Buddhist
Architecture
in the Western
Himalayas
General view from the eastern hill range. Neuwirth 2003
North-eastern view of the complex. Neuwirth 2003
Eastern view of the ruins. Neuwirth 2003
Southern view of the main temple and the ruin next to it. Ley 2009
South-western view of the main temple ruin with the small temple on top of the ruin structure. Auer 2003
South-western view of the main temple. Auer 2003
Southern view of the main temple. Auer 2003
Eastern view of the main temple. Neuwirth 2003
Former hall of the main temple. Wrumnig 2012
Former hall of the main temple. Wrumnig 2012
North-eastern view of temple no. 2. Neuwirth 2003
South-eastern view of temple no. 2. Auer 2003
Former hall of temple no. 2. Auer 2003
South-western view of temple no. 3 and 4. Auer 2003
Former hall of temple no. 4, looking into temple no. 3. Auer 2003
North-eastern view of temple no. 5. Auer 2003
Former hall of temple no. 5. Auer 2003.
Northern view of the painted chörten. Luczanits 2009
North-eastern wall inside the painted chörten. Ley 2009
South-eastern wall inside the painted chörten. Ley 2009
Roof construction of the painted chörten. Ley 2009

The ruins of Nyarma

Coordinates of the site: 34° 2'21.15" northern latitude and 77°41'2.94" eastern longitude, at an altitude of 3263 meters.

The former monastic compound of Nyarma is located about 16 kilometres (airline) southeast of Leh. The nearest village Rambipor lies within the vegetation belt of the Indus River, not far away from Thikse, and consists of about 25 houses. The spacious ruin field of Nyarma lies at the north-eastern edge of the settlement. This imposing ruins remain of Ladakh’s only monastery, which is undoubtedly attributable to Rinchen-tsangpo. The monastery was founded as one of three main monasteries in the initial phase of the kingdom of Guge in the late 10th and early 11th century. According to a narrative, Nyarma was abandoned only a few centuries later as a result of robbery and flooding.
Today the complex consists of five ruinous temples and numerous chörten. Fragments of the external walls border the area at the southern and eastern side. On the north-western side of the area a small temple, dedicated to the protectress Dorje Chenmo is still in use. It was built on top of the cella of the largest temple ruin (no. 1). One of the remaining chörten (no. 6) in the western part of the area is decorated with painted layers and fragments of sculptures in the interior.

Cf. Neuwirth & Auer 2021: The Ancient Monastic Complexes of Tholing, Nyarma and Tabo, pp. 114-165, Open Access E-Book.

2D Plans

Site plan of the complex

First floor of temple no. 1 (main temple)

Seond floor of temple no. 1 (main temple)

Sections of temple no. 1 (main temple)

Northern and western elevation of temple no. 1 (main temple)

Southern and eastern elevation of temple no. 1 (main temple)

Floor plan, sections and elevations of temple no. 2

Floor plan, sections and elevations of temple no. 3 and 4

Floor plan, sections and elevations of temple no. 5

Floor plan, sections and elevations of the painted stupa no. 6

3D Model

Spatial model of the complex

Spatial model of the complex

Spatial model of the complex

Spatial model of the complex

Spatial model of the complex

Spatial model of temple no. 1 and 2

Spatial model of temple no. 1

Spatial section of temple no. 1

Spatial model of temple no. 2

Spatial section of temple no. 2

Spatial model of temple no. 3 and 4

Spatial section of temple no. 3 and 4

Spatial model of temple no. 5

Spatial section of temple no. 5

Interior walls of temple no. 2

Reconstruction of the main temple

Spatial model of the ruin structure

Reconstruction step 1

Reconstruction step 1 with roof

Reconstruction step 2

Reconstruction step 2 with roof

Reconstruction step 3

Reconstruction step 3 with roof

Spatial model of the ruin structure today

Spatial section according to step 1

Spatial section according to step 2

Spatial section according to step 3


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