The Assemly Hall or Dukhang (´Du-khang) is the largest structure at the centre of the monastic complex (chos-´khor) and thus is also called the Main Temple (gTsug-lag-khang). In its core the structure has been altered very little, but the area in front of it has a long history of additions and alterations. The entrance of the Dukhang boasts the original wooden door-frame, but the veranda was altered considerably over the centuries, with additional structures being built on in front of it, mostly during the 12th and 13th centuries. At the same early stage the present courtyard was added to the core structure.
The Alchi Dukhang consists of a main hall measuring 7.5 x 7.9 metres and a niche in the back-wall of 3.3 x 2.4 metres. The niche contains an arrangement of clay sculptures centred on a four-headed Vairocana.

The Mañjusri Temple or Jampe Lhakhang (´Jam-dpal lHa-khang), the temple in the monastic complex that lies closest to the river Indus, was a free-standing structure until the Lotsaba Temple was attached to its left-hand side wall. The original shape of the temple is highly unusual in that it was virtually constructed around the four central images of Mañjusri seated on a common platform. The temple is square and measures c. 5.7 x 5.7 metres. the large central platform is c. 85 cm high and supports the four pilars holding the diagonally arranged cross-beams of the ceiling. The comples thtone construction is then set on this central platform and reaches a height of c. 175 cm, the crowns of the images being level with the capitals of the pillars.

Text: “Buddhist Sculpture in Clay”, Christian Luczanits, Chicago 2004
Fotos: Holger Neuwirth / Carmen Auer