Spiritual · Limi Valley
Inside Halji's Rinchenling monastery
Visit the Rinchenling gonpa at Halji, believed to have been founded by the 11th-century translator Rinchen Zangpo, with a lama of the Drikung Kagyu school, and see one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Nepal.
Rinchenling stands at the heart of Halji village at about 3,700 m. It is believed to have been founded by Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo, the scholar and translator who travelled western Tibet and the Himalaya in the 11th century founding temples. Narrative and physical evidence places its oldest parts in that period.
With a lama's permission you can enter the assembly hall and chapels, where old statues, painted walls and texts are kept. The monastery is often compared with Tabo in Spiti, India, which is also linked to Rinchen Zangpo. It is the spiritual centre of the whole valley, and villagers gather here for festivals and prayers.
Photography inside is often not allowed; ask first and respect the answer. Leave a donation for the upkeep of the gonpa. Glacial floods since 2004 have damaged parts of Halji and threatened the monastery, so support for its care matters.
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Questions
How old is the Halji monastery?
Rinchenling at Halji is believed to have been founded by Rinchen Zangpo in the 11th century, and scholars cite narrative and physical evidence placing its oldest parts in that period. It has been repaired and expanded over the centuries.
Can visitors enter Rinchenling gonpa?
Usually yes, with the permission of the lama or caretaker, who will open the hall for you. Remove your shoes, walk clockwise, do not touch images and ask before taking photos. A donation for the monastery is expected and appreciated.
Which school of Buddhism is followed in Limi?
The people of Limi follow the Drikung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Each of the three villages, Til, Halji and Jang, has its own small gonpa, with Rinchenling at Halji the most important.
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