Rinchenling monastery
{{Short description|Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Nepal}}
{{Infobox Tibetan Buddhist monastery
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Rinchenling Gompa (monastery) is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Nepal located in Limi Valley of Humla district near the Tibet border at an altitude of about 3500 m msl. {{Cite web| title = Rinchenling Gompa| work = Atlas Obscura| accessdate = 2020-08-21| url = http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/rinchenling-gompa}}{{Cite news| issn = 0971-751X| last = Vallangi| first = Neelima| title = This remote Tibetan valley in Nepal looks to India and China for sustenance| work = The Hindu| accessdate = 2020-08-21| date = 2019-02-23| url = https://www.thehindu.com/society/this-remote-tibetan-valley-in-nepal-looks-to-india-and-china-for-sustenance/article26341791.ece}}
History
The monastery was founded by Rinchen Zangpo during 10th or 11th century AD. Rinchen Zangpo was a principle translator of the Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into the Tibetan language. He actively constructed Buddhist temples and monasteries during his lifetime. Legends say that Rinchen Zangpo built a total of 108 temples.
Current building
The monastery is a three-store building with an area of about 36 m x 32 m surrounded by a rectangular courtyard. The upper two stories have assembly halls, a library, and a store room. The monks’ quarters, kitchens, and store rooms for ordinary objects are on the ground floor.{{cite needed|date=September 2021}} The assembly room in the northern side houses a large four-fold image of Vairocana surrounded on its three sides by bodhisattvas.