Ugyenling Monastery: Birth Place of the 6th Dalai Lama
The Ugyenling monastery was built around 1487 by Ugyen Zangpo, the youngest brother of Terton Pemalinga, the great treasure revealer. In addition to Ugyenling, he is credited with founding two other Nyingmapa temples – Sangyeling and Tsogyeling, in its vicinity, about two centuries later, i.e. in the year 1683. Tsanyang Ghatso, the sixth Dalai Lama, was born here to Tashi Tenzin, a direct descendant of Ugyen Zangpo and Tsewang Lhamo of the royal family of Berkhar.
This temple is situated about 5 kilometers from Tawang and close to Tawang’s war memorial. The place is neglected by the locals, but it still has a charm about it even in its small temple compound.
I am sure it was a grand place prior to 1706 when Lajang khan and his forces invaded Tawang on their fight against Bhutan. During this fight, they destroyed the temple to obliterate the memory of the sixth Dalai Lama.
