Pakongka Palace-A Sacred Retreat Site Of King Songtsen Gampo During 7th Century.

Pabongka palace was built by the great King Songtsen Gampo during seventh century. Before Songtsen Gampo built the Jokhang and his palace on the red hill, he established a retreat house on a large flat rock at Pabongka. King Songtsen Gampo, his Chinese wife Wencheng, Tibetan King Trisong Detsen, Guru Rinpoche and Tibet’s first seven monks all meditated here at various times. The nineth-storey tower was destroyed in 841 by the anti-Buddhist King Langdharma and rebuilt in the 11^th century. A number of buildings have stood at this sites over the centuries. At the beginning of this century,Pabongka was the seat of the powerful Geluk Lamas of the same name who lived 1871-1941.Pabongka Rinpoche composed many Geluk liturgical works that are still used in the monasteries today. The buildings,which dated back to the seventh century were razed during the cultural revolution. Reconstruction started in 1986 and today the complex of building at Pabongka functions as a small Gelek monastery with the twenty monks.