Jhong Monastery

The monastery is called Sakya Dzong Chode Shedup choephel ling and enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha as a central deity protected by a glass plate, with a large number of deities and small Buddhist towers. Wall paintings have the theme of Vajrayana, Five Deities of Vajrayana, Amitayus, Hevajra, Avalokitesvara with four arms and Padmasambhava. The monastery attached to the fort is also the largest in the whole area. It was once finely painted with frescoes, which are still just discernible; even now it contains a few good images and the remains of what were once good thangkas. The whole place is forlorn and neglected, but it is worth clambering over the site in order to gain an impression of its former importance. It was established by Reverend Lo Khenchen Sonam Lhundup, a renowned scholar and disciple of Ngorchen Kunga Sangpo (founder of Ngorpa, a sub-sect of Sakya sect). This monastery still houses many monks and if you ask any one of them then they will give you a tour of the gompa. The young ones are especially interested. There is one painting that is always hidden behind curtains because they believe females should not seeing. Supposedly, the deity hidden is so scary that any female who sees it will eventually meet some mishap and perish. However, the monks will remove the curtain to show you the painting happily if you insist on seeing it.