Simbiling
1999, Kim Malville
The ruins of Simbiling Gompa are located on a hill just above and to the west of Taklakot (Purang). It was one of the largest monasteries in the Kailash region. The following excerpt is a description of Simbiling before it was destroyed. It is from "Kailas-Manasarovar" by Swami Pranavananada, a well known Hindu priest and Kailash pilgrim:
"Simbiling has about six branch monasteries at Siddikhar, on Manasarovar and at other places. Including these branches it has about 170 monks. There is a regular school for the junior monks of the monastery. In the main image-hall of the monastery there is a big gilded image of the Buddha about 6 feet high, seated on a high pedestal, with putter lamps kept burning in the front. Just before entering the image-hall is the general congregational hall, festooned with scholl paintings; and the walls are books in the shelves of the library rooms of the monastery, including two sets of the voluminous works of Kanjur and Tanjur. There is a separate image-hall of the Manlha (god of medicine) adjacent to the library halls. There are more than 400 excellent tankas or banner paintings and four huge silk banners of Buddha and Maitrya each measuring 60X30 feet. Simbiling gompa is affiliated to the Drepung Monastery of Lhasa and as such the Labrang of the general managing body, including the Khenpo or abbot, comes from that monastery appointed for a period of three years."
1926, Hugh Ruttledge / Major David Ruttledge
1989,
Russell Johnson
[Before its destruction] [A view of the ruins]
1999, Kim Malville