This very large apartment compound (spyi khang) belongs to Bompora Regional House (spelled “Powor” [spo ’bor] but pronounced “Bompora”), one of the largest regional houses of Mé College (grwa tshang smad). The portion of this apartment compound that lies along the main circumambulation route has been destroyed, and many of the buildings in the interior of the apartment compound itself are in disrepair. Many non-monk laborers, both men and women, lived in this compound in 2002.
The Pabongkha lama’s residence (pha bong kha bla brang), in the southwestern corner of this apartment compound, was the winter residence of the famed Pabongkha Rinpoché (pha bong kha rin po che), who lived in Trashi Chöling hermitage (bkra shis chos gling ri khrod), in the hills above Sera (se ra), in the summers. (Pabongkha is one of the larger hermitages in the hills above Sera, and Trashi Chöling is one of its affiliates.) The Pabongkha lama’s residence, which occupies the top floor of that portion of the apartment compound, contains the sleeping quarters of Pabongkha Rinpoché, as well as rooms for his tutor, his parents, and his treasurer (phyag mdzod). In 2002 this apartment complex also contained a classroom where monks attended formal classes (dpe khrid).