Lhalung Hermitage was founded in the nineteenth century by Shakya Yarpel, the eleventh Nechung Oracle, near a cave where Lhalung Pelgyi Dorje is said to have visited. Considered a branch of Nechung before 1959, it was associated with the Nyingma tradition. Drepung monks were formerly in residence there. It is located in the hills above Lhasa.