Alchi: The Living Heritage of Ladakh (1000 Years of Buddhist Art)

Following the closure of major Buddhist centers of learning in Tibet, the new Tibetan administration permitted hundreds of lamas from the Himalayan Buddhist regions to return to India.

To ensure that the education of these returning students was not disrupted and to preserve the rich scholarly tradition of the Nalanda Buddhist philosophers, the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh, was established on 23 October 1959 by the Most Venerable Kushok Bakula Rinpoche with the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Institute’s academic foundation is rooted in the study of the Panch Mahavidyas through five principal faculties: Adhyatma Vidya (Philosophy), Shabda Vidya (Language and Linguistics), Shilpa Vidya and Bhoti Chikitsa Vidya (Architecture and Traditional Tibetan Medicine), Nyaya Vidya (Logic), and Adhunik Vidya (Modern Studies).

In addition to higher education, the Institute manages an extensive educational network comprising fifty feeder schools located in monasteries, two middle schools, and one high school across Ladakh. Beyond teaching, CIBS has undertaken several significant scholarly and cultural initiatives, including the Encyclopedia of Himalayan Buddhist Culture, the National Mission for Manuscripts, translation projects of Buddhist texts, and the publication of academic journals, student magazines, seminar proceedings, and rare Buddhist manuscripts.

The Institute’s modern campus spans over thirty-two acres and features an impressive academic block, a well-equipped library, separate hostels for lamas, boys, and girls, staff quarters, an auditorium, conference halls, a museum, and sports facilities.

The year-long celebrations marking the Institute’s 50th anniversary commenced in January 2009 with the inauguration of a special exhibition and the release of a catalogue on Alchi at the National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi.