Nyetang Dolma Lhakhang Tara Temple

Nyetang Dolma Lhakhang—also known simply as Drolma Lhakhang—a historic Tara temple located in the Nyetang area about 30 km southwest of Lhasa along the old Lhasa–Tsetang road, just beyond a cliffside carving of Sakyamuni Buddha (~11 km).

The temple is intimately associated with Atisha (980–1054), the revered Bengali scholar whose arrival in Tibet in 1042 initiated the so‑called “Second Diffusion” of Buddhism.

He came to Tibet at the age of 53 at the invitation of the king of Guge kingdom in Western Tibet. Atisha’s teachings had a major instrumental role in advancing the so-called second diffusion of Buddhism. As a result, in the 11th century, Dolma Lhakhang established. One of Atisha’s foremost disciples namely Dromtonpa established it. Moreover, Dromtonpa also founded the Kadampa order. It was here at Netang where Atisha died at the age of 72.