HISTORY OF THE ZANGLA GONPA
Changchup Choeling Nunnery at Zangla village in zanskar Valley ,Union Territory of Ladakh is 332 years old .The inferences that we found from different documents related with our nunnery indicates that the inception of the nunnery was conceived in and around 1480-1677 circa.
Hari a great Indian Mahasidhi contemporary to another great Indian Maha Sidhi Tuljuk Chotpa Nagpo had arrived and spent his days in contemplating and meditating at various holy and sanctified places such as Tsazar PalImo Gon, Pilaphuk or Bilaphuk,Stongday's Tseray. The number of days in Zanskar in general and at Zangla in particular is remained unknown . Changchup Choling is nearest to Bilaphuk distance wise.
Current Gonkhang must be his retreat centre,Chakrasamvara was the main Yidam {meditational deity) of Maha Sidhi Hari and he contemplated and visualizes some other deities during his stays such as Hevajra, four arms Mahakala and the lion-faced Dakini
We have these statues in old gonkhang.
Later on The princesses of Zangla Royal family, Utpal Gyalmo and Purnang Gyalmo carried on renovation and repairing work at the existing Gonkhang.
In some documents It is also visible that, statue of 1000 arms 1000 eyes Avalokitesvara and a residence /Temple of five Gyalpos’ , a family of Phekar Gyalpo constructed in accordance to the recommendation receives from Tibet by His Holiness 5th Dalai Lama Lobzang gyatso .It is still in good shape and you can see it during your visit to our nunnery.
The iconography or wall painting of Gonkhang were furnished by 18 "' Bakula Rinpoche ,who was born in royal family of Zangla and Kachen Lobzang Tashi from Tsazar village. Since then Community of nun flourishes at the current nunnery.
Changchup Choling nunnery as learning centre and a nun's community centre is blessed by some prominent holy beings of Zanskar \/alley who were born in Zangla making Zangla a Zang-Lak(more holy place then rest of Zanskar).Names of these great scholar and champions of meditation are
listed below.
1.Je dhungpa gyalstab lobzang Tsondue Gyaltsan
2. Je Nyari Rinpoche
3. DupKhang pa Geleck Gyatso .
4. Jetsune Lobzang Damchoes Gyaltsen.
5. Je Yongzenlobzang Zotpa
6. SkabJe 18th Bakula Rinpoche.
7.Je dungpa Taphuk pa Lobzang Damchoe
8. Tsultrim Nyema
FOUNDATION OF THE ZANGLA GONPA SCHOOL
The Changchup choeling Nunnery ,Zangla came into existence in the Year 2000.The school began with few students of zangla.Right now there are 20 students from near by villages as well like Pidmo,Pishu,Kumik, Tsazar and Hanamur etc.
VISION:
We have not inherited this planet from our grandparents but we do owe it to our children. Whatever we do has a way of coming back to us and there's no one better than the young minds on this earth to give back what has been taken away from this planet. With this in mind, we believe that it's never too late to do your part because little drops of water make a mighty ocean. We all have been sent to this world for a reason, and each and everyone must try to solve this enigma in order to find their motive in life.
MISSION:
It's the little things that evoke the potential of every person; be it a child or an adult. Our mission is to make this world a better place for living, not only rhetorically but literally and the best way to do this is through the means of education. the world is fast paced but so are we. the mission is instilling awareness and resilience at the right place, in the young minds to actually change the face of earth.