The historical and cultural importance of Dzagzel monastery can't be understood without knowing the influence of Patrul Rinpoche, its founder, had on all Tibet at the 19th century. Indeed, Patrul Rinpoche, which was born in 1808 in the neighbourhoods from the Dzagyel monastery, was known in all Tibet for his scholarship, his spiritual realization and for the simplicity of his way of life. Indeed, he never had neither house nor monastery and behaved at such point as ordinary people that nobody recognized him when he travelled. He composed many texts like for example "The Words of my Perfect Teacher", which is still today a book of reference for the Buddhist practise of all schools and is regularly taught and commented by His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

Thus, the monastery of Dzagyel, whose foundations were posed when Patrul Rinpoche was alive and under his impulse, is very important in the heart of all the inhabitants of the area. Unfortunately, it was entirely destroyed by the Chinese army at the time known as "the Cultural revolution". Then, eighteen years ago, as soon as they obtained the authorization, the inhabitants of the valley hastened to rebuild it on the foundations of the old temple.

Today, this temple is in very bad condition. Indeed, this area of Tibet is extremely poor. Located at more than four thousand meter of altitude, only grass grows and the breeding of the yaks is the single means of subsistence. Wood, for example, is a non-existent product which it is necessary to make come to be able to consider any construction or restoration. Thus, the efforts of the local population to maintain in state this monastery are insufficient today and the temple needs considerable work of restoration. Being given its historical richness, the inhabitants wish to renovate the rather existing temple than to build another one more modern.


The temple did not resist the wear of time and the imtemperies. Indeed, the area is covered with snow during nearly eight month per year. The walls and the roof count many openings where the birds, the rain and snow infiltrate. The state of deterioration is such that sometimes the pieces of wood fall from the ceiling on the ground, wounding even a monk last year. Thus, this temple is today a moving mixture of splendid decorations and traditional objects and clear signs of very serious decay.

The low wall which surrounds the monastery is entirely made of stones on which prayers were carved at the time of Patrul Rinpoche and under its impulse.

These small houses of fortune which surround the monastery are the dwellings of the monks, who live there by three or four. The condition of these houses is also very bad, but the monks insisted that it is the temple which has to be restored first.