In the beginning of the thirteenth century, King Morup of Ladakh made it mandatory for all Ladakhi young monks / novices to go to Tibet for higher studies. Since then, the monks/ novices/ scholars from Ladakh used to go to Tibet in pursuit of higher monastic Buddhist studies. They used to study and do research for years in the famous Mahaviharas of Deprung, Sera, Gadan, Tashi Lhunpo, Sakya, Sagnag Chosling, Degre, Dregung etc. The tradition of going to Tibet for higher studies came to an abrupt stop in 1959 due to political instability there.