Shechen Monastery lies in a beautiful valley which is 70km northwest of Manigange town and 160km north of Derge county. If you travel from Xining or Yushu, it is 200km Sershul monastery.
View on the road to Shenchen Monastery from Yushu
Shechen Monastery, one of the Six “Mother” Nyingma Monasteries of Tibet, was founded in 1695 by Shechen Rabjam Tenpe Gyaltsen who was sent to Kham with this purpose by the Fifth Dalai Lama.
Shechen Monastery became, gradually, the head of a network of around one hundred and sixty satellite monasteries situated all over the Himalayan region. Rapidly becoming renowned for the authenticity of the teachings at its shedra and for the quality of its sacred arts, it became one of the six main monasteries of the Nyingma tradition. Many great masters came forth from Shechen Monastery including Shechen Gyaltsab, Shechen Kongtrul, Khenpo Gangshar, and the sage Mipham Rinpoche. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Chögyam Trungpa and many other important 20th century teachers received teachings at the monastery.
Shechn Monastery valley
The monastery was known for its fine sculptures, Tangkas and Murals. Formerly there were two temples with major images of Shakyamuni and Padmasambhava, respectively representing the sutra and tantra tradition. There was also a famous image made of herbs, showing Terdark Lingpa, the founder of Mindroling. Next to these images were eight reliquaries containing the remains of past Shechen Rabjam emanations and their regents.
A prestigious college at Shechen monastery was founded in the early 20th century by the third Gyeltsab Pema Namgyal, and it rapidly became known in Kham for the excellent of its study programme, largely through the efforts of late Shechen Kongtrul, and the late Sixth Shenchen Rabjam.
Above the monastery on the Dolmari are many sacred caves and hermitages associated with important historical figures and deities. Among them the following are most notable:
Kabgye Drupuk, where Vajravarai reputedly appeared in a rock during the meditations of Gyeltsab Gyurme Pema Namgyal.
Zangdok Pelri Drupuk, the cave where Padmasambhava and Yeshi Tsogyel meditated and where pilgrims go to gather medicinal nectar.
Khandro Bumgyi Drupuk, which is adorned with a red and white stupa and a drak blue relief image of Tangtong Gyalpo.
Osel Drupuk, which has a naturally produced image of the deity Rigzin Dupa.
A beautiful temple in Shechen Monastery
How to get to Shechen, you can travel from Chengdu via Ganzi county or from Xining to Yushu and then to Shechen monastery.
There is no entrance ticket required in this monastery.
