Dolpo is the Land of Bon and Buddhism. Bon and Tibetan Buddhist religion is still thriving in its original form. Bon or Bonpo religion is pre-Buddhist religion that is thriving in the Nepalese Himalayas for many years. It is an indigenous religion that was founded by Tonpa Shenrab Miwo before Buddhism. According to scarce sources, Dolpo used to be part of the ancient kingdom of Zhangzhung in which it is said, Bon originated and flourishes. The growing power of the Pugyal dynasty, especially under the rule of Trisong Detsen, led to the annihilation of Zhanzhung and a phase of persecution of Bon tradition, and since then Buddhism is flourished.
Dolpo retains many revered sacred Bon pilgrimage and Bon landscape. Some Bon sacred landscapes are as follows:
1. Shey Riwo Drukta- The contested Crystal Mountain
2. Khyungphuk – The Garuda cave
3. Pugmo and Lama Chumik- Abode of the Treton and Khyungpo Lama
4. Samling Monastery and its sacred mountain Mugporong
5. Pawo Drunga and eternal Tiger Den cave
6. Mountain Riwo Palwar –Contest of Bon Lama and Buddhist Lama
7. Jagdul – The hidden Land of Shining Rainbow
Along the Bon sacred landscape there are several old and ancient Bon Monasteries in Dolpo, which are as following:
1. Dolpo Yungdrung Bon Tsokling(Dunai)
2. Yungdrung Shugtsal Bon Gonpa(Baijibara)
3. Yangon Thongroling Bon Gonpa(Chharka)
4. Phuntsokling Bon Gonpa(Doro Sipchok-Dho Tarap)
5. Samling Bon gonpa(Tata-Bhijer)
6. Thasung Tsoling Bon Gonpa(Rigmo)
7. Thekchen Rabdiling Bon Gonpa(Pugmo)
8. Yungdrung Dodulling Bon Gonpa(Kaigaon)
9. Monri Zursum Bon Gonpa (Khaliban)
If you are interested to indulge and want to know about the Bon religion in Dolpo, then Himalayan Companion's Bon Sanctuary trek is an ideal and unique trek that takes you through the Bon landscape and Bon monasteries of Dolpo. In this trek, we familiarize you with how ancient pre-Buddhist Bon religion is still thriving in the Dolpo region.
