Talung is a site connected with the Tibetan empire period (7th-9th century). Located just south of lake Yamdrok Tso in Lhoka prefecture, the settlement is a strategic stage on the ancient trade route to Bhutan. A large fortress-cum-monastery on top of a hill in the center of the village is now in ruins (an old photo can be found in Hugh Richardson's High Peaks, Pure Earth). A surviving monastery, belonging to the Sakya-pa order, is located in the middle of the village. In the 1960s, the top floor was taken off. The monastery's statues and books are now mostly lost, but very fine mural paintings and a large wooden altar remain. Because of the roof loss, rain water now infiltrates and causes damage to the wallpaintings.

Professor David Jackson, an expert in Tibetan paintings, suggested that these mural paintings might date to the same period as those in the famous Gyantse Kumbum, i.e. early 15th century. THF conducted a basic architectural survey and took paint samples for further analysis.

In 1999, THF conservation architect John Harrison, THF carpenter Chuchok-la and THF foreman Namgyal-la designed and built a protective roof for the main chapel (where most of the 15th century murals are located).

It was decided not to recreate the original heavy flat-roofed upper chapel, but to build a light Chinese-style roof structure, based on the traditional Gya-pip design, to carry rainwater away from the murals below. Drainage around Talung was improved, as the murals were additionally damaged through damp penetration from below.

Dr. Uli Eltgen, a German restorer, has stabilized the most endangered murals in the main chapel, which previously started to peel from the walls. Carpenter Chuchok-la corrected the settlement in the wooden structure. The project was carried out under official permission from the Nargatse Dzong authorities.

Gyama Trikhang Choerten
1998 - 2000

Gyama, located 80 kilometers east of Lhasa, is the birthplace of king Srongtsan Gampo, founder of Lhasa. In the 12th century, a huge bumpa-type choerten (Skt. stupa) was built here to house the relics of the revered Buddhist teacher, Sangye Wontoen Shongnue Jungnay.

During the 1960s, the top was taken off, but the Gyama choerten's body survived. According to an old photo taken by the late Hugh Richardson (and recently published in his book, High Peaks Pure Earth), two minor choerten once flanked the site; they are now gone. The late Horkhang Sonam Pembar, and his son, Jampa Tendar, funded a first restoration in the late 1980s.

THF completed the project, with full permission of the Medrogongkar authorities, by waterproofing the roof with arga and reconstructing the top of the choerten modeled on the old photo. The interior stairs and some cracks in the huge steps leading to the platform on which the choerten rests have also been repaired.

Gyama village

Chushur Choerten 1999

The legendary founder Guru Rinpoche (Skt. Padmasambhava) is said to have erected a huge choerten there (Skt. stupa), a monument for the preservation of relics common throughout Buddhist areas in Asia. The nuns inhabitating the caves, hoping to attract more pilgrims, wanted to rebuild the disappeared choerten.

The meagre funds collected by the nuns were only enough for a cheap version built of concrete. THF was contacted by the nuns and asked for assistance. Interested in promoting the traditional way to build a choerten, THF decided to fund the project. An old masterbuilder from Lhoka was assisted by THF staff. With the full permission of the Chushur authorities, the choerten was completed in the summer of 1999. Thanks to Mathew Akester for suggesting this project.