The wonderful Korjak Monastery is an important centre for the Sakya order. The blood-red compound, which dates back to 996, escaped the worst excesses of the Cultural Revolution and the damage sustained has since been repaired.The atmospheric main hall is entered via an ancient wooden door with particularly fine carvings. The hall itself is presided over by a figure of Jampa (Maitreya). To the far left is a small chamber with paintings from the earliest days of the monastery.
Hanging from the ceiling to the right of the entrance are the stuffed carcasses of a yak, Indian tiger, snow leopard, bear, wolverine and a wolf. The inner kora gives access to a hidden protector chapel. When you finish inside do a final kora around the compound to see the unusual om mani padme hum mantra painted on the back wall.
The eight-pillared Rinchen Zangpo Lhakhang adjoining the main hall is dominated by the trinity of Chenresig (Avalokiteshvara), Jampelyang (Manjushri) and Chana Dorje (Vajrapani). To the right of these statues is a small rangjung speaking Tara. The revered 2ft-high statue once warned the monastery’s abbot how to prevent flooding of the local area. During the Cultural Revolution the statue was buried for safekeeping.
The monastery is in Khojarnath, 130km from Darchen or about 107km from Chiu Village on Lake Manasarovar. The drive south from Lake Manasarovar is one of the most scenic in western Tibet and it’s easy to visit as a day trip.
