Dorjee Zong Gonpa

Dorje Dzong is widely thought to be one of the oldest nunneries in Zanskar, established as a Gelugpa Monastery by Zanskar’s Jangsem Sharab Zangpo 700 years ago. His relics are said to be stored in the main stupa at the center of the Nunnery’s campus. Historically, nuns from Dorje Dzong came from 5 villages, “yul tsang nga,” but due to reduced enrollment numbers, the nunnery is currently acccepting nuns from anywhere. Today, Dorjee Zong is overseen by Karsha Monastery, and its main purpose is to educate young nuns. About 20 people live at the nunnery in total, 7-8 adult nuns and 11-12 students. The nunnery school has four teachers, two of whom are nuns at Dorje Dzong, and provides classes for students up to grade 5. The students include those who intend to become nuns at Dorje Dzong or Dromaling nunnery in Dharamsala or pursue their studies at schools in southern India. Perched on a high hill above the school, the worship spaces of the nunnery include Dukhang Yokma, the oldest structure of Dorje Dzong. This building houses an ancient, minimally restored prayer room known as the Chokhang, as well as a traditional Zanskar Kitchen that is still in use. Dorje Dzong’s educational and spiritual missions have been supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project’s renovation and expansion project, which started in 2019.