Sekar Gutok Monastery

Sekar Gutok Monastery, located in Sê Township, Lhozhag County, Tibet Autonomous Region, is an 11th-century architectural marvel renowned for its fusion of spiritual significance and ecological harmony.

History and architecture

Built around 1080 CE by the Buddhist master Milarepa under the guidance of his teacher Marpa Lotsawa, the monastery's centerpiece is the Nine-Story Tower, a stone-and-clay structure crowned with a golden roof. This tower, originally constructed as a penance for Milarepa's past misdeeds, features perilous circumambulation paths along its exposed upper levels, where devotees traverse narrow ledges at heights exceeding 30 meters without safety rails—a practice symbolizing spiritual purification.
Ecologically, the monastery blends into the rugged Himalayan landscape of southern Tibet, surrounded by deep valleys and alpine flora. Its construction utilized traditional materials like agha, a sustainable technique preserved through centuries. The site's murals, painted by masters of the Menthangpa school, depict scenes from Marpa and Milarepa's lives, alongside intricate mandalas and guardian deities. Notably, the Dukhang Hall houses 16th-century frescoes by scholar-sage Pawo Tsuglag Threngwa, showcasing vibrant mineral pigments that remain unfaded.
Designated a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001, Sekar Gutok remains an active center for Gelugpa Buddhist practice, attracting pilgrims and scholars drawn to its historical depth and dramatic natural setting.